March 10, 2024 - Fun to think of a comparison to a Guigal LaLa, but there is no comparison. However, this is an unbelievably good wine in its own right. There was more fruit, and less Rhône-ish flavors (no meat, bloody, or iron notes), but the depth was great. It started out a bit reticent and earthy. An hour later it was trying to be a central coast/SQN wine. Over the next few hours, it continued to change, evolve, and develop. Exceptional, and so fun to follow over an afternoon.
August 11, 2023 - Bedrock syrahs at Bazaar Meat (Chicago, IL): The most disappointing of the three in the flight -- this showed a little dead on the nose and palate. Lots of black cherry and modest vanilla tones, but generally just structural and not particularly expressive. Oddly shut down in comparison to the other two wines as well.
May 8, 2023 - River School Auction Tasting (Washington DC): The "La Turque" of the three. This had, to my tastes, the best combination of classic Northern Rhone elements - smoked meat, brine, flowers, white pepper - and dark fruit. Great length and depth but texturally right between the lighter Exposition 3 and the rounder Exposition 1. Really a great trio together and, as a serious Northern Rhone drinker, this was as close as I've seen a New World wine approach Cote Rotie.
July 24, 2022 - A very nice syrah. Drinking well now with a bit of air. Fresh red/black cherries, raspberries, licorice, some pepper, hints of earth and grilled meat. The medium acid/tannins are integrated. The oak is there but balanced, and I agree with others the viognier adds a nice lift.
February 4, 2022 - Needs a very long decant. First small glass right out of the bottle was astringent and overly syrupy, so I gave it another day to open.
After one day in the open bottle, the layers of flavor start to come in. The nose smells of licorice candy, fleshy black cherries and a little peppery meat. The influence of the 36 months of oak is quite apparent.
The palate follows with green strawberries, stoney minerality, white pepper and plush tannins. The lightly syrupy acidic finish is wrapped by the texture of black cherry skins lightly caressing the tongue.
The 2011 is not as complete a wine as the 2012 version of Exposition 2, but still great nonetheless. I enjoyed this with stir fried wagyu ground beef noodles on day two of opening. The green strawberry syrup acidity really elevated the fulfilling fattiness of the wagyu.
October 2, 2021 - Rustic red raspberry jam and red licorice on the nose - surprisingly fruity! Red and black cherries begin the palate, followed by a big peppery jump, then stones, leather, red raspberry, and roses. Finish brings strawberry and black cherry fruit with chocolate notes along with polished, soft tannins. There's a final addition of meat, sweet oak notes, and vanilla bean. Wow!
Bought direct from Bedrock in April 2020. I see others had experiences with this wine being over the hill or flawed. My experience couldn't have been more different.
May 6, 2021 - Bought direct from Bedrock in April 2020. Not sure what I’m missing here. This is very pruned and well past prime. Borderline Grenache/Châteauneuf du Pape like in texture (syrupy) and sweetness. Some nice N Rhone game and smoke come through but this has missed its drinking window by five years. Considered not rating as this is long gone but given the indicated drinking window I have elected to.
April 5, 2021 - A really beautiful syrah, with flowers and blueberries, some gaminess, and just hints of bacon fat. A sense of north Rhone without being exactly that. Wish I had lots more!
February 26, 2021 - Purchased directly from bedrock at release in 2014 but unfortunately flawed. Sad to hold a wine for 7 years in a wine fridge to have it be spoiled
October 16, 2020 - PNP. Followed over the night. I wanted to fall into the glass, the nose was so good, floral and savory at the same time. Garnet in color. Meat, white pepper, cinnamon, wild raspberry. Bold fruit but not heavy, layered complexity. The 8% Viognier adds a nice freshness and lift. I expect this will have a long life, but very accessible now.