Showing some oxidization and plummy notes. Opened up and improved with an hour or two of air. Fresher with more acidity and dark berry fruit. Past its peak so time to drink up.
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P&P. MASSIVE wine. The aromas almost blew me away. Huge, sweet fruit and lots of alcohol (16% abv). But...lacking structure. Mid-palate was hollow and flabby, no tannins, acid was okay, but for the $$ and amount of fruit, the wine was disappointing. Good with food, but tedious to drink alone. I think this would have been more enjoyable at a younger age. Seems like time hasn't been kind and the fruit and alcohol has taken over. I did detect a bit of the syrupy/porty notes of oxidation, so it's possible this wine is just past prime. Storage was impeccable however (bought from winery, drove it home and stuck in temp. controlled cellar). I would highly recommend drinking these up if you have them. They are not going to improve. Drink now, no decant needed.
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Too strong out of the gate. Decanted 90 minutes. Nice but not great. Agree with a few other writes that this is probably at its peak or slight backside. Soft, old vine taste (sweet), but nice spice and layering.
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Some what hot, but nice dark color and extraction. I may have scored this higher if it was drank on its own. Tasted it BLIND with 4 Reynvaan Syrahs and the 2008 Jaffurs Bien Nacido Syrah and everyone in our group chose this as number 6. This clearly surprised me when the wines were unveiled.
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Nose is explosive with plum, blackberry, blueberry, cinnamon, nutmeg, black licorice, violet, cannula, fig and sassafrass Muscular on the palate, youthful and full of life. Bold flavors of fresh blackberry, pepper, plum, wood, coffee and fennel with baking spices though out. Moderate plus acidity and lively tannins. Needs time or air if opened soon.
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Strong whiffs of kirschwasser, some funk. Immense, sweet, rich Amarone-like palate of black cherry, used tampon, celery root, coffee, coco powder, whisky barrel, and licorice. Puts you in a trance and creates uncontrollable emotions, like screaming and crying. More a heavy metal porn starlet than a charming French actress like Claude Jade. Really in your face, a statement, a manifesto. Like Kiss's 1976 album Destroyer, or an Alice Cooper album from the early 1970s.
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This was truly and outstanding wine!!! We had two bottles over two days to make sure...not too fruity not too dry. Very soft on the palette some fruit, just enough. It seems to have enough structure to last a long time but the tannins weren't overpowering now. We decanted an hour or more. We all loved it.
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A beautiful wine. Complex flavors and structure, long finish. Highly extracted, as expected, with plenty of dark fruit and spice. Opened ~8 hours before drinking; decanted ~4 hours before drinking. Really needs a few years (or a decade) in the cellar.
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Fantastic syrah! Very closed at the moment but starts to shine after being decanted 4+ hrs. Blueberries, mocha, espresso, cinnamon, nutmeg, and some allspice. So much complexity. A tad bit of excess heat on the finish. Miles better than most paso syrahs. Full bodied, intense concentration and a very long finish. Pricey but excellent.
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Big rich syrah. Definitely Charles Smith style. Berries are very extracted with a touch or raison and hint of amerone. Did I mention rich. Long smooth finish. Great Wine.
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11/14/2023 - Reblin Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still kicking, with deep color and solid dark fruit
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6/18/2020 - rdf58 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Showing some oxidization and plummy notes. Opened up and improved with an hour or two of air. Fresher with more acidity and dark berry fruit. Past its peak so time to drink up.
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3/8/2016 - RPerro wrote: 89 Points
P&P. MASSIVE wine. The aromas almost blew me away. Huge, sweet fruit and lots of alcohol (16% abv). But...lacking structure. Mid-palate was hollow and flabby, no tannins, acid was okay, but for the $$ and amount of fruit, the wine was disappointing. Good with food, but tedious to drink alone. I think this would have been more enjoyable at a younger age. Seems like time hasn't been kind and the fruit and alcohol has taken over. I did detect a bit of the syrupy/porty notes of oxidation, so it's possible this wine is just past prime. Storage was impeccable however (bought from winery, drove it home and stuck in temp. controlled cellar). I would highly recommend drinking these up if you have them. They are not going to improve. Drink now, no decant needed.
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1/9/2016 - philipmac wrote: 93 Points
Too strong out of the gate. Decanted 90 minutes. Nice but not great. Agree with a few other writes that this is probably at its peak or slight backside. Soft, old vine taste (sweet), but nice spice and layering.
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12/13/2015 - dlcass Likes this wine: 97 Points
Wow. Magnificent wine. Very smooth, velvety and balanced. Subtle nose of smoked meats, dark fruit. Nice density on the palate. In it's prime.
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5/5/2014 - beezer6 wrote: 94 Points
Heritage Grand Wine Tasting (Ritz-Carlton - Chicago, IL): Awesome. Ripe and plush. Killer game and flowers. Also enjoyed tasting with Charles himself.
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9/3/2013 - suburbanfrog Likes this wine: 90 Points
Some what hot, but nice dark color and extraction. I may have scored this higher if it was drank on its own. Tasted it BLIND with 4 Reynvaan Syrahs and the 2008 Jaffurs Bien Nacido Syrah and everyone in our group chose this as number 6. This clearly surprised me when the wines were unveiled.
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4/10/2013 - bjamesclark wrote: 92 Points
Nose is explosive with plum, blackberry, blueberry, cinnamon, nutmeg, black licorice, violet, cannula, fig and sassafrass
Muscular on the palate, youthful and full of life. Bold flavors of fresh blackberry, pepper, plum, wood, coffee and fennel with baking spices though out. Moderate plus acidity and lively tannins. Needs time or air if opened soon.
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6/3/2012 - slaughterer wrote: 97 Points
Strong whiffs of kirschwasser, some funk. Immense, sweet, rich Amarone-like palate of black cherry, used tampon, celery root, coffee, coco powder, whisky barrel, and licorice. Puts you in a trance and creates uncontrollable emotions, like screaming and crying. More a heavy metal porn starlet than a charming French actress like Claude Jade. Really in your face, a statement, a manifesto. Like Kiss's 1976 album Destroyer, or an Alice Cooper album from the early 1970s.
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5/2/2012 - Dougak wrote: 96 Points
This was truly and outstanding wine!!! We had two bottles over two days to make sure...not too fruity not too dry. Very soft on the palette some fruit, just enough. It seems to have enough structure to last a long time but the tannins weren't overpowering now. We decanted an hour or more. We all loved it.
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3/31/2012 - Reblin wrote: 96 Points
A beautiful wine. Complex flavors and structure, long finish. Highly extracted, as expected, with plenty of dark fruit and spice. Opened ~8 hours before drinking; decanted ~4 hours before drinking. Really needs a few years (or a decade) in the cellar.
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2/21/2012 - DarinC wrote: 95 Points
Fantastic syrah! Very closed at the moment but starts to shine after being decanted 4+ hrs. Blueberries, mocha, espresso, cinnamon, nutmeg, and some allspice. So much complexity. A tad bit of excess heat on the finish. Miles better than most paso syrahs. Full bodied, intense concentration and a very long finish. Pricey but excellent.
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11/6/2011 - pdemaio wrote: 94 Points
Big rich syrah. Definitely Charles Smith style. Berries are very extracted with a touch or raison and hint of amerone. Did I mention rich. Long smooth finish. Great Wine.
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