California wines but not from Napa: Modern rich fruit with a soft palate and syrah-like secondary components. There was a olive flavor along with blueberry, slight vanilla and underbrush.
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Luis goes to Cahill Bistro: 45 minute decant, fairly consistent with the last bottle. Modern rich fruit with a soft palate and syrah-like secondary components. There was a olive flavor along with blueberry, slight vanilla and underbrush.
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Another Great Luis Tasting! (Cahill Bistro): 45 minute decant. This style is right in my wheelhouse! These wines are more about decadent fruit than tertiary or secondary flavors, although they are present but more in the background. Lovely black and blue fruit with some spice and vanilla and hints of tapenade. Solid 92, and I would score this higher, but I detected some heat from the alcohol (a big detractor for me).....not sure if it would have dissipated with more time or air. That's the downside to these tastings, small pours and a fair amount of different wines, so hard to really follow a specific wine....especially when you need your glasses for another flight (or in this case, to get ready to leave the restaurant).
Three hour decant. Scents of blueberries and chalky minerals, violets and lavender on the nose. Charred wood just behind. Leads with dark berries and sweet black plums, cracked pepper spice and a ribbon of dark chocolate. Big and rich, juicy and decadent, the dusty tannins remain and at 13 years I’m not sure this will ever mellow further - for me that’s more than okay, super tasty.
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The last time I had this bottle was…10 years ago. Found it a bit “big” back then, and not much has changed. Edges have softened, but it seemed a bit one-note, with not as much depth as most Lillians. Good, but not great.
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No detailed notes- Big and round in the mouth. A plush and velvety mouthful of blueberries and spice. Definitely approachable and and mellow at this point. Though, there’s no masking the the 15%+ abv. It’s rich and concentrated with a lengthy finish. Not yet tertiary, but perhaps close to the verge of heading into that territory. Drink now for the last of mature primacy, or held to head into the unknown!!
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Drank this sometime last week so no specific details except to say this continues to evolve in a way that I love for Syrah. It has maintained the luscious Cali fruit and spice but now has more Washington-like Syrah characteristics of savory olives and Worcester sauce. Absolutely love this wine.
Only thing I forgot, must use a Durand to open. I have yet to have an intact cork from one of these ‘older’ Lillian bottles. Luckily the weak corks have no bearing on what is inside the bottle.
Not a wow but solid. Decan for 90 miutes and still showed alot of improvement throghout the night. No serious notes taken other than we like this alot more than the 08s
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Pop and pour. This wine was either in a better place than previous bottles or I was in a good mood. Modern rich fruit with a soft palate and syrah-like secondary components.
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Crimson in color. 15.2% ABV. Savory nose of dark fruits, olives, games and flowers. Medium body with mouth watering acidity. Exotic, plush and concentrated. Remarkable balance. Blackberry, blueberry liqueur, espresso and charred meats on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. Outstanding Syrah that has aged exceptionally well. Best over the next 1-2 years.
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From magnum...not going to rate as the cork showed seepage...decent nose, though definitely something "off" with the taste and finish...something astringent...after a couple hours it blew off and the wine improved
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I'm not sure what to think about this wine. Slow ox'd for about 5 hours, and when I poured my first glass, all I got was alcohol. But by the second glass, it started to come around. Very pristine winemaking, in my opinion, with some very pure fruit notes: black cherry, spice, and espresso. However, the alcohol seems to get in the way.
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Dark midnight blue in color. Nose has powerful blue and blue fruits, some violets and a touch of minerals on the nose. Mouthcoating, succulent fruit on the palate, tannins completely integrated. Delish!
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It is always fun to introduce a wine and surprise people with something they didn’t think they would like! I am a big fan of these Lillian wines and glad that Mark and Carol approved. This bottle had more savory notes than my last, seemed to have aged a bit quicker as it was lighter in color and slightly more developed. Still plenty of fruit and drinking really nicely.
Opened for us by Jen, I was immediately taken aback by its bright ruby red color. Lighter in weight than I was expecting and in a good way, so not a heavy, dark, meaty syrah though it did have some savory, odd tasty sensations, I just can't remember exactly what they were! Carol loved it and says it was probably a 94 for her.
