Tasted blind. Starts with plenty of SO2 that I have trouble getting past, which along with ultra-ripe black fruit are often telltale signs of Alban for me. Fruit comes across as somewhat exaggerated with a sense of black olives and dried rosemary. Others liked this far more than I did tonight.
Tasted blind as a "ringer" in an American Syrah tasting, so it may have been lost in this context. Or an off bottle? Big black fruit on nose and palate with just hints of background spice. Fairly assertive structure moderated the fruit considerably from middle to finish.
Tasted blind. Rich fruit to start with black pepper and licorice. Blackberry flavors with same spice profile and good balance and finesse. Overall good flavors, just slightly simple. Others liked this better than I did tonight.
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Tasted blind. As dark as wine can be. Dense black fruit on nose. Same fruit on palate, close to approaching a jammy character. Modest spice at best. Alcohol protrudes quite a bit on finish.
Tasted blind. Aromas of blackberry, plum and black pepper, along with some floral hints. Same fruit on palate with black pepper again and licorice. Reasonable balance despite some heat clearly standing out near finish.
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Tasted blind. Concentrated black fruit aromas and flavors with sensational black pepper and licorice. Continues to consistently show Cote-Rotie character every time tasted.
Tasted blind. Great black fruit to start on nose and palate, but less interesting from middle forward. Not quite completely balanced, with a toasty, hot finish.
Tasted blind. started with lots of SO2 that stood well in front of the dense, dark fruit aromas all night. Tome this emphasized Syrah's big black primary attractiveness with just modest finesse or nuance.
Tasted blind. I had never even heard of this cuvee and was incredibly impressed at every level. Black cherry and blackberry on nose and palate with wonderful spice. Subtle, evolving flavors and textures, emphasizing great Syrah's nuance and elegance.
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Tasted blind. My wine of the Night. Rich fruit to start on nose with licorice, pepper and thyme. Powerful yet balanced black fruit on palate with great length, energy and balance. This wine continues to impress me in every vintage.
Tasted blind. Massive fruit simply wallops you over the head. A bit of SO2 stood out for me. Little subtlety to start, then some acidity and finer textures come through in middle and finish. Give this plenty of time in the cellar.
Tasted blind. I had this one small notch behind my Wine of the Night. Others had this closer to the middle of the pack, which truly surprised me. Slightly floral start with black cherry, anise and black pepper. Fairly overt oak spice still stands out a bit. Plenty of dense black fruit on palate as well, very well textured and balanced. Good now, probably at its peak in another 5 years.
2002 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard 84 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley
Tasted blind. Starts with plenty of SO2 that I have trouble getting past, which along with ultra-ripe black fruit are often telltale signs of Alban for me. Fruit comes across as somewhat exaggerated with a sense of black olives and dried rosemary. Others liked this far more than I did tonight.
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1995 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline 90 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
Tasted blind as a "ringer" in an American Syrah tasting, so it may have been lost in this context. Or an off bottle? Big black fruit on nose and palate with just hints of background spice. Fairly assertive structure moderated the fruit considerably from middle to finish.
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2005 Linne Calodo Nemesis 90 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Tasted blind. Rich fruit to start with black pepper and licorice. Blackberry flavors with same spice profile and good balance and finesse. Overall good flavors, just slightly simple. Others liked this better than I did tonight.
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2006 Carlisle Syrah Papa's Block 89 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Tasted blind. As dark as wine can be. Dense black fruit on nose. Same fruit on palate, close to approaching a jammy character. Modest spice at best. Alcohol protrudes quite a bit on finish.
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2005 Jonata Winery La Sangre de Jonata 91 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley
Tasted blind. Aromas of blackberry, plum and black pepper, along with some floral hints. Same fruit on palate with black pepper again and licorice. Reasonable balance despite some heat clearly standing out near finish.
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2003 Pax Syrah Castelli-Knight Ranch 95 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Tasted blind. Concentrated black fruit aromas and flavors with sensational black pepper and licorice. Continues to consistently show Cote-Rotie character every time tasted.
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2005 K Vintners Syrah Old Bones 88 Points
USA, Washington
Tasted blind. Great black fruit to start on nose and palate, but less interesting from middle forward. Not quite completely balanced, with a toasty, hot finish.
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2005 Saxum Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard 87 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Tasted blind. started with lots of SO2 that stood well in front of the dense, dark fruit aromas all night. Tome this emphasized Syrah's big black primary attractiveness with just modest finesse or nuance.
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1997 Ojai Syrah Cuvée Henry Daniel 95 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley
Tasted blind. I had never even heard of this cuvee and was incredibly impressed at every level. Black cherry and blackberry on nose and palate with wonderful spice. Subtle, evolving flavors and textures, emphasizing great Syrah's nuance and elegance.
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2005 Glaetzer Shiraz Amon-Ra Barossa Valley 96 Points
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Tasted blind. My wine of the Night. Rich fruit to start on nose with licorice, pepper and thyme. Powerful yet balanced black fruit on palate with great length, energy and balance. This wine continues to impress me in every vintage.
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2004 Alban Vineyards Syrah Seymour's Vineyard 89 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley
Tasted blind. Massive fruit simply wallops you over the head. A bit of SO2 stood out for me. Little subtlety to start, then some acidity and finer textures come through in middle and finish. Give this plenty of time in the cellar.
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2005 Sine Qua Non Syrah Atlantis Fe2O3~1a, b & c 96 Points
USA, California, Central Coast
Tasted blind. I had this one small notch behind my Wine of the Night. Others had this closer to the middle of the pack, which truly surprised me. Slightly floral start with black cherry, anise and black pepper. Fairly overt oak spice still stands out a bit. Plenty of dense black fruit on palate as well, very well textured and balanced. Good now, probably at its peak in another 5 years.
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