Party for AF defense. This tasted over the hill, slightly cooked, and a bit burned out. Was still drinkable, but not what it used to be. Should have drunk sooner.
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Last bottle from my cellar - best one yet! Deep garnet color, so dark as to be nearly opaque (but not cloudy). On the nose, dense aromas of red and black fruit, with a hint of minerality in the background. On the pallet, velvety smooth texture supporting lush, dark red and black fruit flavors of blackberry, raspberry, currant, plum, deep and rich but restrained, balanced on an undercurrent of light earthyness and subtle minerality. Smooth and refined tannins on the moderate finish. All deftly blended to create a very pleasing wine of elegance and perfect balance. I was not impressed by previous bottles, drunk years ago when the wine had only a few years of bottle age; this wine apparently really needed cellar time to fully evolve!
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Paired perfectly with Beef Short Ribs braised in Syrah. Dark fruit - plum & light chocolate on the nose. Deep harmonious and round. IMHO this is prime time and won't get better. Wish I had waited longer on the other bottles.
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A deep ruby wine, with legs, the nose emits a bouquet of Wintergreen, eucalyptus, and raspberries. On the palate, this is a fruit forward with with flavors of raspberry jam, red plums, cocoa and some baking spices. As of 2018, the wine has Med+ acid and soft tannins. It has a long, lingering finish. Drink it now.
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Had this against a Pax 2006 Green and it didn't hold a candle. That said. It's a cheaper wine so about equal on a QPR basis. Good flavors but disjointed.
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Dark red with purple hues almost plum color. Opaque through the core with moderate-plus glass staining tears. After air time in the decanter warm aromas show spices of sassafras, toasted fennel, allspice, cinnamon roll and clove that coat notes of blackberry, blueberry and huckleberry fruits. Layered with nuances of violets, plum sauce, toasted oak and vanilla. The palate retains its sapidity, lively acidity and supple mouth feel. Flavors show plump berries and fleshy plum notes with cream, vanilla, violet pastilles, baking spices, sassafras and toasted oak. The sappy finish lingers with warmth.
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PnD 1/2 bottle let air for 1hr. Dark purple garnet from to core to a clear rim. Plum black cherry lavender licorice lilac and milk chocolate on the nose. Medium weight with nicely burred tannins. Blue berry Bing cherry fig plum lavenadar beef jerky soy sauce and espresso on the palate. Ripe fresh complex and blanched. Really nice. Has some life ahead but glad a had my last one in such a sweet spot.
Two days later held up really well with nice integration and revealing more complexity while still showing nice fruit. +1 pt and still glad I drank up.
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The last bottle we drank in Nov 2016 was the best of the five or six we purchased, and at that point I felt like it had a decent amount of time out in front of it. This bottle took a step back, still enjoyable but it definitely feels like it's turning. Remains fruit forward but the secondary notes - coffee, pepper spice, char - that made this interesting have faded. The last reviewer mentioned it was "muddled" which seems pretty fair. Every other bottle over delivered but I wouldn't wait much longer....
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At first seemed a little stewed, but that seemed to dissipate. I don't know how much longer I'd hold onto these. Not as good as my last bottle, much more muddled and not as interesting.
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With slight hints of smoke and slightly more notes of vanilla on top of a savory/sweet Syrah package, this went very well with baba ganoush and was good on its own, too. Didn't notice the heat from the alcohol.
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This is drinking really well right now - each bottle has been a step above the prior. Typical Syrah notes across the nose - brambly, dark berries mixed with notes of coffee, baking spice and savory herbs. Fruits trend slightly tart over the palate but remains firmly on the blue and blackberry end of the spectrum, adding notes of seared meat and white pepper through the finish. Great integration of flavors, everything is in balance. I think it has legs beyond 2017 but with how well it's drinking right now I'm not sure I'd want to wait.
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Lovely nose of blackberry fruit, spicy oak and pepper, following to the palate. Great acidity, light tannin, medium+ body. This is drinking really well right now, likely at peak given the hot vintage. Drink now - 2018.
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Pop and pour impressions...the rest is in the decanter. Prominent tar and smoke on the nose. Medium bodied with noticeable acidity. Blackberry jam and pencil lead with gritty tannins on the palate. Good QPR. Should be good with the Brisket when it comes off the smoker.
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PnD 2/3 bottle let air for 2hrs. Very consistent with previous notes. Aromatically intense with added notes of lavender and licorice. Very smooth on the palate well integrated and nicely balanced. Really coming into its own. Will hold onto last bottle for a couple more years.
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Drinking very well. Wouldn't hold onto much longer. Warm cherry and blueberry with undertones of graphite and iron. Almost sweet, but in a good way. A hint of spice on the end. Everything in great balance.
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This is an excellent example of fairly priced quality WA syrah. It has lots of red fruit but is neither overly fruit forward nor too hot (as WA wines so often are. It's quite a food friendly wine for its type and contrasted nicely with a 2009 CNP enjoyed during the same meal.
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P&P. Drinking at peak. I wouldn't wait much longer on this one...full body leaning toward the soft side of things. Good fruit, slightly stewed, but quite tasty. Not a lot of secondary action, and tannins are totally resolved. Followed over 3 hours and it didn't improve much, so I would probably drink this soon.
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Decanted. Aromas present with moderate intensity and show plum, blackberry and blueberry scents on top of sassafras and sarsaparilla, violets, cinnamon, vanilla and creamy oak notes. On the palate vivid and fresh. The juicy acidity levels are medium-plus. Tannins and alcohol perception comes across moderate. Fresh fruit flavors of blackberry, plum, blueberry and dark cherry. Vanilla, cream, baking spices, violets, lavender and hints of sassafras. The finish is long, sappy and juicy.
Overall in a good drinking window but can still go further. Looking forward to the evolution.
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Lab dinner at Rooney's: This was a smooth, flavorful bottle of Syrah. Bordering on flabby, but with rich fruit and a tinge of gamy character. Decent balance. Not a style of wine I particularly love, but clearly well made and was enjoyed quite a bit by many at the table.
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Power and finesse in the same bottle. This wine was awesome. Layered with plum, currant, sassafras, cream and spice flavors that keep rocking all night long. Lots of years of life left in this wine
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Terrific wine, decanted for about 30 - 45 min. Nose of dark fruits, some pepper on the finish (which was long and wonderful). Tannins have fully integrated with time.
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This is a nice not overly extracted Sarot. The body is full of fruit with some round lush tannins. We drink over two days, and the wine developed more on the second day. I get plums and other dark fruits with a hint of coffee. The finish lingers for 15 to 20 seconds. I think the wind will develop a little more with time but not that much better
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Drank with slow cooked bbq pork. Decanted for 2 hrs. Had some hints of spice as well as a slight hint of smoke after an hour or so of drinking. Lacked some excitement/complexity.
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This is a beautiful wine, drinking nicely. Great nose, smooth, robust. Paired nicely with NY strip. Let breath for 30 minutes, and kept getting better over next 2 hours. So sad it's our last bottle.
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This is a very enjoyable wine. Paired well with grilled lamb chops and the rib eye steaks. Decanted for 6 hrs. prior to pouring. Ready to drink now, but will still age quite nicely.
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100% Syrah from several vineyards in the Columbia, Yakima and Walla Walla Valleys. Opened with a smoked beef brisket. A heavy, full bodied wine with a deep crimson color. Thick texture with notes of tart cherries, blueberry syrup, vanilla and toasted oak. Firm tannins. 91-92 points.
Ruby and purple edges with medium viscosity in the glass. Juicy raspberry, crushed white pepper, flowers and black fruit on the nose. Secondary mint. Medium body with fresh red and dark fruit on the palate. Loads of white pepper along with secondary tea, chocolate, coffee, licorice and Jolly Rancher. Structured with fine grip. Medium finish. 14.8% is showing at this time. Pinot lovers' Syrah!
