Booker Fracture Syrah Paso Robles 2019 (750ml)

 

Rated 97 Points by Jeb Dunnuck

 

The 100% Syrah 2019 Fracture comes all from the Booker Estate Vineyard and is another pure, balanced, incredibly classy wine from this estate.  Loads of darker fruits, ground black pepper, crushed stone, and scorched earth give way to a medium to full-bodied, powerful, concentrated Syrah that will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and cruise for 10-15 years.

 

Rated 97 Points by Vinous

 

Dark purple.  An exotically perfumed, expressive bouquet evokes ripe black and blue fruits, Moroccan spices, olive paste, licorice, potpourri and incense.  Densely packed and impressively energetic in the mouth, offering intense blackberry, cassis, kirsch, fruitcake and floral pastille flavors that firm up slowly through the back half.  The floral and spice notes repeat emphatically on an impressively long, youthfully tannic finish that leaves smoky mineral and licorice notes behind.

 

Rated 96 Points by James Suckling

 

A serious syrah with black-ink, violet, blueberry and crushed-stone character.  It’s full and tight with layers of fine tannins that spread across the palate.  Chalky finish.  Chewy at the end.  Drinkable now, but better in 2026 and onwards.

 

Rated 96 Points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

 

The 2019 Fracture is energetic and mineral-driven this vintage.  It has a medium ruby-purple color with rich cassis on the nose, accented by nuances of tar, iron, bergamot and charcuterie.  The medium-bodied palate has a silty structure and fresh acidity that highlights its spicy undertones, and it finishes very long.  It's drinkable now but has a long life ahead in the cellar.

 

Rated 95 Points by Wine Enthusiast

 

Intensely dense aromas of black currant, elderberry, asphalt and charred meats show on the nose of this bottling.  The palate's savory flavors range from dried meat to dark cocoa, with high acid pumping through those intense berry flavors.  (MK) 

 

Rated 94 Points by Wine Spectator

 

Inky dark and deeply layered yet not weighty, this red features black raspberry and blueberry flavors laced with crushed stone, black olive and cured meat, finishing with fine-grained tannins.  Drink now through 2030.

 

Booker Fracture Syrah Paso Robles 2019

 

Vintage:  2019

 

Varietal:  Syrah

 

Appellation:  Paso Robles

 

Alcohol:  14.6%

 

Winemaker Notes

 

Often described as a Booker flagship, Fracture is one of the world's great Syrahs.  Only the softest Syrah in barrel makes the cut for this dense and powerful wine.  The namesake pays homage to the calcareous soil in their vineyard, the limestone causes it to 'fracture.'  Fracture is their most consistent wine and the 19 vintage is no different.  Inky black as always, it shows off intense aromas of graphite, gun powder, and blackberry cobbler.  The flavors on the palate mirror the aromas and yet are almost completely eclipsed by the sheer weight, volume, and length of this graceful giant.  The finish is even bigger than the previous 2017 or 2018 vintage with notes of double espresso and seared rib eye on the close.

 

 

Booker Vineyard
 

The name Booker comes from the two orphan brothers, Claude and Dick Booker, who had purchased the land in the late 1920’s.  By the turn of the century the Booker brothers had acquired over 1,200 acres on Paso's Westside.  They dedicated their lives to being great farmers and humanitarians, leaving 100% of their estate to charity when they passed, Dick in 1990 and Claude in 2000.

Eric and Lisa Jensen purchased 100 acres of the property in 2001 with the intent of growing the best fruit for some of the best wineries in the area.  After making wine with Justin Smith (of Saxum) for five years and Stephan Asseo (of L'Aventure Wines) for two years the Jensens decided it was time to create their own expression with Booker Vineyard.  The 2005 Vintage was Booker Vineyard's first release with the wines being made by founder Eric Jensen.  The vineyard received organic certification in April of 2021.
 

Our Vision
 

Booker is dedicated to the pursuit of farming perfection, constantly striving to find the perfect balance in the vineyard through certified organic farming practices as well as methods that draw inspiration from biodynamics.  The westside of Paso Robles terroir is unique, boasting extreme vertical slopes and calcareous soils.  Limestone beds with very little water make it hard to believe that anything could grow, yet the Booker estate produces some of the greatest wine grapes on earth.  

In the cellar, our job as winemakers is to uncover the vintage Mother Nature gave us and showcase the quality of the fruit.  It may mean a soft winemaking touch to craft an elegant wine, or pushing the limits to create a beast.  Regardless, the end goal is to produce legendary wines.  Wines that over-deliver and are delicious.  No arrogance, not confusing, only yummy.

 

 

Rated 95 Points by Wine Enthusiast

 

Intensely dense aromas of black currant, elderberry, asphalt and charred meats show on the nose of this bottling.  The palate's savory flavors range from dried meat to dark cocoa, with high acid pumping through those intense berry flavors.  (MK) 

 

 

 

Rated 94 Points by Wine Spectator

 

Inky dark and deeply layered yet not weighty, this red features black raspberry and blueberry flavors laced with crushed stone, black olive and cured meat, finishing with fine-grained tannins.  Drink now through 2030.