November 7, 2014 - Soft w/great depth; Ready; Drink soon!
February 2, 2013 - The small Viognier component was so influential in the aromatic makeup that at one point I thought I was tasting perfume (acacia flowers?). The additional time in bottle definitely benefited the wine. Without any detailed notes, I enjoyed it quite a bit.
July 14, 2012 - First tasted this wine in January, 2012. While this wine is well-focused, the dark berry and savory herb flavors still need more time. The tannins would also benefit. Maybe decanting would help round out the flavor.
January 15, 2012 - I think this one needs a little more time in the bottle. While it had a beautiful deep mahogany color, the balance was way off...a little more acidic than is typical of a Novy Syrah. It should blossom though with a little more time.
December 17, 2011 - Don't know about this one? Great No. Rhone aromatics and a nice savory-sweet opening. Right through to the finish, it showed potential but I kept getting a tart/sour acidity that significantly distracted. I'm definitely going to have to revisit before giving it a score and perhaps some extra time in the bottle will help.
May 15, 2011 - Really tasty!
- WS Grand Tour 2011
March 31, 2011 - Deep, translucent black, red color. Plum, menthol nose. Deep blue fruits, spice box, some good tanin bite. Short finish, but it's young. I like this wine for an inexpensive syrah.
Day 2 update. Hmmm, did not go the direction I would have thought. A little more bacon fat, tart and tight. Seemed to lose all of the flavor from day 1. Revising my score downward.
October 9, 2010 - Gave a good four to five hour decant. Sipped along the way to gauge how the decant played. I am really starting to understand about giving a wine the proper decant. Can't say I always have the discipline to do so, but am getting it more and more. Dark in color, good berry when it opens up. Very muted when first popped, give it some air and you will be very happy. About the three hour mark is when it started to show itself. Some tar and pepper to go along with the berry. Ends with a medium finish. I see this wine getting better with age, although it is nice where it is right now considering its youth.
August 20, 2010 - Pre-Poker Blind and Not (Main Street Wine Cellar, Seal Beach, CA): Fat berry sauce nose. Straight forward Syrah with some pepper and strong tannin.