Community Tasting Note

sid_loves_wine Likes this wine:

Wednesday, August 19, 2020 - Wow, what a beautiful surprise. After trying a 2016 Nuts and Bolts, I was prepared to find very heavily extracted/jammy fruit here too (I enjoyed the 2016 but didn't find it super complex nor convincingly balanced). After hearing that Russell did awesome things with the cool 2011 vintage, making a rhone-like wine even over 15% ABV, I had doubts...but he really did. Not mistakable for a Rhone, but shows a clear ability to harness the savory nuance of syrah while still capturing that dark, rich fruit in an effective way. Did so far better than a 2012 Pax Griffin's Lair Syrah, even being a full point higher in ABV, and for a slightly cheaper price too.

Incredible, harmonious, wafting nose of rich blackberry liqueur, cappuccino, black cherry, subtle black olive and floral tones, a pinch of bacon fat; alcohol is obviously present but amazingly shows more as a cooling menthol than jammy heat. Doesn't 'explode' from the glass, but very persistent. Weirdly classy and collected. Palate is less complex, but very well-balanced considering the style. Plenty of black fruit and tangy acids, at least a solid medium acidity if not higher, bringing more than enough lift for this rich, dark style to feel ultimately elegant. Tannins are still hanging around, but have softened into a dense silk. Long black cherry finish showing a touch of jamminess, but by that point, so lovely that it doesn't matter. I'd drink now before the energy dips down.

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