The nose is a fantastic mix of berries. The palate is smooth, relatively clean with some spice and earth to go with the berries. The nose is a 94, the palate is an 89. I would buy these wines for half or less of the current asking price.
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P&P. Seriously outstanding wine at 11 years old. Huge black fruit (blackberry, black cherry) followed by a burst of cracked peppercorn and espresso. Maggie sure knows how to make wine to my palate! Drink now - 2029.
Excellent aged Syrah. Acquired from JJ Buckley and stored in cellar. Popped and poured. Wine opened up within 30 minutes. Nice red fruit on palate with a medium finish. Was more delicate and refined than I expected, so I wonder if it will evolve much more. No rush to drink, though.
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4yrs from my bottle. A little past peak for me. Showed a lot of heat upon opening but got better with a few hours air. Some pepper and sage on the nose. Has a little spice and a savory streak mixed with refined polished fruit on the palate. Quite soft and smooth at this point. Seems fully mature. I liked it a bit better with brighter acidity and fuller tannic backbone. Has moved to a more elegant stage.
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Visual - (5/5) Visually stunning at 11 years old with a deep ruby color with very little signs of age
Aromas - (15/15) Aromatics are off the charts with massive notes of violets, tart raspberry, cherry, and some stone undertones that just keep building with air time
Palate - (16/20) - The Palate was a bit one-dimensional but I feel this wine if kept well would be similar to other great worldly Syrah that won't peak for another 10 years. Tart raspberry and cherry as well as red currant. Medium-full bodied with fresh almost crisp tannins still in tact. The acidity still seems a bit out of balance but again points back to needing more age to me.
Overall - (7/10) - For the price this represents to me some of the best qualities of both old world Syrah and US Syrah. Reminds me a lot of Chave's Saint Joseph wine.
93+ with room to get better if stored properly. My cork showed a bit of seepage so decided to pull it now vs risk it. Cork also fell apart removing.
Fantastic Cali Syrah. Crumbly cork had me worried, but once removed this wine was drinking youthfully. Dark in color, intense floral aromas, lavender and berries. Mostly fruit and some spice on the palate with a subtle elegant finish. The abv was undetectable and alcohol, tannin and acid in perfect harmony. I was surprised not to find more savory notes but otherwise excellent.
Tasted from magnum. Decanted and tasted after about 15 min and it was good but unremarkable. After an hour it started to open up and after 2 hours it was really special. Floral and dark fruit aromas with some earth. Nice smooth tannins. Dark fruit, but also some bright notes with nice acidity and a little pepper. If I had more I'd decant 2 hours before first sip.
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Better than last time. Very rich and complete, harmonious if with only one or two notes. Silky viscous consistency without being syrupy. Drinking very well now.
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After a three hour double decant; deep and dark inky purple in color; intoxicating floral perfume and lavender on the nose, liqueur, and meatiness; palate is so smooth and plush, with blackberry and blueberry compote, subtle smokiness, kirsch liqueur, mild black olive, definite lemon curd zing on the mid-palate; the 15.2% alcohol is under control as I get no heat or burn; this is rich but such a smooth drinker. Just wonderful.
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Tha magic continues for Maggie Harrison's reference-defining Syrah at age !0 on the vintage. Amazing and memorable, even more so at this bottle age. Worth tracking down, if you want to see just how good domestic Syrah can be.
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Had alongside the 2011 Gold series, and this was clearly better; still composed and dense at 10yrs. However: the wine was tiring, and ultimately a little too one note for me.
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Bright crimson in color with a little bricking at the edge. 15.2% ABV. Sublime nose of black and blue fruits, olive brine, flowers and Whitman Sampler box. Full bodied with exceptional acidity. Well balanced. Sleek, silky and plush. Blackberry liqueur, blueberry, espresso and black olives on the palate. The finish is long and seamless. Tremendous wine and any comparisons to Saxum and SQN are fair. Best over the next 2-4 years.
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Similar to last note. Decanted 3 hours. Dark purple color. Ripe, Big & Bold but well balanced and smooth. Tannins are soft. Alcohol is high (15,2%) butis integrated nicely. No hot nose or taste. A fair amount of sediment in the bottle. This is not SQN. It’s a good wine but not great Bought a couple of bottles to try but I’m not inclined to buy more. I prefer the layers of flavors in Araujo Eisele and Alban Single Vineyards.
