Tasting Note –  Replacing local fruit lost in the freeze of January 2024, this was sourced from a vineyard in the Red Mountain region of eastern Washington, and it shows a quite different profile to the Okanagan-grown 2022 and 2023 versions tasted alongside. The fruit is more plummy and softer on the nose, the violet a bit more diffuse, the pepper a bit less peppery. But it is appealing! It is medium-full bodied, nicely rounded and warming but not hot despite 14.5% alcohol. Tannins are also softer. The length is very good to excellent. Overall, this is a step or two less interesting and intense than the Okanagan versions, but more approachable now. The 2022 Cuvee Classique is in a good spot at the moment with lifted syrah pepper, violet, toast and underbrush, set in medium weight frame with considerable tannin rustling the finish, and showing excellent length. But there is a hint of cork taint.  The 2023, which was co-fermented with 11% marsanne, shows deeper colour, more lifted and concentrated fruit, and richer, smoother texture with fine, firm tannin. It is the best of three technically and potentially but it too is showing even more notable cork-taint, so full evaluation of both will have to wait.  Tasted July 2026.

Backgrounder – Le Vieux Pin is a leading Canadian syrah specialist bottling three different versions, under the direction of Severine Pinte, who is referred to in the syrah article above. Equinoxe is the super-premium flagship barrel selection at $100. Cuvee Violette is the ‘darling’ co-fermented with viognier ($45 range). And Cuvee Classique is the sturdy workhorse. Due to the January freeze, the 2024 vintage was sourced from very old vines near the prestigious Red Mountain AVA in Washington State — one of the best AVAs for syrah in the state. It is also the Joseph Phelps clone, known for producing deeply coloured, richly spiced fruit.  It is 100% syrah and aged 100% in neutral French oak barrels for 15 months (no new barrels) then bottled unfined and unfiltered