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Sultry spiced, luscious red fruit, sage, black fruits, anise, raspberry and cherry scents. The Ex Umbris is smooth, complex showing pork fat, game meats, mixed fruit, cinnamon and red cherry. Long and spiced on the finish, it is big, yet intriguing.
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Felt this had improved over past 6 mo. Decanted 45. At fist there was a great gamy note, as well as dark berries and violets. Oak is there, but secondary. Though there is no doubt this is a new world wine, there was a good amount of Northern Rhone showing. At one point, a slightly weird but mildly interesting asparagus note became prominent. Went perfectly with braised lamb and was definitely better with food.
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I believe this is a well-made wine, but it is not very much to my taste. It is dark purple in color and the flavor are very highly concentrated. To me, drinking it is like trying to read a page filled with tiny words too close together. The predominant elements in the nose are tobacco, caramel, and dark berry fruit. On the palate, oak and spice notes are my primary impressions. Overall, it's just a bit much for me. The tannins are soft at this point and the alcohol (high at 14.8%) is well-integrated. I derived enjoyment from it, but the style just ain't my cup of tea. If I had another bottle I'd cellar for a year or two to see if the flavors integrate and mellow a bit.
On the other hand, my wife loved it. She describes it as being grabbed by a passionate lover and kissed wildly, being left wanting more. Perhaps I should spend less time writing tasting notes and more time smooching with her.
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Sadly, my last bottle of this exquisite Washington Syrah. Black core fades gradually to a purple rim; aromas of violets, red currant, cassis, blueberry and candied figs lead into a supple palate bursting with juicy ripe berry and plum flavors with hints of spices on the soft, plush finish.
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PnVnD let air for 1.5 hrs drank 1/2 of the bottle over 2hrs. Dark dense saturated purple with a clear rim. Lush blackberry cherry eau de vie licorice soy sauce and beef jerky on the nose. Medium(+) weight with grippy black tea and fruit skin notes. Plums black cherry blackberry herbs soy sauce and coffee on the palate. Lingering Bing cherry skin and espresso finish with racy integrated acidity to keep everything in balance. Not confected or hot like the first bottle. Really nice stuff especially at the release price as opposed to the $32 I paid.
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My 90 rating really is 93-87, as unlike some of the other reviewers, I absolutely love this at open and for about the first 20-30 minutes. After that, time really is not its friend, as it tends to become a bit disjointed, with the massive initial fruit and acidic undertone that are so pleasing each heading their own way. I don't doubt that bottle time may integrate, but decanter time was not its friend. It is funny as I'm certainly not a fruit bomb Shiraz/Syrah guy, but there's something to this that makes it different.
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This is my third rating of this wine and I still have a bunch more to try in the future. Even after a day of decanting, the wine was not what it used to be when I first got it. THe bottles have been stored at a stable temperature range since then. May be it is time to wait for a year before opening the next one?
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Pretty good juice. First glass was about an hour after opening. Wine was very tight and not showing much. Waited 3 hrs for second glass and found it to be much more expressive. Big lush fruit. Easy drinking. Well balanced. Would wait another yr or two if I had another.....
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Nose has dusty cherry and raspberry. Slightly dry, but full mouthfeel. Excellent fruit. Tastes of blackberry and spice, drinking well, better when open for an hour to breathe.
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aromas of smoky blackberry, blueberry, cinnamon, spice, and oak. palate is lush and velvety with rich, baked blackberry and plum with big tannins and an echo of blueberry cobbler. hold.
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Consistent with prior notes. Showed well 6 months after my last bottle. Still taking an hour or two to open up. Time..... another year++ to hit it's stride.
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On the nose, saddle leather, grilled meat, and sweet, red fruit. Light bodies and a tad astringent on the palate with bitter sweet fruit. Drinking well now.
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tasted better on release. agree with a few tasters who've pointed out that these are more suited for early consumption. A bit disjointed and lacking composure from when I tasted a year ago. A bit of an alcohol and jammy mess right now - more of a cocktail wine.
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This is a juicy, delicious new world Syrah. It just doesn't have much personality. After about two hours of air, some savory notes started to show, making me wonder if it'll evolve into something more interesting in a year or two. Tasty now for sure though. 88-91pts
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Delicious young syrah. Pop and pour, but this syrah was open for business from the start. Paired with grilled ribeye, sautéed spinach and baked potato. I cannot see this getting any better, I believe this one is built to be drunk young.
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Seriously great wine for the price (~$25, if memory serves me correctly). A metaphorical mix of structured WA Syrah, with the warm year characteristics of an Aussie Shiraz. Very nice and rich on the palate with plush mouthful of great Syrah with dark fruit. Has the depth and structure to age, but with an hour of air, it's so appealing to drink right now. Deep opaque color, and deep dark fruits on the nose and palate with a long finish. Just a great wine for the price and a wine I would not be disappointed to purchase at $10 to $15 more than what I paid. Bravo Own Roe for producing as great wine at an excellent QPR!
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Some VA on the nose. Beyond that, lots of ripe black fruit and wood aromas. Also some nice spices peeked out after a vigorous swirl. Alcoholic heat singed the nostrils a bit. On the palate, a lot of ripe fruit, with appearances by wood smoke, dark dusty soil, and black olive. The finish is a little short and hot but still perfectly serviceable. Not bad at all, I have a few more bottles to track the progress over several years.
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I bought two cases of this wonderful Syrah; I wish I had bought many more. Every time I have this, it's a treat. Tonight the fruit was a continuous flow of both dark and red fruit,along with a touch of spice, some sweetness, and a wisp of smoke. The high alcohol (14.8) is in no way a deterrent.
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An excellent young entry level WA state syrah enjoyed last night at the monthly Hickory Wine Club tasting. My WOTF, a great QPR wine. Very dark, medium bodied, soft and creamy and supple with well balanced fruit and tannins with a great aftertaste. Aromatic nose with red fruit, white pepper, black currant and spices. Primary flavors include red fruit, plum, black pepper and cooking spices as well as a hint of mint or eucapyptus on the very end that I typically associate with Aussie not WA state syrah. I highly recommend this wine.
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Deep dark black fruit, smoky bacon and spice aromas. Depth of flavor permeates with black currants, wet cement, tobacco leaves and lovely loam. Finish is smooth, yet very tight. 2 hours to open up. Full of complex layers and intensity. Needs time, drink next in 2013+
A bit disppointed they switched to CHEAP composite cork, which historically, I've had consistent trouble with regarding longevity. For $24, I would expect better from this producer. I won't run out and buy more if they continue with the poor quality cork on any of their wines.
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Medium body. Fine tannin. A bit alcoholic and off balance in its youth. Good concentration on the mid palate. Blueberries, hints of graphite. Medium-plus finish.
This wine is delicious right now. Whomever said it was reminiscent of Aussie Shiraz was right on. I'm hopefull this will develop some complexity with time.
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PnVnD let air for 4hrs. Dark dense purple with scarlet rim. Bit of a woody boozy blueberry milkshake nose - like an Aussie shiraz. Medium weight with plush ripe chocolately tannin. Very ripe black fruits but with enough acidity to keep it in check. Lingering blackberry eau de vie note on the finish. Currently hot and disjointed. Will wait a year before trying another bottle to see if it integrates. Better with food.
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Tight right after opening (venturi + decanter at restaurant). Started to open up after 15 minutes, but really started to sing after 30. Perfect timing as that is when our steak arrived. When fully opened, this wine has a tremendous nose of mocha and dark fruits. Full-bodied and very opaque. On the palate, dark fruits followed by some spice/pepper, as expected for this varietal. Nice complexity, mouthfeel, and a medium-length finish. This was a perfect match for our meal, and the score reflects that. Without food, I would probably rate it an 89, as it can be a bit strong.
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I've liked previous vintages of this, but what I get from this one is a huge hit of alcohol in aroma and taste that doesn't integrate even after sitting for a couple of days after opening. Maybe this will improve with age, but at 14.8% I'm not so sure.
