A couple of Syrah Blind Tastings

Notes were mixed, I'm not 100% sure which wine was from which blind tasting.

• 2001 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Sant' Antimo Fabius 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Sant' Antimo

  (12/6/2005)

  Blind tasting. Pale fruit on nose, more spice than fruit. Moderate fruit with good balance, structure and texture. Clearly Old World. Needs more time. I liked this more than most in the group, but think it difficult to taste and assess this alongside Syrah fruit bombs.

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• 2003 Saxum Broken Stones 91 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  (12/6/2005)

  Blind tasting. One of the best of the "fun, less serious wines." Rich fruits and roasted herbs on nose. Great fruit with very good structure . Excellent dark cherry fruit with cherry liqueur flavors. Seems like it has the ability to age. Very surprised when unveiled, especially to see it was a 2003.

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• 2003 Boschkloof Syrah 86 Points

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch

  (12/6/2005)

  Blind tasting. Nice and interesting but little more for me. Moderate fruit with a bit of pepper and coffee flavors. Seemed to have some slightly green tannins on finish.

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• 2002 Alban Vineyards Syrah Lorraine 86 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley

  (12/6/2005)

  Blind tasting. I can almost always identify the Alban from the sulfur and reduction. Plus I rarely like Alban. So no surprise here. Roasted fruit and toasted oak were most of what I smelled. Then very concentrated fruit, clearly well made in its style, but not at all for me.

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• 2002 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard 86 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley

  (12/6/2005)

  Blind tasting. Alban again, easy to identify from sulfur and reduction (and jammy fruit).Not my style. Massive concentration of fruit with some nice espresso and chocolate hints on middle and finish. Just too much sweet fruit for me.

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• 2001 Montes Syrah Folly La Finca de Apalta 85 Points

  Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley

  (12/6/2005)

  Blind tasting. Young overripe fruit on nose - as New World as can be. Massive fruit with lots of oak and tannins. Sweet finish from fruit and oak.

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• 2001 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage 95 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  (12/6/2005)

  Blind tasting. Bright black and red fruit on nose with huge pepper and spice. Palate is the exact replica of nose. great acidity, balance and nuance. Reasonably tightly structured right now, clearly an Old World wine in need of some serious time in bottle.

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• 2001 Luca Syrah 90 Points

  Argentina, Mendoza

  (12/12/2005)

  Blind tasting. Showed trace of age on color. Black concentrated fruit with good balance, not much spice. Trying to identify this blind, it didn't seem Australian, thought it might have been Old World, possibly Italian Syrah.

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• 2002 Mills Reef Syrah Elspeth Mere Road 92 Points

  New Zealand, North Island, Hawke's Bay, Gimblett Gravels

  (12/6/2005)

  Blind tasting. Bright color. Concentrated fruit aromas with pepper and background spice. Youthful, vibrant fruit aromas with good spice. Moderate tannins, very good balance.

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• 2003 Cayuse Syrah En Chamberlin Vineyard 88 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  (12/6/2005)

  Blind tasting. Moderate black fruit with spice and pepper hints. Blackberry and red currant on palate with moderate spice and length. Heat on finish.

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• 2004 Pax Syrah Kobler Family Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  (12/6/2005)

  Blind tasting. Spicy, exuberant aromas with floral hints. Lush fruit on palate has a big start but then comes across as a bit one dimensional. 92% Syrah, 8% Viognier.

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• 2001 Domaine Jamet Côte-Rôtie 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  (12/12/2005)

  Blind tasting. Pale color with simple moderately dense fruit. Good spice, great pepper, but nowhere near the level from last year in the Rhone. Same with the fruit, perhaps this was just starting to shut down for now. Didn't show the nuance from before or the complexity I expected.

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• 2002 Shirvington Shiraz 90 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  (12/12/2005)

  Blind tasting. Super hedonistic fruit bomb on the nose and palate. Fruit, more fruit and more fruit. A fun, well made wine in its style. Group liked this a lot.

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• 2001 Shirvington Shiraz 92 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  (12/12/2005)

  Blind tasting. Vibrant nose of fruit and spice. Palate mostly starts with black fruit but good energy and balance. Finish shows interesting spice. Much better than its 2002 counterpart. This was the group's WOTN, in my top 3.

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• 2002 Kaesler Shiraz The Bogan 90 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  (12/12/2005)

  Blind tasting. Dense color, moderate aromatics, all fruit driven. Would like a bit more spice. Fruit becomes more intense through the middle and finish, ending with a hint of heat. Drink young and enjoy.

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• 2001 Henry's Drive Shiraz Reserve 89 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Padthaway

  (12/12/2005)

  Blind tasting. Bright nose of black fruit with lots of oak influence. Youthful, jammy with lots of fun flavors. wine got less concentrated, more spicy and elegant towards the finish.

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• 2004 Tatiarra Shiraz Pressings Caravan of Dreams 93 Points

  Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Heathcote

  (12/12/2005)

  Blind tasting.Big fruit on nose with some pepper. More spice on palate along with black fruit. Nice tannin structure, almost seemed Old World despite the fruit ripeness. Better after 2 hours. Good spice on finish. This will really improve in 5 years.

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• 2004 Mitolo Shiraz G.A.M. 88 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  (12/12/2005)

  Blind tasting. Vibrant nose with some interesting floral element. Jammy fruit has some nice spice elements. Would want a bit more acidity and texture. Short finish.

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• 2001 Torbreck The Factor 88 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  (12/12/2005)

  Blind tasting. Moderate nose, some spice, ok fruit. Both fruit and spice better on palate. Blackberry and blueberry. Simple finish. Didn't show as well as prior times I've had this wine.

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• 2001 Torbreck RunRig 89 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  (12/12/2005)

  Blind tasting. Bright nose and fruit with floral aspects to nose. Similar flavors on palate, but everything was unidimensional and somewhat simple, even while concentrated.

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• 2002 Spinifex Indigène 91 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  (12/12/2005)

  Dark blackberry fruit on nose with floral hints. Restrained fruit to start. Good balance and acidity, good power on long finish.

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• 2001 d'Arenberg Shiraz The Dead Arm 89 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  (12/12/2005)

  Blind tasting. Massive fruit aromas, similar on palate with some sweetness as well as aggressive tannins. Some good mint and licorice on finish. Needs some time.

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