Big aromatics and some rich black fruit layered with leathery grip and some tenacious acidity. Really lovely. One more bottle to go. Probably lamb next time.
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Found one more bottle of this - loved it last time (92 pts). This time a little disappointing. Particularly, the nose had notes of smoked oysters which i didn't find appealing. Much better on the palette and certainly well worth drinking.
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Wow! This surprised everyone at our dinner party. Some even thought it was an old-world wine, and some liked it better than a much more expensive Aussie Shiraz. Tannins have softened nicely since I last tasted this a year ago. Great fruit but not overpowering, well balanced, excellent structure, big mouth feel, long, pleasant finish. I wonder if there's a dash of viognier in it? It went beautifully with grilled lamb. Just entering it's drinking window.
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still a very good Canadian red wine. The tobacco notes jump out at me quite strikingly, perhaps too much i.e. somewhat off balance. Have this with meat like a steak.
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Decanted but tasted immediately in prep for New Year's eve. Medium to dark ruby in the glass. Spice, cedar and a bit barnyard nose. Still some tannins and crispness with some licorice and medium length finish.
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Appearance: Clear, Medium to dark ruby, slight oxidation starting at the rim.
Nose: Clean (no faults), medium intensity. Leading with hints of bramble berry and blackberry and slight white pepper, but overtaken by herbaceousness and leather.
Palate: Dry; medium+ intensity; medium+ to high acidity, medium body and medium- tannins. The fruit profile showed sour cherry, hints of dried cherry and blackberry moving to cranberry (maybe due to the acidity showing through) and white pepper. As with the nose, for me the fruit was overtaken by the herbaceousness; strong leather, tobacco, sage and definite green pepper notes which persisted over a medium+ to long finish.
Notes: OK, this wine won the Canadian Wine Access Magazine 'Red of the Year' in 2011 and Jancis Robinson named it the Best Canadian Red in Jan 2013 out of 50 wines she was sent, so I came in with high expectations. If you approach this wine comparing it to a jammy, warm climate shiraz, you're likely going to be disappointed. If you're comparing it to a northern Rhone offering (sans viognier), then it will probably show very well, but only if you're a fan of complex, herbaceous syrah where the fruit almost plays second fiddle -- definitely not for everyone. Also, I'm going to go out on a limb and say this is not a sipping wine - pair it with a meal to really showcase it.
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Rich, smooth and mellow. There is good fruit here with very slight hints of classic syrah flavours. But it is overpowered by strong flavour of sage or greenness on the finish. I really can't get past this. Would not buy again. Overall, not my preferred style of wine. And I should say I am a huge fan of syrah - my favourite wines of all time come from the North Rhone. I wanted to like this wine, but .....
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My favourite probably of the Church and state wines I've tasted so far, it had a floral nose with a hint of pepper, although not overpowering and a more dark fruity palette with a brisk short-lived acidity on the finish. I predicte that this wine may age well over the next few years, and the slight harshness on the finish dissipate a bit.
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Heady nose of cracked black pepper, smoked bacon, charcouterie - real Rhône-like. Similar notes on the crisp entry along sweet red fruit & sweet tannins middle and clean finish. New world fruit and old world acidity, bacon, pepper. Still somewhat young. Would advise waiting a year.
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12/14/2016 - Canoehead Likes this wine: 92 Points
Big aromatics and some rich black fruit layered with leathery grip and some tenacious acidity. Really lovely. One more bottle to go. Probably lamb next time.
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9/2/2016 - Vandiner Likes this wine: 88 Points
Found one more bottle of this - loved it last time (92 pts). This time a little disappointing. Particularly, the nose had notes of smoked oysters which i didn't find appealing. Much better on the palette and certainly well worth drinking.
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5/29/2016 - Paolo D Likes this wine:
Tasted May 2016. Still very youthful. Soft tannins. Dark purple. Nice fruit up front with complex finish. No sign of fading with age
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7/19/2015 - theDesch Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wow! This surprised everyone at our dinner party. Some even thought it was an old-world wine, and some liked it better than a much more expensive Aussie Shiraz. Tannins have softened nicely since I last tasted this a year ago. Great fruit but not overpowering, well balanced, excellent structure, big mouth feel, long, pleasant finish. I wonder if there's a dash of viognier in it? It went beautifully with grilled lamb. Just entering it's drinking window.
