Wine Education Service Pacific NW Tasting (London, England): Very, very deep colour. No sign of 7 years of age. Aromas of black fruits, cherries, spice and a distinctive perfume. Mouthfeel is silky, still very fresh, ripe fruit. Very good length. Nice balance and a great structure. Big, but very well made.
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A surprisingly good syrah at this price point. Smooth, moderately rich, fruit-forward style lacking some of the spice and smoke that I like in Wa. syrahs. I liked this bottle better than the previous bottle two years ago. A particularly good pairing with grilled lamb.
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Red/violet color. Faint aroma of red apple initially, followed quickly by leather and spice notes. Black cherries and nutmeg on the front palate. Silky smooth texture and medium body. Finish lingers for 20 seconds. Drinking very well now, probably near/at peak.
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Coffee, pepper, dark fruits, mocha, and craisins on the nose. Lots of dark fruits on the pal along with light pepper, vanilla/mocha, sage brush, dried herbs, and black olives. Plenty of life left! Medium to light body, medium dry finish. L'Ecole...always dependable.
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The bouquet of this dark, ruby-red Syrah is simply said 'great': Intense aromas of peppery, concentrated dark fruits (mostly blueberries & black currants) as well as plum and a hint of mint. On the palette, this is a fruit-forward, full-bodied wine displaying mostly flavors of dark fruits and pepper. The spice and oak finish is of medium length with soft tannins. I served this Syrah at about 60°F to 62°F with grilled, bacon-wrapped beef tenderloin (rare to medium-rare) but at room temperature (approx. 70°F at our house) I would recommend maybe something more along the lines of Greek-seasoned lamb chops or so.
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Wine Education Service - Pacific North West: Bright blackcurrant colour. Oaky nose with attractive black fruit. Good balance, smooth fruity, classy, intrusive oak, good length.
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Reddish- purple, almost opaque. Nose full of blueberries, plums, black pepper and a hint of vanilla. A very fruit-forward, fruit concentrated nose. This is a full-bodied wine that is dense with dark fruits with melting tannins ending with a medium-long finish with a slight burning heat. Overall impression is that this is a very heavily extracted wine but with a surprisingly balanced acidity. Drinking very well now.
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Great now, has aging potential. Fruit shows through nicely now, but more to come. Great structure, fine tannins. I like this wine now, but it will last in the cellar. I find that its best after being open for about 2 hours. Worth decanting.
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Showed youthful aromas of juicy blackberries, blackcurrants, with underlying hints of wood, cured meats, violets and rubber. Oak realy came through on the palate.
Showed good typicity, but didn't quite have the depth or structure of other Washington Syrahs.
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Lots of spicy fruit, but fairly simple, and a little heavy on the oak for my taste. Lacks the expressiveness and complexity on the nose of the best Washington syrahs.
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10/3/2016 - AlScott wrote: 89 Points
Pleasing, well structured and fruit-full...wonder if I might have saved one or two for the long haul but too easy to drink. Very food friendly
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2/4/2014 - JAlbert Likes this wine: 94 Points
Selected because it had been hanging about for a while and I felt like a Syrah. Awesome wine.
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11/10/2013 - JAlbert Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was a lonely, overlooked wine in the Pacific Northwest rack in the store unit. Fabulous wine.
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10/11/2010 - moods wrote: 93 Points
Wine Education Service Pacific NW Tasting (London, England): Very, very deep colour. No sign of 7 years of age. Aromas of black fruits, cherries, spice and a distinctive perfume. Mouthfeel is silky, still very fresh, ripe fruit. Very good length. Nice balance and a great structure. Big, but very well made.
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5/12/2010 - Barstool wrote: 88 Points
A surprisingly good syrah at this price point. Smooth, moderately rich, fruit-forward style lacking some of the spice and smoke that I like in Wa. syrahs. I liked this bottle better than the previous bottle two years ago. A particularly good pairing with grilled lamb.
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1/2/2010 - GA_Seattle wrote: 90 Points
Red/violet color. Faint aroma of red apple initially, followed quickly by leather and spice notes. Black cherries and nutmeg on the front palate. Silky smooth texture and medium body. Finish lingers for 20 seconds. Drinking very well now, probably near/at peak.
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3/24/2009 - Vinsant wrote: 89 Points
Coffee, pepper, dark fruits, mocha, and craisins on the nose. Lots of dark fruits on the pal along with light pepper, vanilla/mocha, sage brush, dried herbs, and black olives. Plenty of life left! Medium to light body, medium dry finish. L'Ecole...always dependable.
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1/8/2009 - One Too Many wrote: 92 Points
The bouquet of this dark, ruby-red Syrah is simply said 'great': Intense aromas of peppery, concentrated dark fruits (mostly blueberries & black currants) as well as plum and a hint of mint. On the palette, this is a fruit-forward, full-bodied wine displaying mostly flavors of dark fruits and pepper. The spice and oak finish is of medium length with soft tannins.
I served this Syrah at about 60°F to 62°F with grilled, bacon-wrapped beef tenderloin (rare to medium-rare) but at room temperature (approx. 70°F at our house) I would recommend maybe something more along the lines of Greek-seasoned lamb chops or so.
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10/8/2008 - jcarnahan wrote: 88 Points
Was still very hearty, good nose and stood up well to strong meal, but the finish was not as fruity as I expected.
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8/21/2008 - tendring wrote: 89 Points
Wine Education Service - Pacific North West: Bright blackcurrant colour.
Oaky nose with attractive black fruit.
Good balance, smooth fruity, classy, intrusive oak, good length.
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8/19/2008 - winejnky wrote: 87 Points
Stylish, lighter style Syrah. Flavors include black fruits & minerals.
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12/8/2007 - BailliSacks wrote: 88 Points
Mmm, nice characteristic WA syrah nose and body, nice and spicy, plenty of fruit juiciness. A bit sweeter than i like.
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10/8/2007 - LesterKwong wrote: 90 Points
Reddish- purple, almost opaque. Nose full of blueberries, plums, black pepper and a hint of vanilla. A very fruit-forward, fruit concentrated nose. This is a full-bodied wine that is dense with dark fruits with melting tannins ending with a medium-long finish with a slight burning heat. Overall impression is that this is a very heavily extracted wine but with a surprisingly balanced acidity. Drinking very well now.
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3/29/2007 - bknysak wrote: 88 Points
Nice balance of dark fruit, meat, and a bit of coffee, but the finish is too hard and dry for my taste.
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2/18/2007 - cbraun wrote: 92 Points
Great now, has aging potential. Fruit shows through nicely now, but more to come. Great structure, fine tannins. I like this wine now, but it will last in the cellar. I find that its best after being open for about 2 hours. Worth decanting.
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9/21/2006 - rfras wrote: 90 Points
Plenty of fruit. Deep ruby color and thick (a little syrupy). Lot of fruit, spice and some oak on the finish. Enjoyed the bottle.
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7/3/2006 - WineShar wrote:
Showed youthful aromas of juicy blackberries, blackcurrants, with underlying hints of wood, cured meats, violets and rubber. Oak realy came through on the palate.
Showed good typicity, but didn't quite have the depth or structure of other Washington Syrahs.
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9/27/2005 - Spencer wrote: 86 Points
Lots of spicy fruit, but fairly simple, and a little heavy on the oak for my taste. Lacks the expressiveness and complexity on the nose of the best Washington syrahs.
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