Preserved blueberries and black cherries, a little reduction in a very good way, coffee grounds, leather, olive tapenade, tomato leaf, black pepper and bacon grease. Medium + body with surprisingly good tannins for age 14.
This drinks very well right now and it's probably at peak. I agree that this is a great benchmark for Central Coast Syrah.
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Massively fruity with supporting smokey mineral notes. The nose is assertive and welcoming perfectly implying what’s about to overwhelm your palate. There’s no sediment and you’ll need to shine a light through your glass to see the activity going on it there.
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First wine of my birthday weekend in Miami. Notes at the 2 hour mark. Deep opaque eggplant color. Big nose and taste of cedar, beef, earth, leather, blackberry and plum. Not bright but brooding. Lot of depth and full body. Viscous yet silky. Medium acidity and well integrated tannins. Going strong at 11 years. About 93.
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From Double Magnum. Cork was huge but intact. Had to melt and then cut the wax seal first. It then came off fine. Clear with no sediment visible. It must be fined and filtered. Deep garnet in color. Clean nose. Primary fruits are black. Blackberry, black cherry, black plum, bramble, black pepper, chocolate, cedar. As far as tertiaries, there are some meaty notes, leather and forest floor. The nose is developing. On the palate it is dry, with medium acid, medium plus and silky tannins, medium plus alcohol, which seems well integrated and shows no heat. It is medium plus bodied, with medium intensity and notes of black plum, black pepper, cloves and espresso along with some gamy farmyard notes. The finish is of medium plus length, Very good effort. The wine can be drank now but will benefit from further aging, especially in this large format.
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This is a big, brooding, meaty, earthy wine. Upon opening and pouring into the decanters (it took two as this is a 1.5L bottle) there was strong aroma of charcuterie, slab bacon. Decanted for 3 hours; consumed over the next 3 hours. The palate brought dusty notes of dark fruits; nothing bright and cheery in this wine. It made us sit back and consider its depth. I find it hard to describe, but the best I can do is to say that this wine gorgeous in a way that encourages one to be introspective. It is not a light-hearted offering. But it was completely enjoyable.
The comparison wine of the night was a 2014 Tensley BMT; both from the Santa Ynez region of California. They were pretty much yin/yang to each other. Jonata = dark, brooding, intellectual. Tensley = bright, dazzling, conversational. Both were excellent, but in very different ways!
Previous notes from a few years ago from other CTers suggest 94/95 ratings. I can't get there. Damn good, and drinking well right now, but not in a class by itself.
My apologies as this may be the most esoteric and rambling tasting note I have ever written!
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Opaque purple red violet color; deep black fruit, roasted black fruit, espresso, tar, licorice nose; tight, tart black fruit, roasted black fruit, oak, licorice, tar, toast palate; needs 3-4 years; long finish (98% Syrah, 2% Viognier)
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Tenzing Portfolio Tasting (Tenzing - Chicago, IL): One of the wines of the day. Savory, spicy, clove, cinnamon. big wine with a super punch. Black truffles all over the nose as well. Excellent bottling. Some sulfur and earth come out with air.
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2/25/2023 - Sir Lee wrote:
Slightly smoky, quick finish, but rich creamy mouth feel, leathery flavors.
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11/2/2022 - AlphaMikeFoxtrot Likes this wine: 93 Points
Preserved blueberries and black cherries, a little reduction in a very good way, coffee grounds, leather, olive tapenade, tomato leaf, black pepper and bacon grease. Medium + body with surprisingly good tannins for age 14.
This drinks very well right now and it's probably at peak. I agree that this is a great benchmark for Central Coast Syrah.
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2/8/2022 - mpdonnel Likes this wine: 95 Points
On fire! The start is ig, deep, smooth dark red fruits, with some spicy/earthy complexity behind it. Great expression of central coast Syrah at peak.