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Que Sera Sera (Mike's House): A 2 hour decant, and this wine is still alcoholic. There is a fair amount of spice. Will the alcohol continue to build on this?
This was excellent. The age was spot on and hits the right balance between alcohol, fruit and acidity. Juicy, dark red and black fruits. Not iron flavored or peppery.
Super Big and Bold Cali Syrah with a lot of ripeness with a hint of sweetness but not too much. Much more fruit forward than savory. Was paired with an Arnot Roberts Griffins Lair which is super savory, more cool weather Syrah so quite contrasting styles. I felt while the extraction of the Lillian was quite massive I found it a bit one dimensional in this respect and lacked the underneath layers of more subtle flavors. The wine is very good but you have to be a fan of this style.
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Decanted 1 hour, I am not surprised that this was bested by a Carlisle Sonoma Coast syrah at my last high/low blind tasting. This was enjoyable as a full throttle modern syrah. Great fruit and rich full-bodied modern appeal, although not very sophisticated. I would like to know if it is a mistake to drink these down, because I see nothing but negatives for this wine going forward, and I wish I hadn't bought so many, even at a reduced price.
Opened and decanted at the restaurant...dark purple...thought we would let it sit, but the aromas were jumping from the decanter...concentrated blueberries and blackberries without being too ripe...full-bodied and smooth...tannins are fully integrated and the finish was 30+ seconds...consumed three glasses over a couple hours and got better and better.
My favorite Lillians have been from 2004-2006...this is undoubtedly the best experience I've had from any other year.
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Decanted 1 hour, better at lower temperature due to high alcohol. This was enjoyable as a full throttle modern syrah. Great fruit and rich full-boddied modern appeal, although not very sophisticated.
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The Lillian Syrahs were almost identical in their specific flavor profiles. Notes of blackberry, spicy black peppercorn, and hints of dried cranberry. The 2009 had just a touch more intensity than the 2008, but otherwise they were the same to me. A little hollow mid-palate, with a tart clip on the back end. The 2008 was a bit smoother in that regard.
Holding bottles might help further smooth out the tart/bitterness, but I’m not confident the core fruit will hold up for any length of extended time after the next few years. I’d recommend drinking sooner than later and allowing it to breathe in the glass in hopes it levels out with a little air.
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I really dislike giving NR but feel it's warranted in this case. Having drunk (and praised) this wine many times I was surprised to find this particular vintage lacking. Despite it being only nine years old, the cork crumbled and the initial impressions confirmed that the wine was probably off a bit. Still displaying a nice medium-dark color, the nose was a little too subtle for me and the tannins were just a little too polished (barely there). But this bottle had a beam of acidity that was out of place, so I will chalk it up to a slightly tainted bottle. The wine eventually came together after about an hour and featured the usual blueberry, pepper combo that everyone describes and was quite pleasant. But I know the producer well and was expecting better, which I am sure will happen next time.
Delicious mature Syrah. Opened about two hours before drinking. This wine had rich dark fruit flavors, spice , licorice and some smoke. This wine is in prime time. Drink or hold.
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Slow o'd a few hours. Drank the bottle with my wife over the course of an evening. This wine is big, fruity, probably over the top, and yet so fun to drink. Nice fresh fruit. This is along the lines of an Aussie shiraz, or maybe a Turley Petite Sirah.
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I had this with rack of lamb on 8/18/17. It had a deep, rich, expressive bouquet of smoked meat, violet, blackberry, blueberry, black olive, pepper and spice aromas. The palate was rich, lush and ripe with great energy…flavors of blackberry, blueberry, black olive, pepper, spice and minerals. 93+
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Decanted 30 minutes -inky black red -moderately aromatic violet ripe berry whiff of smoky bacon -med- acidity, heavyweight still with a lot of ripe berry fruit and a fairly hot finish -doing OK now, would drink before the fruit fades much further
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needed long decant -- poured a glass night one and it was tight PnP with some aromas that made me think there was some VA. Decided to open something else. Night two, the nose on this shows boysenberry, baking chocolate, sage, herbs, dark flowers, and smoke. still very youthful despite being open for 24 hours. full bodied, this has generous velvety tannins, with a really elegant mouthfeel. the spice notes are more prominent on the palate and leading into a lovely long finish. a great wine, but give it time to open up as it is painfully youthful. glad I waited until night 2.