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This rates as an outstanding syrah that is currently full of youthful exuberance. A clear, deep ruby wine with a clean nose of medium intensity. Wonderfully complex notes of mixed peppercorns, warm cherry pie, dates, and black plums. Excellent balance on the palate between the medium-plus acidity and tannins and a full body. The nose follows through on the palate along with liquorice, root beer, and fatty meats. The finish is long and coats the mouth and teeth. This rates as an outstanding wine that is certain to develop in the cellar for the next 6-8 years.
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Great fruit of dark cherry and plum with enough acid to help it glide over the kalbi with which I had it, effortlessly. Wet and fresh with solid balance.
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Dark berry and mocha on the nose - smells a little like a european pastry. Big and a bit heavy on the palate. Plenty of dark fruit, a beam of cherry, and some mocha. Plenty of oak, both on the attack and on the midpalate. There was a smoky edge when we first opened it that weakened with time in the air. A long and enjoyable finish. IMHO not quite enough acid or tannin to balance the big fruit.
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Lots of berry and vanilla. Shows some oak spice notes in addition, on the finish. Balance is a little off -- this comes off as a little flabby to me, although it's very tasty to just drink. Finish is long.
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Red licorice and strawberry compote expressions on the nose. Bold spice with darker berries on the palate. A beautiful balance of fruit, acid and tannins round off with an exceptional finish. I ordered 3 more bottles once this one was finished. It will be interesting to see how this wine evolves.
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Dark, inky, opaque in glass. The nose offers up intense maine blueberries, licorice, wood, and vanilla. The palate is tightly wound right now but very juicy. Very round and lush with superfine tannins. This will be incredible within 3 years. Outstanding!
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Decanted for 1 hour and it needs it at this point. Solid 90 point wine, smooth drinker, somewhat flat mid palate, but over all nice wine and will revisit in year or so.
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Hands down, the best Syrah experience I have ever had! Deep dark color, soft to medium fruit on the nose, medium body, big dark fruit on the palate with soft, but long tannins. The taste is supported gently by the wines acidity and heat. Unbelievably integrated, yet not too complex - a nice swallow! I also enjoyed that little sweet/sour component at the end of a very long finish. This was the first of four that I purchased the day of the tasting ..... will go back to grab six more that they now have on hold for me. Great value!
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Definitely a step up from the bottle the evening before.... gave it more air this time around (2 hour decant) and was much more nuanced and subtle.... while the fruit is prevalent up front the spice, cedar and herbal notes really integrate nicely. It certainly has room to evolve and improve but if you're opening now, give it some real time to air out to draw out the spice.
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Fruit bomb, but in a good way... a lot of ripe berries up front that evolve into a somewhat spicy finish. Somewhat underwhelmed by the rating and fanfare but have more to open over the coming years.
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Great qpr. Very much bubble gum and cotton candy on the nose, but the palate is more nuanced with an array of tart berry flavors, a little mesquite, and the just the right amount of mocha. Perfectly balanced with a very long finish. Highly recommend.
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A very jammy fruit forward Syrah -- blueberry, black cherry, peppercorn, nice must, good acidity, moderate tannins, licorice included in the long finish. A bit on the sweet side for my tastes approaching Aussie Shiraz.
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Vastly superior to the previous bottle. Opaque inky color with perfumed dark fruit, florals- violets and lavender. Medium- to full-bodied, with loads of dark fruit persisting through the long finish.
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Simply put, this was a fantastic wine. I was hoping it would be good, what I got was one of the best valued wines I have tasted in a long time. While this is undoubtedly new world through and through, it was striking in its body and structure all while maintaining a level of impressive finesse that is not found in many of these big new world Syrah/Shiraz. After 2 hours of being in the decanter it absolutely coated the palate with all colors of the berry spectrum, while keeping the oak and alcohol (for the most part) in check. I really can't think of a better winter wine.
After taking my first sip I immediately attempted to buy more and was disappointed to find out they were sold out. I am glad I still have one.
If you can find it, buy all you can. This is a wine that won't stay at this price ($25) for long. What a great find.
When I first opened it up it reminded me of the musty spilled wine smell of being in a winery. Not particularly pleasant. It really changed after a couple of hours. Very smooth and round. Not a super long finish, but a very pleasant one. Dark fruit, maple, plum, cocoa. Great mouth feel. so round. I like this a lot.
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Deep, lucious and rich. Loaded with black fruit and woodsy notes with a finish that goes on and on. There's a lot here for a $20 something bottle of wine.
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Round and layered - plenty of ripe fruit (plum and currants dominating) and spice, with great acid/oak/fruit balance. Excellent finish - long and, once again, layered. Tanins are present but not aggressive - drinking well now, and should be a great mid-term (5 years?) cellar add. This is a really well crafted wine. Ex Umbris -- "From the Shadows" indeed! Owen Roe Vineyards is now on my hunting list!
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Viscous wine that has long legs with a deep purple hue. this wine really needs time to open up... Aromas are fruit forward with blackberry, plum, currant and wild raspberry, spice, earth and subtle sassafras notes follow behind. On the palate, lush with bright fruit favors of plum, and berry, and dark cherry. Vanilla and soft oak is well integrated with soft spice and soft tannins. Chocolate and root beer/cream soda flavors follow through to finish which is long and fades slowly. A Lovely Syrah that will cellar well!
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Red in color with dark purple hues. A full bodied wine with rich smooth textures and with flavors of blackberries, black pepper and bacon that lingered through the finish. Excellent!
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This was a really well made wine, it just wasn't a 90+ for me. Smokey/meaty fruits on the nose. On the palate it's got some big jammy red fruits with some more smokiness. Long, sweet finish with a little pepper. Solid bottle of wine.
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Deep ruby core, pinkish-blue rim Bing cherry & smoke melt into violets, clay, & cream on the nose Good acidity, 13.5 alcohol. Long, lush cherry finish with black pepper undercurrent Fantastic wine that is drinking well now, but I think it will be even better in 5 years
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nose: tar and strawberries, cherry, musky earth taste: jammy fruits, strawberry and cherry again, medium body, solid finish with some slightly toasted notes
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BUY! $21 here in Eugene and this has great QPR. P & P'ed: the nose is a little tight but with time (and the second glass!) you get ripe black fruit, oak, pepper/spice. On the palate the texture is a highlight: plush! w/o being sappy or overextracted.
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Subdued nose. Minerals and graphite along with pomegranate, cranberry and other rich red and black berries. Flavors of plum, currant, sassafras and spice. It's lithe and smooth with rich flavors. Mouth coating, but not overly concentrated. Tasty!
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Fantastic complexity, it's an incredible mix of flavors in one sip. Heavy fruit was the first flavor but it had depth with caramel notes and a lingering finish.
The medium body and easy finish made a great partner to homemade pizza. I transitioned between bites of thin-crust heaven and sips of fruity velvety Washington syrah for as long as possible. I should have bought 3 more bottles!
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You know what? This is delicious. It smells like a slutty sugary mess, it really does. Think about that fruit bomb over-extracted Aussie shiraz that you want to take home, but you don't want to wake up with. First sip is magic. First glass is great. Second glass ... what were you thinking? Third glass ... just pure regret.
This wine is not that wine: it smells like it's going to be syrupy sweet. Dead ringer for a flabby Mollydooker on the nose. Total slut, right? Here's the thing: On the palate, it's got structure. It's under 15% ABV, there's complexity, there's balance ... I mean there's actually acid. It's not just a fruit jam bomb. It's from ... Washington. It's good. For about $25, it's great. It may not be the stuff that dreams are made of, but if you're looking for something that's a crowd pleaser AND remains drinkable and downright interesting for the enthusiast, bravo. Best value in Syrah that I've tasted in a long while.
