November 21, 2023 - Terrific big bottle of my favorite Syrah. Drank with family ahead of Thanksgiving.
February 13, 2021 - Retail $50. Big Ass Bottle. As I was perusing my cellar this particularly chilly February evening, I noticed this Pasterick Syrah and its rather striking "drink by" status here on Cellar Tracker (2019, for those following along at home). Upon opening, however, I knew I was in for a treat. Dark and brooding in the glass with sexy and spicy dark berry fruit (blackberry, cassis, black cherry), oodles of spice (clove, cardamom, black pepper), and a touch of anise, this is straight up gangbusters. The palate is more of the same, only ratcheted up to eleven: fruit, spice, layers of depth, weight, Yowza and Whoa. I would like to characterize Gerry Pasterick as a friend but tasting this wine? I am fairly certain that I am not worthy.
http://www.thedrunkencyclist.com
December 21, 2020 - BUMMER! Was looking forward to this wine and opened it to go with grilled lamb chops. The beautiful structure of the wine was offset by the corked nose. Expensive and disappointing outcome.
November 8, 2019 - Wonderful aromatics with lavender and blackberry. In the mouth it's black currant, mulberry, brown sugar, sage. Fine tannins, well-balanced acidity. A truly lovely wine.
September 20, 2019 - I wanted to enjoy this but gave me rather little pleasure. Neither big and full, nor with finesse. Lots of extraction though, with 15.5% alc. Maybe good fun while younger but now not so much (for my palate). +1 for effort though, which is evident.
August 4, 2018 - Decanted for 4 hours. Deep purple with a tinge of garnet at the edges. Nose of black fruit, olive and rosemary. Lots of dark fruit on the palate with integrated tannin and limited acid. Drinking very well now, though lost some steam at the end. Give it a shorter decant than I did and enjoy.
October 1, 2016 - Terrific. For as approachable upon release as this wine is (consistently), it holds up so well in the cellar. Black currant, tepenade, acidity with good lift, black tea tannins.
April 30, 2016 - Needed the bottle time. Nice.
April 18, 2014 - Truly, an outstanding Syrah. Big, complex, and concentrated. Blackberry, brown sugar, spice, and earth. Nicely oaked, good lift from the acidity leading into the mid palate, flavors persist 15-20 seconds minimum. Year over year a great wine.
February 11, 2013 - Deep purple color; This wine had a very aromatic nose of spices and white pepper with blackberry, kirsch and spice flavors. It was a huge wine with lots of everything - tannins, acid, alcohol. Good complexity. It seemed young and would probably improve with a few years in the cellar. Bottle 1572 of 5244. 15% alcohol.