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Decanted, small amount of fine sediment. Back in the bottle, off to restaurant. Floral notes give way to full smooth body. Not overly fruit forward, wonderful finish. Drinking very well now.
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Outstanding. Dark red. Lots of dark, black berries on the nose. Very dense. Seductive on the palate with perfect balance. Very, very long taste. Come and get me wine. My last bottle, but it has a long future ahead.
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Saturday Snowy Winter Wine Tasting (Ray and Teresa's): A 2 hour decant, drank 1.5 glasses over 1.5 hours. Compared to the last bottle, this seemed more alcoholic and less fruit on the palate. I'm wondering if this wine fits the standard modern profile - the fruit fades and there's nothing behind it. I hope this is either in a dumb phase or a bad bottle.
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From memory. PnP Beautiful lush nose of black fruit and just a hint of spice. Mouth coating black berries and dried figs. Well balanced and no hint of heat. Good finish and decent qpr.
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- Purple color and aromas of cherry and raspberry. It's somewhat balanced and has flavours of cherry with a medium body - Never really came around. Lots of blueberry.
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Sine Qua Non Dinner (Formento's - Chicago IL): Dense black fruit with Asian five spice and black pepper. Great fruit comes across a so clean and precise, just slightly less nuanced than the best of the SQNs tasted tonight. Upside going forward. Very tasty.
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4yrs since my last bottle. Sometimes I think I like the Lillian wines with less age, but this vintage is really striking. Large in scale but beautifully crafted and minimal heat. Loads of concentrated dark fruit with a polished plus texture. Fantastic pepper and spice which has integrated with the large scaled fruit. Long finish. Not fatiguing at all despite the style.
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Color: dark/deep ruby core -> fairly dense ruby/fuchsia rim. Opened and decanted for 2+ hours before tasting. Truly a reticent bouquet that required a lot of swirling and coaxing to get much; blueberries and plums with a touch of anisette. Clean, foursquare palate featuring the aforementioned fruits as well as a little chocolate. Good midpalate, acidity and a nice long finish, this wine is in serious need of some personality. Don't get me wrong, it is certainly well made and quaffable, it just needs to bring more to the plate --especially considering the price. I'd give it a 90 if it was around $35 but have to knock one off for missing that mark.
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Good fruit, a bit of smokey. Dark purple. A beautiful wine overall, good acidity that lingers. Not complex but clean with a bit of "makes you think and enjoy"
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Popped and poured and drank over 4 hours. Should have gotten it more time as the sweet fruit and tannins were just too prominent out of the box. Was a bit disappointed with this one as it was one dimensional and didn't evolve much over time.
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Vikings actually beat the Packers (Gary and Judy's): A 5 hour decant this time as opposed to 3 last time, and it really wasn't that different. The only thing it suffered from was that we all had the 2012 Caymus SS before this. Otherwise, consistent with previous note.
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Just beautiful. Coravin'd a couple glasses over a week, finished the bottle last night. No need to worry about popping the cork and letting half sit to the next day...I left half a glass overnight and at 12 hours it was even better. Really, if you pop one, consider a 4-6 hour decant.
Smooth, luscious fruit, nice hints of tar and spice on the back palate. Just delightful.
A typical cali Syrah. Overwhelming sweet fruit flavor with somewhat tight tannin. I guess it is a good bottle for this kind of style as it is surprising balanced for 15.2%. Still it is quite one dimensional and there is really not much to say about it.
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Decanted 30 minutes Blood, iron, kind of an incense type smell, blueberry, pepper. After 1 hour coffee comes out on a big on the nose. Flavors super sharp raspberry, coffee, fennel, some green aspects. Interesting mixture of flavors an nose. I like it but just not mind blowing. Weight heavy, acid high. Liked it better than last time.