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Extracted and saturated Washington Syrah that pushes the flavor gambit to the max. Displaying a purplish color, alluring fresh earth greets the nose, followed by enticing incense and crushed dark fruit. Black plum, smoky berries, ripe raspberry and cinnamon stick all bound in a white pepper package. A creamy, chocolately midpalate with a hint of underbrush jetting towards a terrific finish dotted with baking spice and oak. Night two brought more sweetness and ripeness but was managed well by tannic structure. Third evening huckleberry pie and a mocha edge developed. The fourth, final evening introduced an interesting balsamic tint with clove. Fascinating transformations occured during this drinking experience. Alot here to admire and look forward to exploring these over the next 6 to 7 years. High quality QPR
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This WA state Syrah is a little hard to love and here's why. But first, before I share tasting notes, a warning. This wine in particular, changes dramatically between opening it and 30 mins after opening it. It goes from tart cherry with throat burning alcohol to palatable after 30 mins. Okay, that being said, the nose is tart cherry, plum and iron (bloody steak). As with previous Ex Umbris, midpalate is tart and minerally/iron cherry with a quinine-vanilla finish. Hard to love.
-- Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
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Washington syrah. Popped and poured. In the glass, darkest garnet. On the nose, aromas of dark berries. In the mouth, fruit-forward and medium-bodied with flavors of rich blackberry compote, oak, and a hint of spice. This is a wine with well-integrated tannins clearly meant to be enjoyed now, but with intriguing complexity. Lengthy and hot finish, which dissipates (somewhat) with a long decant. No doubt will improve with a few years in the cellar. Deftly straddles the line between the fruit bombs of Paso Robles and the cooler weather and more refined masterpieces from the Northern Rhone. The best Ex Umbris (I've tasted them all) by far. Absolutely outstanding QPR.
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good with heavy food but definitly was riper and the heat was poking out more w/out food. Good acids, tasted like a colder climate (yakima, although it was CV) syrah. Extracted dark fruit, reduced citric acid base, and dense mouthfeel. Good price.
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Smooth and well balanced wash state syrah, does not have the sharp edge that many syrahs have. A bit simple, just big, one dimensional fruit right at you, and a surprisingly short, almost clipped finish. Worth the $22 paid, but will not be buying more.
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much deeper flavor, and more complex than 2008, caramel overtones consistent with Owen Roe wines, they must use the same oak for all wines. wouldn't mind a bit less of that flavor, tasty drinker though
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5/31/2022 - ChrisinCowiche wrote: 88 Points
Still going strong. Straightforward syrah, a bit of heat, but pleasant drinker.
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6/19/2021 - SpoochMan wrote: 87 Points
Party for AF defense. This tasted over the hill, slightly cooked, and a bit burned out. Was still drinkable, but not what it used to be. Should have drunk sooner.
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12/10/2020 - caroleandjay Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking great now. Both Cherry and blackberry with floral and earthy tones on the nose.
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9/11/2020 - Chad2564 wrote: 96 Points
Amazing but starting to lose, I fell one more year and no good
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8/2/2020 - Otis Wine Lover Likes this wine: 96 Points
Last bottle from my cellar - best one yet!
Deep garnet color, so dark as to be nearly opaque (but not cloudy). On the nose, dense aromas of red and black fruit, with a hint of minerality in the background. On the pallet, velvety smooth texture supporting lush, dark red and black fruit flavors of blackberry, raspberry, currant, plum, deep and rich but restrained, balanced on an undercurrent of light earthyness and subtle minerality. Smooth and refined tannins on the moderate finish. All deftly blended to create a very pleasing wine of elegance and perfect balance.
I was not impressed by previous bottles, drunk years ago when the wine had only a few years of bottle age; this wine apparently really needed cellar time to fully evolve!
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5/15/2020 - Carib Does not like this wine:
Waited too long.
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3/14/2019 - Bryan49 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Paired perfectly with Beef Short Ribs braised in Syrah. Dark fruit - plum & light chocolate on the nose. Deep harmonious and round. IMHO this is prime time and won't get better. Wish I had waited longer on the other bottles.
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3/9/2019 - Duce wrote: 93 Points
Drinking well right now. Great fruit, soft tannins
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12/28/2018 - swlevison wrote: 92 Points
A deep ruby wine, with legs, the nose emits a bouquet of Wintergreen, eucalyptus, and raspberries. On the palate, this is a fruit forward with with flavors of raspberry jam, red plums, cocoa and some baking spices. As of 2018, the wine has Med+ acid and soft tannins. It has a long, lingering finish. Drink it now.
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11/14/2018 - j77bman Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cherry nose, rich dark fruits with a long satisfying finish. This wine has never been better, softer and integrated. Agree it is at its peak. Enjoy
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7/16/2018 - syrahz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Solid Syrah. Four of us enjoyed with homemade pizza fired in an outdoor oven. Definitely time to drink up.
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7/4/2018 - VAGentleman wrote: 91 Points
Definitely ready perhaps at peak. Full fruit, blackberries. Nice clean taste with quick but lovely finish.
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3/31/2018 - Supercheese wrote:
Good solid Syrah.
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1/31/2018 - SeaWine wrote: 88 Points
Not nearly as good, complex, or interesting as I remember it a little over a year ago, suggesting that it as passed its peak. Drink ASAP.
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1/4/2018 - Rick 4 Wine wrote: 89 Points
Had this against a Pax 2006 Green and it didn't hold a candle. That said. It's a cheaper wine so about equal on a QPR basis. Good flavors but disjointed.
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11/25/2017 - bjamesclark wrote: 91 Points
Dark red with purple hues almost plum color. Opaque through the core with moderate-plus glass staining tears.
After air time in the decanter warm aromas show spices of sassafras, toasted fennel, allspice, cinnamon roll and clove that coat notes of blackberry, blueberry and huckleberry fruits. Layered with nuances of violets, plum sauce, toasted oak and vanilla.
The palate retains its sapidity, lively acidity and supple mouth feel. Flavors show plump berries and fleshy plum notes with cream, vanilla, violet pastilles, baking spices, sassafras and toasted oak. The sappy finish lingers with warmth.
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5/27/2017 - df1962 Likes this wine: 93 Points
PnD 1/2 bottle let air for 1hr. Dark purple garnet from to core to a clear rim. Plum black cherry lavender licorice lilac and milk chocolate on the nose. Medium weight with nicely burred tannins. Blue berry Bing cherry fig plum lavenadar beef jerky soy sauce and espresso on the palate. Ripe fresh complex and blanched. Really nice. Has some life ahead but glad a had my last one in such a sweet spot.
Two days later held up really well with nice integration and revealing more complexity while still showing nice fruit. +1 pt and still glad I drank up.
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2/27/2017 - Ewhite30 Likes this wine:
The last bottle we drank in Nov 2016 was the best of the five or six we purchased, and at that point I felt like it had a decent amount of time out in front of it. This bottle took a step back, still enjoyable but it definitely feels like it's turning. Remains fruit forward but the secondary notes - coffee, pepper spice, char - that made this interesting have faded. The last reviewer mentioned it was "muddled" which seems pretty fair. Every other bottle over delivered but I wouldn't wait much longer....
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2/15/2017 - TC16 wrote: 89 Points
At first seemed a little stewed, but that seemed to dissipate. I don't know how much longer I'd hold onto these. Not as good as my last bottle, much more muddled and not as interesting.
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1/8/2017 - msh305 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Peaking right now, I wish this wasn't my last bottle!
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1/7/2017 - SeaWine wrote: 91 Points
With slight hints of smoke and slightly more notes of vanilla on top of a savory/sweet Syrah package, this went very well with baba ganoush and was good on its own, too. Didn't notice the heat from the alcohol.
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11/20/2016 - Ewhite30 Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is drinking really well right now - each bottle has been a step above the prior. Typical Syrah notes across the nose - brambly, dark berries mixed with notes of coffee, baking spice and savory herbs. Fruits trend slightly tart over the palate but remains firmly on the blue and blackberry end of the spectrum, adding notes of seared meat and white pepper through the finish. Great integration of flavors, everything is in balance. I think it has legs beyond 2017 but with how well it's drinking right now I'm not sure I'd want to wait.
