December 20, 2022 - Tried this earlier than normal as trying to determine whether I should get more. 1 hour decant.
Summary - This has some smoked meat and funk, but it is lighter on the power compared to the best Reynvaans - meaning to me that this is better than 14 or 15, but not as impressive as 08-13. I'm not sure if Matt is changing the style, but I am a bit concerned. This feels as if it will continue to improve - but I'm doubt that it will increase in power.
V - Clear, pale/maybe medium garnet with medium meniscus.
N - Good florals, smoked meat, black currant, blueberry, olive. Nice.
P - Primarily red fruit and floral notes - light for a Contender.
St - Med/Med+ body with medium acid and fin Med+ tannins.
January 23, 2022 - Opened this based on recent positive notes and glad I did. Three hour decant. I was surprised that it was lighter in weight and more subtle than I had expected. But still full of rich Syrah flavors of dark fruits, meaty, savory, herbal but not stemmy. Long finish. Our lamb dinner was almost too much it so I preferred drinking on its own. This is a great wine to open on a Sunday afternoon and watch it evolve as you sip over many hours.
December 12, 2021 - Sunday Brisket (Matt's, Portland OR): Nose: The nose is deep and rich, filled with black cherries, raspberries, licorice, bacon fat, olives, currants, black pepper, smoke, violets, and a touch of herbs.
Taste: The feel is Full bodied with medium acidity and silky, medium+ tannins. The feel is larger scaled and rich, but deft and balanced with black cherries, raspberries, licorice, bacon fat, currants, black pepper, smoke, and violets.
Overall: Though this could use a few more years, it’s also drinking beautifully. I love the expression of syrah here as there’s a great cross between richer fruits and the peppery side of the grape.
September 27, 2021 - Aromatics are predominantly beef jerky, black pepper & dark fruits.
Texturally the wine is soft, tannins fine, the wine has a teriyaki quality, savory dark fruits, rosemary & smoked long finish.
January 4, 2021 - I rated this 88 in 2019, so showing somewhat better. Very meaty, smoke, dark fruits. I enjoy Paso Robles syrah's a lot better.
October 29, 2019 - disappointing, I got the smoke and meaty syrah flavors which I can love, but overall wine did not show that well. Was expecting a lot more. Maybe I opened too young, but 2nd day of drinking did not help. I will hold off on other bottles for a couple years. No WOW for me.
August 19, 2019 - Smoked meats, dark fruits, leather, and flowers on the nose. On the palette, dark fruits, plum, chocolate, and a layer of sweet tea. Nicely balanced and should do even better with time. Floral notes threw me off a bit before looking up the specs and finding out this is a co-ferment.
May 4, 2018 - Hommage a DryCab - Washington Wines release; 5/3/2018-5/5/2018 (Various spots in Walla Walla): Also a pull from the bottom of the container after bottling. We went bobbing for wine! Had this and the In the Rocks. I preferred this one a bit mostly for the uniqueness. The Marsanne adds a softness in character to the wine and a touch of a different herbal note. Very enjoyable although as with the In the Rocks still very primary.