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Gary's Famous Ribs (Judith's House): 3 hour decant, drank a couple small glasses over the course of an evening. This wine was consistent with my experiences with other vintages of it. A bit amped-up in flavor, but so well-balanced.
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Gary's Famous BBQ Ribs Event (Judith's House, WI): Very dark purple/red color. Decanted, but unsure how long. Drank 1+ glass over 90 minutes. As always, I'm pleased and impressed by this wine; such nice balance, quite finessed and very well balanced. No sense of heaviness or alcohol, everything blends so nicely together. the nose is complex with a good mix of savory meatiness and lovely black fruits. The palate is quite consistent, lovely texture, quite sophisticated, tar, boysenberry, cassis, and subtle blueberry influences on top of the meaty depth and mineral essence that leaves you wanting to refill your glass despite the heat of an August evening. 93+pts. My and group WOTN with 7 of 8 votes.
Splash decant Light purple With light red edges. Inky, black fruit, dark chocolate has a sharp nose and a hint of smoke. Flavors blackberry, blueberry, smoked meat actually like a hint of a bit of bitter vegetable, a little heat and lots of tannins. Interesting waxy type mouth feel. Probably needs a couple more years or a nice 3 hour decant in my opinion. Seems a bit rigid, but nice wine with several things going on. Definitely a mixture of Cali and traditional Syrah. Weight heavy, acid medium plus.
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Deep color. Nose of blueberry, pepper, smoked game, olive, hints of sage. On the palate, rich and dense, with gobs of fruit mostly blue and black, black olive, herbs, and vanilla. Long finish with enough cut to balance the fruit. Drink of hold, it will change but probably not get much better than this.
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Nice bottle brought by Mindy & Al to taste alongside the SQN. Though this is a Syrah and the SQN was a Grenache, knowing the history of Maggie Harrison's tenure as an assistant at SQN made it easy to see (or imagine?) the connection. Pop and pour and enjoyed over 2 hours. Dark red to rim. Rich ripe fruit, full body, nice balance seamless palate feel, long finish, outstanding.
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Looking back at my note from Feb '13, not a whole lot has changed. This is still compact and keeping things very close to the vest - but as before, I do like what I see. In the moments the cork was first pulled, the nose and palate had little to offer. By the one hour mark, it was slowly unfolding. It wasn't until the last glass, more than 2 hours into it, that it really signaled what it was made of. Trim and fit, as opposed to thick and muscled, this one's got good tannic and acidic structure to see this another 7-8 years; HOLD for another 3-4 years, needs time to build on its foundation of complexity. 15,2% abv. (resolved) recommended
PnP; served non-blind and followed over 2+ hrs (best to aerate in decanter at LEAST 90 minutes if serving anytime during the next few years.
Dark kirsch liquor, blackberry and meat. Drinks well after 20-30 min of air and doesn't look back. I'd drink up over the next few years, the tannins are well integrated and is in a good place right now. Would be much happier at a 50-60 price point however.
Decanted for a few hours then consumed over an hour. Tonight the wine was spectacular. Big yet balanced mouthfeel with many nuanced primary and secondary flavors. One of the best bottles of Lillian I've had.
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The was drank at home after opening for one hour. The wine was clear and a deep purple in colour. With quite a strong nose of prunes and some dark chocolate, this wine had those same flavours in the glass but mixed with some lighter spices. The acidity seemed quite light while that tannins were very noticeable. The wine did seem to have a slight indicenrable aftertaste. Despite this, it was still a very pleasant wine.
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Not much to add to the other reviews. This disciple of Manfred Krankel has turned out exceptional wine year after year (almost a little too consistent for my liking). This effort boasts a dark colour, with medium-high fruit and excellent finishes of tobacco and clove but what impressed me was the right amount of "heat" coming off the wine; most Syrahs of this age are not yet settled, yet this was a perfectly drinkable effort that also easily has 10yrs ahead of it. I have always found Maggie's efforts, like this wine, to be very well integrated. I will invoke the cliché that if you cannot afford SQN, then try this wine instead, it will not disappoint.
Lots of dark berries, chocolate, mocha, spices, ... wow. So much going on here. Full body and long finish. Drinking well right now and for the next 5 years for sure.