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11/14/2016 - RPerro Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely nose of blackberry fruit, spicy oak and pepper, following to the palate. Great acidity, light tannin, medium+ body. This is drinking really well right now, likely at peak given the hot vintage. Drink now - 2018.
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9/23/2016 - Tannic Monster Likes this wine: 90 Points
Pop and pour impressions...the rest is in the decanter. Prominent tar and smoke on the nose. Medium bodied with noticeable acidity. Blackberry jam and pencil lead with gritty tannins on the palate.
Good QPR. Should be good with the Brisket when it comes off the smoker.
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6/21/2016 - df1962 Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnD 2/3 bottle let air for 2hrs. Very consistent with previous notes. Aromatically intense with added notes of lavender and licorice. Very smooth on the palate well integrated and nicely balanced. Really coming into its own. Will hold onto last bottle for a couple more years.
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5/15/2016 - TC16 wrote: 93 Points
Drinking very well. Wouldn't hold onto much longer. Warm cherry and blueberry with undertones of graphite and iron. Almost sweet, but in a good way. A hint of spice on the end. Everything in great balance.
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2/23/2016 - 2caveman Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is an excellent example of fairly priced quality WA syrah. It has lots of red fruit but is neither overly fruit forward nor too hot (as WA wines so often are. It's quite a food friendly wine for its type and contrasted nicely with a 2009 CNP enjoyed during the same meal.
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1/21/2016 - joet626 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Really good. Nice and smooth. Dark fruits. Have had this several times from different vintages and it is always good.
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1/16/2016 - RPerro Likes this wine: 88 Points
P&P. Drinking at peak. I wouldn't wait much longer on this one...full body leaning toward the soft side of things. Good fruit, slightly stewed, but quite tasty. Not a lot of secondary action, and tannins are totally resolved. Followed over 3 hours and it didn't improve much, so I would probably drink this soon.
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1/6/2016 - TheJohnnyV Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice! In a great spot and could stay there another year or two, but not getting any better.
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11/29/2015 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Purple. Complex fruit, tart blueberry, and a long finish. Went very well with filet.
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11/28/2015 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Loved it. Had a taste at Angus Barn w/dinner. Great dark fruit. Well balenced. Would buy again.
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9/5/2015 - Pour Boy wrote: 90 Points
Opened this late in the night and after a 2006 Clos des Papes CDP. But it held up well. Could improve with more cellar time.
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8/9/2015 - bjamesclark wrote: 92 Points
Decanted.
Aromas present with moderate intensity and show plum, blackberry and blueberry scents on top of sassafras and sarsaparilla, violets, cinnamon, vanilla and creamy oak notes.
On the palate vivid and fresh. The juicy acidity levels are medium-plus. Tannins and alcohol perception comes across moderate. Fresh fruit flavors of blackberry, plum, blueberry and dark cherry. Vanilla, cream, baking spices, violets, lavender and hints of sassafras. The finish is long, sappy and juicy.
Overall in a good drinking window but can still go further. Looking forward to the evolution.
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6/12/2015 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lab dinner at Rooney's: This was a smooth, flavorful bottle of Syrah. Bordering on flabby, but with rich fruit and a tinge of gamy character. Decent balance. Not a style of wine I particularly love, but clearly well made and was enjoyed quite a bit by many at the table.
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5/31/2015 - gryz Likes this wine: 89 Points
Tasting much better after age
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11/18/2014 - ibglowin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Power and finesse in the same bottle. This wine was awesome. Layered with plum, currant, sassafras, cream and spice flavors that keep rocking all night long. Lots of years of life left in this wine
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10/25/2014 - Philman15 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Terrific wine, decanted for about 30 - 45 min. Nose of dark fruits, some pepper on the finish (which was long and wonderful). Tannins have fully integrated with time.
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10/10/2014 - joet626 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice. Smooth and tasty with blackberry flavors. Really good
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9/9/2014 - Rick 4 Wine Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is a nice not overly extracted Sarot. The body is full of fruit with some round lush tannins. We drink over two days, and the wine developed more on the second day. I get plums and other dark fruits with a hint of coffee. The finish lingers for 15 to 20 seconds. I think the wind will develop a little more with time but not that much better
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9/5/2014 - redsonly wrote: 93 Points
My 5th bottle over last 3 yrs. By a wide margin I'd say drinking best right now. Stunning. Nose and mouth both beautiful.
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8/24/2014 - Nealefisher wrote: 89 Points
Drank with slow cooked bbq pork. Decanted for 2 hrs. Had some hints of spice as well as a slight hint of smoke after an hour or so of drinking. Lacked some excitement/complexity.
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8/9/2014 - denisontb Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is a beautiful wine, drinking nicely. Great nose, smooth, robust. Paired nicely with NY strip. Let breath for 30 minutes, and kept getting better over next 2 hours. So sad it's our last bottle.
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6/15/2014 - DTWOB Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is a very enjoyable wine. Paired well with grilled lamb chops and the rib eye steaks. Decanted for 6 hrs. prior to pouring. Ready to drink now, but will still age quite nicely.
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5/23/2014 - Decanthor Likes this wine: 92 Points
Same notes as last time but the tannins have softened. This is ready to go within minutes of pouring. Still delicious with steak.
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5/20/2014 - Vino Me wrote: 92 Points
100% Syrah from several vineyards in the Columbia, Yakima and Walla Walla Valleys. Opened with a smoked beef brisket. A heavy, full bodied wine with a deep crimson color. Thick texture with notes of tart cherries, blueberry syrup, vanilla and toasted oak. Firm tannins. 91-92 points.
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5/16/2014 - gryz wrote: 88 Points
Bland taste.
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12/19/2013 - christophee Likes this wine: 88 Points
Ruby and purple edges with medium viscosity in the glass. Juicy raspberry, crushed white pepper, flowers and black fruit on the nose. Secondary mint. Medium body with fresh red and dark fruit on the palate. Loads of white pepper along with secondary tea, chocolate, coffee, licorice and Jolly Rancher. Structured with fine grip. Medium finish. 14.8% is showing at this time. Pinot lovers' Syrah!
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10/29/2013 - BklynNeophyte wrote: 87 Points
Good, not great. Somewhat refined, which is nice.
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10/27/2013 - VinLancaster wrote:
Sultry spiced, luscious red fruit, sage, black fruits, anise, raspberry and cherry scents. The Ex Umbris is smooth, complex showing pork fat, game meats, mixed fruit, cinnamon and red cherry. Long and spiced on the finish, it is big, yet intriguing.
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9/21/2013 - DMSeward wrote: 97 Points
Smooth with a nice finish, not to dry. Full bodied fruit but not overwhelming. Delicious.
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7/13/2013 - VinLancaster wrote:
Continues to impress and shows no signs of shutting down. Great balance, fantastic value.
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5/25/2013 - lifeattable Likes this wine: 91 Points
Felt this had improved over past 6 mo. Decanted 45. At fist there was a great gamy note, as well as dark berries and violets. Oak is there, but secondary. Though there is no doubt this is a new world wine, there was a good amount of Northern Rhone showing. At one point, a slightly weird but mildly interesting asparagus note became prominent. Went perfectly with braised lamb and was definitely better with food.
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5/7/2013 - David J Cooper wrote: 86 Points
Dark purple. Ripe blue fruit, not very interesting but tasty.
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5/1/2013 - Momus99 Likes this wine: 87 Points
I believe this is a well-made wine, but it is not very much to my taste. It is dark purple in color and the flavor are very highly concentrated. To me, drinking it is like trying to read a page filled with tiny words too close together. The predominant elements in the nose are tobacco, caramel, and dark berry fruit. On the palate, oak and spice notes are my primary impressions. Overall, it's just a bit much for me. The tannins are soft at this point and the alcohol (high at 14.8%) is well-integrated. I derived enjoyment from it, but the style just ain't my cup of tea. If I had another bottle I'd cellar for a year or two to see if the flavors integrate and mellow a bit.
