One of the great things about Wine Spectator is that all their ratings are based on “blind tasting,” i.e. the critics do not know anything about the wines they rate, so they are not influenced by the label, the maker, or if they advertise with the magazine. I can tell you from experience that blind tasting is a lot of fun, but it’s very difficult to determine what wine you are drinking sometimes.

Recently I did a blind tasting of Syrah from France, Australia (where they call it Shiraz), Washington State and Chile, and I thought for sure I would prefer the Australian Shiraz, but it was #2 to this week’s featured wine, the Cuvée Alexandre Syrah from Lapostolle in Chile; and it really wasn’t even close.

This is truly an excellent wine. A beautiful dark red pour with floral notes and mint, smooth black plum and blackberry flavors, juicy ripe tannins and a spicy finish. The other three were “meh,” this was a standout. The initial tasting was a 2009, so I picked up the most recent vintage (2013) and liked it just as much.

On my five-cork scale based on taste and value, the 2013 Lapostolle Cuvée Alexandre Syrah gets 3.75 corks! If it were less than $20 a bottle, it would have been a four-corker.

If you’d like to try interesting wines like this, please join me at our next private wine party at Matt the Miller’s Tavern! I host a wine dinner there every month, and we feature several interesting wines, each paired with a delicious course. There are always cool prizes to win, too, so listen Wednesday at 4:15 to win your spot on the guest list, or click here for a chance to win!