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Still a great bottle of wine! Gave it a couple hours in the decanter. In line with my last TN; blue and blackberry, meat, vanilla, black olives, flowers.
A long life left ahead of this wine.
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Odd, such high ratings for this wine and very few comments as to why?
Fantastic showing by Lilian. PnP in the glass and consumed over several hours. A lighter dark purple in the glass with a nose full of black fruits, tobacco and hints of pepper.
On the palate the wine is silky and very well integrated. The balance was very good and the dark fruits are present on the mid palate. I was pleased that the alcohol was not dominate which is why the balance was so good.
Decent finish with smokey wood and black pepper. This wine is drinking great now and should deliver the same delight if not greater delights for several more years.
Light purple. More red fruit than the Torrin that we drank it against. At this time it was less primary and had better balance overall. Super long finish. Needed several hours to open, but dynamite when it did. WOTN for most.
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Purple, round deep penetrating and full mouth feel. Some bitter plum, dark chocolate-char on finish. Medium tannins. Medium length finish. Not much savory character to this wine yet. Too much wood at times.. Somewhat monolithic in its presence. Guns of Navarone...... soon to be waylaid... Needs a few years I think to show its best - which should be exciting.
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Killer wine! Had this at the tasting room and it was even more delightful than I remember. Seemless and delicious. Great deep garnet color, ripe fruit and long finish. Just purchased more (2010)!
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Tasted this wine at the winery today and it was just singing. Beautiful palate filed with dark fruits, spice and earthy notes. Every sip begged another. The wine was balanced and elegant for such a young wine. Any syrah lover owes it to themselves to try this wine. Bravo!
Tasting Syrah Blind in the Sunroom (It's for charity, after all): Slow ox for about ten hours. Beautiful blend of dark red and black fruits with silky tannins, a little toasty caramel and exotic spices. There is a whiff of tobacco and nicely balanced black pepper on the finish rather than the attack. Amazingly balanced for such a young Lillian. WOTD? First bottle empty!
Dark purple in color, almost black, the nose shows dark berries, touch of pepper and a hint of smoke. Very big on the palate this wine shows dark fruit as well as hints of pepper and a touch of game.
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Friday Night @ Ripple (Ripple - Cleveland Park - Washington, DC): The biggest, most purple wine of the night, but it's damn good stuff. Aromas of plum sauce, magic markers and creme brulee. Jammy and rich on the palate, with ripe black fruits and notes of spice and wintergreen. Pure deliciousness.
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Early autumn gathering with friends: Very dark. Nose is fairly floral ?lilac. Beautiful fruit on the palate, secondary notes of pepper and smoke. Agree that there is just a touch of heat on the fairly long finish. A beautiful wine that stood its own among some very heavy hitters.
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Popped and poured and followed for a few hours. Freaking delicious. Very much in the SQN mold and much more approachable than my experiences with the 2007 and 2008. Simply lovely, silky, rich, yet not cloying or heavy.
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Decanted 6+ hours, leftovers rebottled and recorked overnight. TN is from next evening. 15.2% ABV
Black and blueberry, florals, subtle black olives, hints of vanilla, smoked meat, pepper. Some of the 15.2 shows itself on the finish. Tannins are pronounced but silky smooth.
These need some air if drinking in the next few years.
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Finally decided to pop one of these after reading the tasting notes. Two hour decant and could have used more. A superb effort bursting with fruit on the nose that carries forward to the palate. Complexity in the mouth As it sits nicely on the tongue and makes you want to keep it there. Finish is extremely lengthy. Fine effort, will hold remaining bottle for a year plus.
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when i drink lillian, i turn into meg ryan in the diner scene in when harry met sally. the only differences are 1) i'm a dude, and 2) I'M NOT FAKING IT!!! these are such special wines. bursting with layers of gooey black and purple buttressed by haunting sweet and savory spices and the perfect amounts of tannin and acid. i wish i could afford to buy my allocation, and everyone else's too! 97+. drink or hold for another 6-8 years.
