Tasting note

Mingling intensely resinous evocations of scrubby garrigue with confitured black fruits, the Maris 2009 Syrah La Touge - a cuvee from less-favored Syrah sites and featuring 12-15% Grenache - displays ample body; a rich texture; and a generous as well as invigoratingly pungent finish, though not the infectious juiciness and saliva-inducing savor of its 2008 counterpart. I expect this will be best enjoyed over the next couple of years. Score - 89. (David Schildknecht, erobertparker.com, June 2011)