On the other hand, my wife loved it. She describes it as being grabbed by a passionate lover and kissed wildly, being left wanting more. Perhaps I should spend less time writing tasting notes and more time smooching with her.
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4/20/2013 - denisontb Likes this wine: 92 Points
Super smooth, drinking beautifully. Agree with other reviews.
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4/12/2013 - beaunehead wrote: 94 Points
Sadly, my last bottle of this exquisite Washington Syrah. Black core fades gradually to a purple rim; aromas of violets, red currant, cassis, blueberry and candied figs lead into a supple palate bursting with juicy ripe berry and plum flavors with hints of spices on the soft, plush finish.
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3/30/2013 - cliffkol wrote:
Madeline loved this wine
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3/8/2013 - df1962 Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnVnD let air for 1.5 hrs drank 1/2 of the bottle over 2hrs. Dark dense saturated purple with a clear rim. Lush blackberry cherry eau de vie licorice soy sauce and beef jerky on the nose. Medium(+) weight with grippy black tea and fruit skin notes. Plums black cherry blackberry herbs soy sauce and coffee on the palate. Lingering Bing cherry skin and espresso finish with racy integrated acidity to keep everything in balance. Not confected or hot like the first bottle. Really nice stuff especially at the release price as opposed to the $32 I paid.
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2/16/2013 - denisontb Likes this wine: 89 Points
Still drinking beautifully. Smooth, complex, lovely.
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1/19/2013 - mrmedoes wrote: 90 Points
My 90 rating really is 93-87, as unlike some of the other reviewers, I absolutely love this at open and for about the first 20-30 minutes. After that, time really is not its friend, as it tends to become a bit disjointed, with the massive initial fruit and acidic undertone that are so pleasing each heading their own way. I don't doubt that bottle time may integrate, but decanter time was not its friend. It is funny as I'm certainly not a fruit bomb Shiraz/Syrah guy, but there's something to this that makes it different.
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1/19/2013 - Ltomanek wrote: 88 Points
This is my third rating of this wine and I still have a bunch more to try in the future. Even after a day of decanting, the wine was not what it used to be when I first got it. THe bottles have been stored at a stable temperature range since then. May be it is time to wait for a year before opening the next one?
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1/7/2013 - rwilk_2000 wrote: 88 Points
Pretty good juice. First glass was about an hour after opening. Wine was very tight and not showing much. Waited 3 hrs for second glass and found it to be much more expressive. Big lush fruit. Easy drinking. Well balanced. Would wait another yr or two if I had another.....
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1/5/2013 - Cesayian wrote: 91 Points
Nose has dusty cherry and raspberry. Slightly dry, but full mouthfeel. Excellent fruit. Tastes of blackberry and spice, drinking well, better when open for an hour to breathe.
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1/2/2013 - beaunehead wrote: 91 Points
aromas of smoky blackberry, blueberry, cinnamon, spice, and oak. palate is lush and velvety with rich, baked blackberry and plum with big tannins and an echo of blueberry cobbler. hold.
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11/20/2012 - VinLancaster wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with prior notes. Showed well 6 months after my last bottle. Still taking an hour or two to open up. Time..... another year++ to hit it's stride.
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11/9/2012 - nfafoglia wrote: 90 Points
On the nose, saddle leather, grilled meat, and sweet, red fruit. Light bodies and a tad astringent on the palate with bitter sweet fruit. Drinking well now.
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11/8/2012 - mattyboy_ wrote: 88 Points
tasted better on release. agree with a few tasters who've pointed out that these are more suited for early consumption. A bit disjointed and lacking composure from when I tasted a year ago. A bit of an alcohol and jammy mess right now - more of a cocktail wine.
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11/2/2012 - lifeattable wrote: 89 Points
This is a juicy, delicious new world Syrah. It just doesn't have much personality. After about two hours of air, some savory notes started to show, making me wonder if it'll evolve into something more interesting in a year or two. Tasty now for sure though. 88-91pts
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10/23/2012 - Ltomanek wrote: 92 Points
This was a nice bottle with notes of dark berries, some pepper and may be some coffee. Anyway, great PQR.
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10/14/2012 - bugdoced wrote: 92 Points
agree that this one is ready to go and is really good
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9/10/2012 - matro wrote: 94 Points
Delicious young syrah. Pop and pour, but this syrah was open for business from the start. Paired with grilled ribeye, sautéed spinach and baked potato. I cannot see this getting any better, I believe this one is built to be drunk young.
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9/3/2012 - Sauvyfan wrote: 87 Points
This wine tasted "grapey" and candied. A lot of make-up on this wine. Not a fan.
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8/9/2012 - ewsds wrote: 92 Points
Seriously great wine for the price (~$25, if memory serves me correctly). A metaphorical mix of structured WA Syrah, with the warm year characteristics of an Aussie Shiraz. Very nice and rich on the palate with plush mouthful of great Syrah with dark fruit. Has the depth and structure to age, but with an hour of air, it's so appealing to drink right now. Deep opaque color, and deep dark fruits on the nose and palate with a long finish. Just a great wine for the price and a wine I would not be disappointed to purchase at $10 to $15 more than what I paid. Bravo Own Roe for producing as great wine at an excellent QPR!
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8/8/2012 - ob2s wrote: 93 Points
jeezus man this is so good! smooth balanced
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7/22/2012 - ucbeau wrote: 87 Points
Some VA on the nose. Beyond that, lots of ripe black fruit and wood aromas. Also some nice spices peeked out after a vigorous swirl. Alcoholic heat singed the nostrils a bit. On the palate, a lot of ripe fruit, with appearances by wood smoke, dark dusty soil, and black olive. The finish is a little short and hot but still perfectly serviceable. Not bad at all, I have a few more bottles to track the progress over several years.
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6/29/2012 - fredman wrote: 91 Points
I bought two cases of this wonderful Syrah; I wish I had bought many more. Every time I have this, it's a treat. Tonight the fruit was a continuous flow of both dark and red fruit,along with a touch of spice, some sweetness, and a wisp of smoke. The high alcohol (14.8) is in no way a deterrent.
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6/17/2012 - mikesvins wrote: 91 Points
I can not add much to the CT comments, except all at the table loved it. Wish I had more of it.
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6/12/2012 - ikkaariainen wrote: 91 Points
An excellent young entry level WA state syrah enjoyed last night at the monthly Hickory Wine Club tasting. My WOTF, a great QPR wine. Very dark, medium bodied, soft and creamy and supple with well balanced fruit and tannins with a great aftertaste. Aromatic nose with red fruit, white pepper, black currant and spices. Primary flavors include red fruit, plum, black pepper and cooking spices as well as a hint of mint or eucapyptus on the very end that I typically associate with Aussie not WA state syrah. I highly recommend this wine.
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6/6/2012 - mgribble94 wrote: 90 Points
Nose of darker fruit and smoke (bacon?). Way smooth on the palate. Finish is nice but not terribly long.
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5/25/2012 - jimmyrice14 wrote: 92 Points
Lovely...big fruit and smooth tannins...will hold up over time.
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5/24/2012 - VinLancaster wrote: 91 Points
Deep dark black fruit, smoky bacon and spice aromas. Depth of flavor permeates with black currants, wet cement, tobacco leaves and lovely loam. Finish is smooth, yet very tight. 2 hours to open up. Full of complex layers and intensity. Needs time, drink next in 2013+
A bit disppointed they switched to CHEAP composite cork, which historically, I've had consistent trouble with regarding longevity. For $24, I would expect better from this producer. I won't run out and buy more if they continue with the poor quality cork on any of their wines.