Willamette Valley Oregon Trip 4 & 1/2 Days; 7/29/2013-8/4/2013 (Willamette Valley, Oregon): I have to say I was really impressed by this wine. I was not expecting it to be so open and enjoyable at this point. But it was quite remarkable, I don't often describe Syrah as elegant, but I find myself using that term for almost all of Maggie's wines in this tasting. This was elegant, pretty, dark fruits, blackberry, juicy plum, vanilla, graphite, minerals, and allspice. What an alluring way to finish the tasting. 93+(+)pts.
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Got the wonderful sea breese syrah nose that sucks you in, mouth feel is on point as it delivers the meaty dark fruit laced leather wrapped basket of can't get enough goodness
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Very intense, deeply saturated, wonderfully textured, and containing layers of flavor. Decanted for 4 hours prior to having with steaks off the grill on Father's Day. Awesome wine!
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Awesome nose of dark red fruits, spices, and smokey. The wine was deep purple, on the pallet it was smooth with the acid in perfect to make pause in amazement. I slow-ox this for 5 hours and decanted the last hour before dinner, but the wine still evolved over next 2 hours. This will go well with any meat.
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Very concentrated - almost like if it has been reduced. It is a fantastic effort, but maybe a little overwhelming. I look forward to trying the next bottle in a few years time.
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Opaque magenta. Salty air and red meat on the nose. Delicious spice, blackberry and blue fruit grace the palate. The smooth finish goes on and on! One of the wines of the year so far!
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Consumed over 2 days, note from day 2. Nose: Medium expressiveness, violets, black berry, blueberry, pie crust, spice, and licorice. Palate: Medium-full bodied, sweet dark fruit attack, fruit carries nicely into mid-palate where it's joined by a spice kick and smokiness, also acid makes a noticeable appearance which really balances out the sweet fruit. Finish: Lengthy sense of spicy dark fruit. Quite exceptional effort, just lacks depth to keep it from being truly outstanding - perhaps with a little time...
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Great nose on this already, dark dark fruit, sweet oak (not over-done), toast and rhubarb. Very nice balance with a fairly extracted palate. This is drinking very well with an hour decant, I would drink when ready.
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Big mouthfeel, definitely new world. Each glass was better than the last. I should have decanted at least two hours. I will let my remainder sit for awhile.
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Silky texture, and hedonistic fruit. Persistent finish. Not a great pair with food, on the other hand. Double decanted and given a few hours of air, I'm neither gun-ho nor put off by this wine. Look forward to trying the upcoming cooler vintages (10-11).
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Served double-blind at CT offline. Agree with others here, this needs airtime, but prolly needs bottle rest, first, then airtime. A lot of raw material here, and it's of excellent quality. No need to rehash the descriptors, I'd only add that my experience most likely would have been lifted if the cork were popped the day before, perhaps even two days before. I look forward to trying more of Maggie's wines including the A.T. offerings.
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3-hour decant, then 4-hour slow ox. consumed over 4 hours. absolutely spectacular. I'm finding that I like Maggie's wines young with a solid decant. this just screamed with roasted blackberry, black cherry, carpaccio, and BBQ spice. in the mouth this was silky yet invasive, and the finish was ridiculously long, tumbling around without wanting you to forget her. this has been my standout wine of 2013. 97-98.
Drank from magnum. Decanted six hours. Complex nose of dark fruit, herbs, anise, olive, nice smoked meats, and an unmistakable funk. On the palate, dark fruit, olive, roasted game, licorice, sage. Finishes with great length and grip. Late entry into the Top 5 wines of the year.
This the youngest I have ever had a Lillian wine, which is maybe why it tasted like the "biggest" one I have ever had. Yet, it was still had a silky, delicate finish and everything was in balance. But, even with an aggressive splash decant, it could have used more air to soften things out a bit. Ultimately, though, it was delicious.
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I continue to be impressed with the consistency that Maggie makes syrah. Popped and poured for a friend who was about to deploy to Afghanistan. Great nose of white pepper, meat, and black fruits. Nose has a delicious floral aspect that really makes you want to keep your nose in the glass. Palate is sharply defined with prominent acidity, but still has opulent dark fruit, meat, and pepper. Great length on the finish. On par with prior efforts, and seems to have better balance and life than the '05 and '06. This will not disappoint fans of the style.