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7/15/2021 - Drankthewholebottle Likes this wine: 94 Points
Massively fruity with supporting smokey mineral notes. The nose is assertive and welcoming perfectly implying what’s about to overwhelm your palate. There’s no sediment and you’ll need to shine a light through your glass to see the activity going on it there.
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12/6/2019 - RockyII Likes this wine: 93 Points
First wine of my birthday weekend in Miami. Notes at the 2 hour mark. Deep opaque eggplant color. Big nose and taste of cedar, beef, earth, leather, blackberry and plum. Not bright but brooding. Lot of depth and full body. Viscous yet silky. Medium acidity and well integrated tannins. Going strong at 11 years. About 93.
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6/21/2019 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine: 92 Points
From Double Magnum. Cork was huge but intact. Had to melt and then cut the wax seal first. It then came off fine.
Clear with no sediment visible. It must be fined and filtered. Deep garnet in color. Clean nose. Primary fruits are black. Blackberry, black cherry, black plum, bramble, black pepper, chocolate, cedar. As far as tertiaries, there are some meaty notes, leather and forest floor. The nose is developing.
On the palate it is dry, with medium acid, medium plus and silky tannins, medium plus alcohol, which seems well integrated and shows no heat. It is medium plus bodied, with medium intensity and notes of black plum, black pepper, cloves and espresso along with some gamy farmyard notes.
The finish is of medium plus length, Very good effort. The wine can be drank now but will benefit from further aging, especially in this large format.
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3/17/2018 - Jnihols7 wrote: 96 Points
High octane Syrah with juicy plum and dark fruit. The only knock is a bit of an alcohol burn. Very good
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12/2/2017 - JERB Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is a big, brooding, meaty, earthy wine. Upon opening and pouring into the decanters (it took two as this is a 1.5L bottle) there was strong aroma of charcuterie, slab bacon. Decanted for 3 hours; consumed over the next 3 hours. The palate brought dusty notes of dark fruits; nothing bright and cheery in this wine. It made us sit back and consider its depth. I find it hard to describe, but the best I can do is to say that this wine gorgeous in a way that encourages one to be introspective. It is not a light-hearted offering. But it was completely enjoyable.
The comparison wine of the night was a 2014 Tensley BMT; both from the Santa Ynez region of California. They were pretty much yin/yang to each other. Jonata = dark, brooding, intellectual. Tensley = bright, dazzling, conversational. Both were excellent, but in very different ways!
Previous notes from a few years ago from other CTers suggest 94/95 ratings. I can't get there. Damn good, and drinking well right now, but not in a class by itself.
My apologies as this may be the most esoteric and rambling tasting note I have ever written!
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12/24/2015 - jmprusko Likes this wine: 92 Points
A bit too big, more like a Shiraz
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9/4/2012 - Sam@weimail.com wrote: 95 Points
Bacon!
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8/3/2012 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
Opaque purple red violet color; deep black fruit, roasted black fruit, espresso, tar, licorice nose; tight, tart black fruit, roasted black fruit, oak, licorice, tar, toast palate; needs 3-4 years; long finish (98% Syrah, 2% Viognier)
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4/28/2012 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 94 Points
2012 Hospice du Rhone Grand Tastings; 4/27/2012-4/28/2012 (Hospice du Rhone, Paso Robles, California): Opaque purple red violet color; aromatic, appealing, tart black fruit, tar, lavender nose; tart black fruit, tar, lavender palate; medium-plus finish (with 2% Viognier)
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4/16/2012 - beezer6 wrote: 94 Points
Tenzing Portfolio Tasting (Tenzing - Chicago, IL): One of the wines of the day. Savory, spicy, clove, cinnamon. big wine with a super punch. Black truffles all over the nose as well. Excellent bottling. Some sulfur and earth come out with air.
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12/25/2011 - Niagara wrote: 95 Points
Excellent wine! Bright and somewhat brooding all at once. Dark chocolate and pomegranate. Delicious.
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