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5/22/2012 - sasvino wrote: 91 Points
Solid fruit forward syrah, red fruit dominant, body was light to medium body, pleasant every day drinker. -S
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5/18/2012 - skin2win wrote: 91 Points
Blueberry nose, some bramble even.
Medium body. Fine tannin. A bit alcoholic and off balance in its youth. Good concentration on the mid palate. Blueberries, hints of graphite. Medium-plus finish.
This wine is delicious right now. Whomever said it was reminiscent of Aussie Shiraz was right on. I'm hopefull this will develop some complexity with time.
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4/29/2012 - denisontb wrote: 91 Points
Beautiful Syrah. Decanted for 30 minutes this time & it was smooth with a long finish. Very nice.
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4/29/2012 - df1962 wrote: 90 Points
PnVnD let air for 4hrs. Dark dense purple with scarlet rim. Bit of a woody boozy blueberry milkshake nose - like an Aussie shiraz. Medium weight with plush ripe chocolately tannin. Very ripe black fruits but with enough acidity to keep it in check. Lingering blackberry eau de vie note on the finish. Currently hot and disjointed. Will wait a year before trying another bottle to see if it integrates. Better with food.
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3/25/2012 - BHP1994 wrote: 91 Points
Echo many of the comments below. Delicious effort from Owen Roe. Great QPR.
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3/24/2012 - Decanthor wrote: 92 Points
Tight right after opening (venturi + decanter at restaurant). Started to open up after 15 minutes, but really started to sing after 30. Perfect timing as that is when our steak arrived. When fully opened, this wine has a tremendous nose of mocha and dark fruits. Full-bodied and very opaque. On the palate, dark fruits followed by some spice/pepper, as expected for this varietal. Nice complexity, mouthfeel, and a medium-length finish. This was a perfect match for our meal, and the score reflects that. Without food, I would probably rate it an 89, as it can be a bit strong.
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3/15/2012 - Mary Crawford wrote:
I've liked previous vintages of this, but what I get from this one is a huge hit of alcohol in aroma and taste that doesn't integrate even after sitting for a couple of days after opening. Maybe this will improve with age, but at 14.8% I'm not so sure.
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3/9/2012 - WillSka Likes this wine:
This rates as an outstanding syrah that is currently full of youthful exuberance. A clear, deep ruby wine with a clean nose of medium intensity. Wonderfully complex notes of mixed peppercorns, warm cherry pie, dates, and black plums. Excellent balance on the palate between the medium-plus acidity and tannins and a full body. The nose follows through on the palate along with liquorice, root beer, and fatty meats. The finish is long and coats the mouth and teeth. This rates as an outstanding wine that is certain to develop in the cellar for the next 6-8 years.
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2/11/2012 - spidersva Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really, really good, and you know this wine has more to give. Let it sit a year or two more and you will be rewarded (93? 94?).
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2/5/2012 - appskiah wrote:
big, lots of blackberry cobbler; a bit hot
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2/3/2012 - powersaxo wrote: 93 Points
Great fruit of dark cherry and plum with enough acid to help it glide over the kalbi with which I had it, effortlessly. Wet and fresh with solid balance.
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1/28/2012 - mreinitz wrote: 90 Points
Dark berry and mocha on the nose - smells a little like a european pastry. Big and a bit heavy on the palate. Plenty of dark fruit, a beam of cherry, and some mocha. Plenty of oak, both on the attack and on the midpalate. There was a smoky edge when we first opened it that weakened with time in the air. A long and enjoyable finish. IMHO not quite enough acid or tannin to balance the big fruit.
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1/25/2012 - THaas wrote: 89 Points
Lots of berry and vanilla. Shows some oak spice notes in addition, on the finish. Balance is a little off -- this comes off as a little flabby to me, although it's very tasty to just drink. Finish is long.
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1/24/2012 - RobSpectator Likes this wine: 92 Points
Red licorice and strawberry compote expressions on the nose. Bold spice with darker berries on the palate. A beautiful balance of fruit, acid and tannins round off with an exceptional finish. I ordered 3 more bottles once this one was finished. It will be interesting to see how this wine evolves.
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1/24/2012 - mattyboy_ Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark, inky, opaque in glass. The nose offers up intense maine blueberries, licorice, wood, and vanilla. The palate is tightly wound right now but very juicy. Very round and lush with superfine tannins. This will be incredible within 3 years. Outstanding!
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1/22/2012 - denisontb wrote: 90 Points
Fantastic Syrah, drinking beautifully, but a little tight. Likely benefit with some time. Agree with other positive reviews, glad I have more.
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1/21/2012 - thatrick wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 1 hour and it needs it at this point. Solid 90 point wine, smooth drinker, somewhat flat mid palate, but over all nice wine and will revisit in year or so.
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1/21/2012 - DTWOB wrote: 94 Points
Hands down, the best Syrah experience I have ever had!
Deep dark color, soft to medium fruit on the nose, medium body, big dark fruit on the palate with soft, but long tannins. The taste is supported gently by the wines acidity and heat. Unbelievably integrated, yet not too complex - a nice swallow! I also enjoyed that little sweet/sour component at the end of a very long finish. This was the first of four that I purchased the day of the tasting ..... will go back to grab six more that they now have on hold for me. Great value!
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1/14/2012 - Lyssandryn wrote: 90 Points
A favorite from Owen Roe. Nice balance. A little tight. Looking forward to opening another bottle in a couple years.
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1/7/2012 - cliffkol wrote: 89 Points
(Doris - really liked)
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12/24/2011 - Ewhite30 wrote: 90 Points
Definitely a step up from the bottle the evening before.... gave it more air this time around (2 hour decant) and was much more nuanced and subtle.... while the fruit is prevalent up front the spice, cedar and herbal notes really integrate nicely. It certainly has room to evolve and improve but if you're opening now, give it some real time to air out to draw out the spice.
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12/23/2011 - Ewhite30 wrote: 87 Points
Fruit bomb, but in a good way... a lot of ripe berries up front that evolve into a somewhat spicy finish. Somewhat underwhelmed by the rating and fanfare but have more to open over the coming years.
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12/17/2011 - BSpdx wrote: 92 Points
Great qpr. Very much bubble gum and cotton candy on the nose, but the palate is more nuanced with an array of tart berry flavors, a little mesquite, and the just the right amount of mocha. Perfectly balanced with a very long finish. Highly recommend.
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12/14/2011 - ghoztly wrote: 89 Points
A very jammy fruit forward Syrah -- blueberry, black cherry, peppercorn, nice must, good acidity, moderate tannins, licorice included in the long finish. A bit on the sweet side for my tastes approaching Aussie Shiraz.
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12/10/2011 - maxmanx wrote:
full-throttle, meaty syrah. Good stuff!
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12/8/2011 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Vastly superior to the previous bottle. Opaque inky color with perfumed dark fruit, florals- violets and lavender. Medium- to full-bodied, with loads of dark fruit persisting through the long finish.
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12/8/2011 - junglejuice wrote: 92 Points
Simply put, this was a fantastic wine. I was hoping it would be good, what I got was one of the best valued wines I have tasted in a long time. While this is undoubtedly new world through and through, it was striking in its body and structure all while maintaining a level of impressive finesse that is not found in many of these big new world Syrah/Shiraz. After 2 hours of being in the decanter it absolutely coated the palate with all colors of the berry spectrum, while keeping the oak and alcohol (for the most part) in check. I really can't think of a better winter wine.
After taking my first sip I immediately attempted to buy more and was disappointed to find out they were sold out. I am glad I still have one.
If you can find it, buy all you can. This is a wine that won't stay at this price ($25) for long. What a great find.
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12/4/2011 - ChateauTourteau wrote: 92 Points
When I first opened it up it reminded me of the musty spilled wine smell of being in a winery. Not particularly pleasant. It really changed after a couple of hours. Very smooth and round. Not a super long finish, but a very pleasant one. Dark fruit, maple, plum, cocoa. Great mouth feel. so round. I like this a lot.
