2009 Novy Syrahs: Blindtasting with Adam Lee

What a perfect way to start. Thanks Anh Tu!

• 2008 Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé 92 Points

  France, Provence, Bandol

  Fresh strawberries and roses on the nose. More strawberries on the palate. Beautifully balanced and delicious.

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Served double-blind before we moved onto the Novys. Clearly old, but plenty of life left in all of these.

• 1982 Storybook Mountain Vineyards Zinfandel Estate Reserve 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Lovely nose of spicy baked cherry with a touch of menthol. Light to medium bodied with great medium+ acidity that is predominant on the palate. Tart strawberry fruit and a bit of tannic structure. This may live forever.

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• 1982 Ridge Geyserville 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  Nose is more reticent, some baked plum. Light to medium bodied, low to medium acidity, tart plum fruit. Silky mouthfeel. Simple but really nice.

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• 1982 Domaine Tempier Bandol Cuvée Spéciale La Migoua Flawed

  France, Provence, Bandol

  Corked. Clearly something beautiful underneath the taint. :-(

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• 1982 Domaine Tempier Bandol Cuvée Spéciale La Tourtine 94 Points

  France, Provence, Bandol

  Interesting nose, a bit musty and gamey with some cherry cough syrup coming through. Not my favorite nose. But this is gorgeous on the palate with lovely blackberry and black cherry fruit and loamy soil notes. Light to medium bodied with medium acidity. Great depth of flavor on the palate.

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What a treat to taste through these wines with Adam Lee. California syrah is not generally in my wheelhouse, but I really enjoyed this lineup. Tasting so many young, big and occasionally burly syrahs was a bit difficult for me, so I didn't score them. I think most, if not all, will benefit from time in the bottle.

• 2009 Novy Family Wines Syrah Sonoma County

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  Pretty nose of fresh blueberries, blackberries and violets. Big and structured with sweet black fruit but not overripe or concentrated. Very nice. (my 3rd, group's 8th)

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• 2009 Novy Family Wines Syrah Susan's Hill Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands

  Reticent nose, some fresh blackberries peeking through. Medium bodied, with black plum fruit. Softer than others in this lineup with lighter tannins. (my 4th, group's 4th)

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• 2009 Novy Family Wines Syrah Napa Valley

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Pretty, fresh, floral nose. Light to medium bodied, lightest of the lineup. Fresh blueberry fruit, some tannins, but in balance. I loved this. (my 1st, group's 5th)

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• 2009 Novy Family Wines Syrah Santa Lucia Highlands

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands

  Big black fruited nose, most jammy of the lineup but with some baking spice notes as well. Medium to full bodied with big black fruit, baking spice and prominent pepper. Not usually my style of syrah but this is complex and interesting. (my 2nd, group's 2nd)

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• 2009 Novy Family Wines Syrah Christensen Family Vineyard

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Pretty nose of purple fruit, dried flowers and herbs. Full bodied with sweet, jammy black fruit and big tannins. Too big a beast for me, but the group loved it. Needs time in my opinion. (my 7th, group's 1st)

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• 2009 Novy Family Wines Syrah Rosella's Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands

  Maybe the best nose in the group, spicy with black pepper complementing dark fruit. More pepper and big black fruit on the palate. Tannic and finishes a touch hot. (my 6th, group's 7th)

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• 2009 Novy Family Wines Syrah Russian River Valley

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Nose started strange, unlike any other in the group, sweet and grapey, but it improved a little with air. Light to medium bodied with fresh red and black fruit. Very nice. (my 5th, group's 3rd)

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• 2009 Novy Family Wines Syrah Garys' Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands

  Sweet nose, some caramel. Sweet black fruit as well, a bit out of balance for my palate. (my 8th, group's 6th)

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What a fantastic finish. Thanks Ross!

• 1982 Château Rieussec 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Gorgeously complex nose of apricot, lemon peel and spicy, candied ginger. The palate delivers on the promise of the nose with caramel, flan, apricot and golden raisin. All this delicious sugar and fruit are lifted and balanced by excellent acidity. So many lovely aged flavors but still fresh and vibrant in the mouth. Epic.

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