9/12/2006 - klutchman wrote:

Medium to full bodied wine with strong blueberry and black pepper. Long finish, though not super smooth.

3/17/2007 - EMichels wrote:

Sweet; Alcohol; Opens up to strong fruit; 5,10,15,6

12/29/2007 - michigan dogs wrote:

popped and poured, mistake, wine was average but we didn't have time to let open. one glass left for next day. Excellent, very smooth -berry flavor. Make sure you give this some time before drinking

1/9/2009 - boogiejon wrote:

Dark tarry color; spicy nose of dark fruits and smoke; boysenberry and maple on the palate; really good juice from LAIRD!

8/7/2009 - tantotinto wrote:

Toward the lighter spectrum of California Syrah. Hints of cola and filled with rich, red fruit. A nice wine.

10/10/2009 - soyhead wrote:

nose - pepper and parsley. mouth - red ripe to dark fruit, well balanced, good acidity, drinking nicely

12/29/2009 - Whine-oh wrote:

Dark red in glass, not quite stain your teeth red though. full complex nose of ripe red and blue fruits an some smokiness too. Full palate of big, but not overpowering fruit upfront, some smoke and earth to follow, medium finish and some tannic structure to end the package, maybe even better in a few years but enjoyable now. Stood up well to a Mediterranean feast.

1/15/2010 - ShaneO wrote:

Not sure if this bottle was corked. Heavy sediment on the cork, and had a "nutri-sweet" or artificial sweetener finish. Disappointed as we thoroughly enjoyed this wine at the winery.

5/11/2010 - JuliannaDHS wrote:

Excellent wine. Nice dark fruit, well balanced with some spice and a touch of earthiness. Firm but smooth tannins. Very nice bottle of wine, need more.

7/25/2011 - xboomer wrote:

Shared this really good Sirah at JB and Silvia's home. Rox and Alex were there to celebrate my birthday..

11/11/2011 - djreme wrote:

Not as impressed with this as others. Took to a restaurant so did not decant. Had a spicy pepper taste that was overpowering and prevented the fruit from coming forward. Would recommend and hour or more decanting.

12/31/2012 - djreme Likes this wine:

I don't give 95 points very often, but I just loved this wine. The Bouquet was fabulous, and the wine didn't disappoint.

1/1/2013 - wino121 wrote:

Massive, and good!
Lots of fruit, really a nice effort, seems to be at peak.

12/9/2012 - RussK wrote:

RussK. Eddie brought to CDC. Brambles and bitterness. Still enjoyable. 91-

11/14/2012 - danscellar wrote:

Dark and dirty!! Inky color, Big nose, solid tannins with an earthy flavor. Good finish

7/12/2012 - danscellar wrote:

kind of earthy, but a good syrah

12/24/2011 - danscellar wrote:

nice syrah, lots of fruit and currant flavors

10/5/2007 - TuckerTini wrote:

At its peak. An excellent syrah!

3/17/2007 - TuckerTini wrote:

A couple years in the cellar improved this wine dramatically. Black cherry/blackberry fruit that is supported by well integrated, almost supple tannins. Some restrained white pepper spiciness much more well balanced than most domestic Syrahs I remember and even this wine at prior tasting. The leather notes WS mentions are gone, no chewiness to be found. 20 to 30 sec finish. Overall, aging very well indeed. This wine, I believe, is at its peak.

5/1/2006 - Imagination wrote:

A truely fine lush syrah! Lot's of ripe dark berries and ripe tannins. A noble effort from Paul Hobbs. I've had this wine three times with similar notes.

6/21/2005 - RussW wrote:

This was drinking very similar to the first bottle I had in March '04. This wine is all about balance, creamy blackberry fruit, good acidity and a touch of minerality. The finish is medium length with nice dark spicey fruit. A very good CA syrah that is much more on the restrained side of the spectrum. This should continue drinking well for several more years.

3/27/2004 - RussW wrote:

'01 Laird Dyer Ranch Syrah

C - Inky purple with brightening at the edge. When poured it looked like purple motor oil.

N - White pepper, smoke, raw meat, licorice, chocolate, blackberry.

MP - Balance, balance, and more balance. Nice acidity and wonderfully pure, clean, rich blackberry fruit.

F - Long gorgeous finish of white pepper, blackberry, and mineral, with a kiss of chocolate.

The wine was decanted for an hour before drinking.

Day 2 - Everything from day 1 but if possible the wine is even more balanced and exhibits a much greater degree of creaminess on the midpalate and the purity of fruit continues to shine through. The last glass also began to show some subtle all spice character.

If I am not mistaken this is fruit that used to go into the Lewis Syrah. This is a very nice complex syrah that is beautifully balanced at this young age. It is drinking great now with an hour or two of decanting but has the structure to improve and age gracefully over the next 3-5 years. Tannins are present but they are silky and remain in the background. This is certainly one of the best Napa syrahs I have had in my limited experience.

Note to self; pick up a few more bottles.