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12/3/2011 - dkhale4 wrote: 92 Points
Deep, lucious and rich. Loaded with black fruit and woodsy notes with a finish that goes on and on. There's a lot here for a $20 something bottle of wine.
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12/3/2011 - Maznoc Likes this wine: 91 Points
Round and layered - plenty of ripe fruit (plum and currants dominating) and spice, with great acid/oak/fruit balance. Excellent finish - long and, once again, layered. Tanins are present but not aggressive - drinking well now, and should be a great mid-term (5 years?) cellar add. This is a really well crafted wine. Ex Umbris -- "From the Shadows" indeed! Owen Roe Vineyards is now on my hunting list!
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12/3/2011 - bjamesclark wrote: 91 Points
Viscous wine that has long legs with a deep purple hue.
this wine really needs time to open up...
Aromas are fruit forward with blackberry, plum, currant and wild raspberry, spice, earth and subtle sassafras notes follow behind.
On the palate, lush with bright fruit favors of plum, and berry, and dark cherry. Vanilla and soft oak is well integrated with soft spice and soft tannins. Chocolate and root beer/cream soda flavors follow through to finish which is long and fades slowly.
A Lovely Syrah that will cellar well!
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12/2/2011 - Bgrahamdc wrote: 91 Points
Big. Fruity. Pepper
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11/29/2011 - gilberto57 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Red in color with dark purple hues. A full bodied wine with rich smooth textures and with flavors of blackberries, black pepper and bacon that lingered through the finish. Excellent!
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11/28/2011 - rexmerlot wrote: 89 Points
No formal notes taken. Nice Washington Syrah.
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11/28/2011 - defnefferson wrote: 89 Points
This was a really well made wine, it just wasn't a 90+ for me. Smokey/meaty fruits on the nose. On the palate it's got some big jammy red fruits with some more smokiness. Long, sweet finish with a little pepper. Solid bottle of wine.
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11/26/2011 - mgottberg wrote: 90 Points
Delicious. Best Washington Syrah out there.
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11/23/2011 - Paleoemcee Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep ruby core, pinkish-blue rim
Bing cherry & smoke melt into violets, clay, & cream on the nose
Good acidity, 13.5 alcohol. Long, lush cherry finish with black pepper undercurrent
Fantastic wine that is drinking well now, but I think it will be even better in 5 years
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11/21/2011 - pizzasomm wrote: 89 Points
nose: tar and strawberries, cherry, musky earth
taste: jammy fruits, strawberry and cherry again, medium body, solid finish with some slightly toasted notes
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11/19/2011 - Dglsbrg wrote: 92 Points
Very lush.
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11/18/2011 - Grinner wrote: 91 Points
BUY! $21 here in Eugene and this has great QPR. P & P'ed: the nose is a little tight but with time (and the second glass!) you get ripe black fruit, oak, pepper/spice. On the palate the texture is a highlight: plush! w/o being sappy or overextracted.
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11/16/2011 - Kevadera wrote: 92 Points
This one jumps out and grabs you. A bit of heat/alcohol but other than that a lot of good stuff going on. Great QPR!
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11/15/2011 - jtinto Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark fruit and spice. Long. Drank over two days and the second day shined. For the price this is flat out fantastic. 91-92
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11/12/2011 - vegasoenophile wrote: 90 Points
Subdued nose. Minerals and graphite along with pomegranate, cranberry and other rich red and black berries. Flavors of plum, currant, sassafras and spice. It's lithe and smooth with rich flavors. Mouth coating, but not overly concentrated. Tasty!
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11/12/2011 - Mind Bottling wrote: 93 Points
Fantastic complexity, it's an incredible mix of flavors in one sip. Heavy fruit was the first flavor but it had depth with caramel notes and a lingering finish.
The medium body and easy finish made a great partner to homemade pizza. I transitioned between bites of thin-crust heaven and sips of fruity velvety Washington syrah for as long as possible. I should have bought 3 more bottles!
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11/2/2011 - atubbs wrote: 92 Points
You know what? This is delicious. It smells like a slutty sugary mess, it really does. Think about that fruit bomb over-extracted Aussie shiraz that you want to take home, but you don't want to wake up with. First sip is magic. First glass is great. Second glass ... what were you thinking? Third glass ... just pure regret.
This wine is not that wine: it smells like it's going to be syrupy sweet. Dead ringer for a flabby Mollydooker on the nose. Total slut, right? Here's the thing: On the palate, it's got structure. It's under 15% ABV, there's complexity, there's balance ... I mean there's actually acid. It's not just a fruit jam bomb. It's from ... Washington. It's good. For about $25, it's great. It may not be the stuff that dreams are made of, but if you're looking for something that's a crowd pleaser AND remains drinkable and downright interesting for the enthusiast, bravo. Best value in Syrah that I've tasted in a long while.
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11/1/2011 - wine maestro wrote: 91 Points
Extracted and saturated Washington Syrah that pushes the flavor gambit to the max.
Displaying a purplish color, alluring fresh earth greets the nose, followed by enticing
incense and crushed dark fruit. Black plum, smoky berries, ripe raspberry and cinnamon
stick all bound in a white pepper package. A creamy, chocolately midpalate with a hint
of underbrush jetting towards a terrific finish dotted with baking spice and oak. Night
two brought more sweetness and ripeness but was managed well by tannic structure.
Third evening huckleberry pie and a mocha edge developed. The fourth, final evening
introduced an interesting balsamic tint with clove. Fascinating transformations occured
during this drinking experience. Alot here to admire and look forward to exploring
these over the next 6 to 7 years. High quality QPR
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10/31/2011 - Gestalted wrote: 88 Points
This WA state Syrah is a little hard to love and here's why. But first, before I share tasting notes, a warning. This wine in particular, changes dramatically between opening it and 30 mins after opening it. It goes from tart cherry with throat burning alcohol to palatable after 30 mins. Okay, that being said, the nose is tart cherry, plum and iron (bloody steak). As with previous Ex Umbris, midpalate is tart and minerally/iron cherry with a quinine-vanilla finish. Hard to love.
--
Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
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10/30/2011 - Ltomanek wrote: 92 Points
Dark and full of berry. Full-bodied and delicious.
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10/29/2011 - Dagalaifus Likes this wine: 93 Points
Washington syrah. Popped and poured. In the glass, darkest garnet. On the nose, aromas of dark berries. In the mouth, fruit-forward and medium-bodied with flavors of rich blackberry compote, oak, and a hint of spice. This is a wine with well-integrated tannins clearly meant to be enjoyed now, but with intriguing complexity. Lengthy and hot finish, which dissipates (somewhat) with a long decant. No doubt will improve with a few years in the cellar. Deftly straddles the line between the fruit bombs of Paso Robles and the cooler weather and more refined masterpieces from the Northern Rhone. The best Ex Umbris (I've tasted them all) by far. Absolutely outstanding QPR.
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10/27/2011 - bajayngo wrote: 88 Points
good with heavy food but definitly was riper and the heat was poking out more w/out food. Good acids, tasted like a colder climate (yakima, although it was CV) syrah. Extracted dark fruit, reduced citric acid base, and dense mouthfeel. Good price.
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10/25/2011 - Black Pearl wrote: 91 Points
Smooth and well balanced wash state syrah, does not have the sharp edge that many syrahs have. A bit simple, just big, one dimensional fruit right at you, and a surprisingly short, almost clipped finish. Worth the $22 paid, but will not be buying more.
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10/22/2011 - AllRed wrote: 88 Points
Domestic New Releases Tasting (Binny's, St. Charles): Inky garnet color. Notes of ripe, pruny dark fruit. Full-bodied with firm tannins and flavors of dark fruit and pepper. $22.99.
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6/13/2011 - asorom wrote: 89 Points
much deeper flavor, and more complex than 2008, caramel overtones consistent with Owen Roe wines, they must use the same oak for all wines. wouldn't mind a bit less of that flavor, tasty drinker though
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