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6/7/2015 - Canoehead Likes this wine: 90 Points
Big black fruit, still a little brambly. The smoked meat nose is fading. Probably time to drink up.
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4/8/2015 - AlbertaOenologist Likes this wine: 88 Points
still a very good Canadian red wine. The tobacco notes jump out at me quite strikingly, perhaps too much i.e. somewhat off balance. Have this with meat like a steak.
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12/31/2014 - NoseKnows Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted but tasted immediately in prep for New Year's eve. Medium to dark ruby in the glass. Spice, cedar and a bit barnyard nose. Still some tannins and crispness with some licorice and medium length finish.
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5/26/2014 - ATK wrote: 90 Points
Very good. Tobacco, smoky. Got better over the next day or 2. Could use more time in the bottle.
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11/18/2013 - Vandiner wrote: 92 Points
Dark fruit and tobacco notes - complex and balanced - wish I had more
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5/14/2013 - wpiers wrote: 89 Points
Strong tobacco and leather notes.
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3/29/2013 - wpiers wrote: 74 Points
Perhaps a bad bottle, but not very good at all.
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3/27/2013 - NeilIsntWitty Likes this wine: 89 Points
Appearance: Clear, Medium to dark ruby, slight oxidation starting at the rim.
Nose: Clean (no faults), medium intensity. Leading with hints of bramble berry and blackberry and slight white pepper, but overtaken by herbaceousness and leather.
Palate: Dry; medium+ intensity; medium+ to high acidity, medium body and medium- tannins. The fruit profile showed sour cherry, hints of dried cherry and blackberry moving to cranberry (maybe due to the acidity showing through) and white pepper. As with the nose, for me the fruit was overtaken by the herbaceousness; strong leather, tobacco, sage and definite green pepper notes which persisted over a medium+ to long finish.
Notes: OK, this wine won the Canadian Wine Access Magazine 'Red of the Year' in 2011 and Jancis Robinson named it the Best Canadian Red in Jan 2013 out of 50 wines she was sent, so I came in with high expectations. If you approach this wine comparing it to a jammy, warm climate shiraz, you're likely going to be disappointed. If you're comparing it to a northern Rhone offering (sans viognier), then it will probably show very well, but only if you're a fan of complex, herbaceous syrah where the fruit almost plays second fiddle -- definitely not for everyone. Also, I'm going to go out on a limb and say this is not a sipping wine - pair it with a meal to really showcase it.
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12/9/2012 - wpiers wrote: 85 Points
A bit thin after the Walter Hansel Pinot.
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8/11/2012 - Plusvini wrote: 81 Points
Tomato jam. Yuk! Looking at the other notes, either we missed something or this bottle was flawed. But... Yuk
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7/4/2012 - AlbertaOenologist wrote: 85 Points
a high quality wine, no doubt. I can see why it was Canada's best red at CWA 2011. But for me, too much tobacco, coffee.
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2/8/2012 - Solange wrote: 95 Points
Very good wine! Fruity and yet with that distinct mineral taste unique to Church and State, which makes the wine sophisticated.
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2/4/2012 - saturnaisland wrote: 79 Points
Rich, smooth and mellow. There is good fruit here with very slight hints of classic syrah flavours. But it is overpowered by strong flavour of sage or greenness on the finish. I really can't get past this. Would not buy again. Overall, not my preferred style of wine. And I should say I am a huge fan of syrah - my favourite wines of all time come from the North Rhone. I wanted to like this wine, but .....
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1/23/2012 - winetaste wrote: 84 Points
My favourite probably of the Church and state wines I've tasted so far, it had a floral nose with a hint of pepper, although not overpowering and a more dark fruity palette with a brisk short-lived acidity on the finish. I predicte that this wine may age well over the next few years, and the slight harshness on the finish dissipate a bit.
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12/31/2011 - stacey02 wrote: 91 Points
Excellent taste & flavor. Enjoyed by everyone on New Years Eve. Highly recommed.
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11/27/2011 - SadEdjo wrote: 89 Points
Heady nose of cracked black pepper, smoked bacon, charcouterie - real Rhône-like. Similar notes on the crisp entry along sweet red fruit & sweet tannins middle and clean finish. New world fruit and old world acidity, bacon, pepper. Still somewhat young. Would advise waiting a year.
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