Corked. Started slight and got worse w more air. UPDATE: Mentioned this to the winery months after the fact when I was placing the next order. Bottle replaced no questions asked. Thumbs up on the service.
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Vinturi and opened for 2 hrs before really sampling. Beautiful and clear purple wine with a ruby rim. A moderately pronounced nose ventures over the rim of the glass to offer some boysenberry/plum, iodine, and smoke. The tail end of the nose is reminiscent of the smell that results from striking two stones together. So smooth upon entry...a touch of sweetness and dark berries, a hint of iron heralds the arrival of the fine grained tannins on the mid palate, white pepper, vanilla, and a slight oaky smokiness rounds out the moderately long finish. There is just enough acid to balance everything nicely. The stuffing and structure to go the distance. Clearly young, definitely delicious. We opened it knowing full well that it was early, just craving that youthful vigor and sweetness tonight. Outstanding wine.
This is quite good, better than '08, a tiny bit better than '07 (bigger style than '07), better than '06 and might be as good as '05... Really amazing stuff, once again can be confused with a SQN blind.
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Pop/pour. Aromatic nose of dark red fruits accented by a brighter set of florals and a faint hint of game. On the palate, while young this shows a lot of balance. Overtly trends towards "big" but like on the nose the palate has an offsetting "bright" presence that keeps this nimble. Also a hint of sweetness (not "fruit bomb"). The more time this spends in the glass, the more that tannins make their appearance on the finish, which nevertheless is quite long and fruit-driven. Overall, I would characterize this as elegant in styling. It's not shy or delicate, but nor does it beat you over the head. Redundantly, I'm impressed most by the balance of this wine. I probably won't pop another one for a couple of years, but had to give this a test drive. From memory, it's probably one of my favorite Lillian vintages on release.
I will admit that initially the price bump this year took me a little aback. If I recall, this went from $62 for the '08 to '$75 this year, though admittedly the prices were relatively stable prior to this release. But this is starting to push the price boundaries for me. But I'll probably bite for the next release, given my fondness for this vintage. In terms of other favorites, I find this more approachable than most Carlisles in youth, less "masculine" or sauvage than some of the Bedrocks.
Update: Day 2, this is deeper, darker and surprisingly a touch gamier, more masculine. Where did that come from? Perhaps "elegant" is no longer the right description, but certainly remains smooth, albeit much different in character. I like it, perhaps even better, but wow what a change. I withdraw my earlier concerns about price.
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4/24/2024 - galewskj wrote: 93 Points
California wines but not from Napa: Modern rich fruit with a soft palate and syrah-like secondary components. There was a olive flavor along with blueberry, slight vanilla and underbrush.
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1/31/2024 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 95 Points
Last bottle shared with friends. Delicious Syrah. Bold fruit. Drink or hold.
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6/14/2023 - redz wrote: 92 Points
consistent with previous note. Dark purple, rich syrah
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5/6/2023 - galewskj wrote: 93 Points
Luis goes to Cahill Bistro: 45 minute decant, fairly consistent with the last bottle. Modern rich fruit with a soft palate and syrah-like secondary components. There was a olive flavor along with blueberry, slight vanilla and underbrush.
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5/4/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another Great Luis Tasting! (Cahill Bistro): 45 minute decant. This style is right in my wheelhouse! These wines are more about decadent fruit than tertiary or secondary flavors, although they are present but more in the background. Lovely black and blue fruit with some spice and vanilla and hints of tapenade. Solid 92, and I would score this higher, but I detected some heat from the alcohol (a big detractor for me).....not sure if it would have dissipated with more time or air. That's the downside to these tastings, small pours and a fair amount of different wines, so hard to really follow a specific wine....especially when you need your glasses for another flight (or in this case, to get ready to leave the restaurant).
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4/9/2023 - redz wrote: 92 Points
Gave it a little more air this time, 4 hrs decant. Nice.
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1/21/2023 - Chrisinroch wrote:
no formal notes but from memory it was delicious
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12/31/2022 - Ewhite30 Likes this wine:
Three hour decant. Scents of blueberries and chalky minerals, violets and lavender on the nose. Charred wood just behind. Leads with dark berries and sweet black plums, cracked pepper spice and a ribbon of dark chocolate. Big and rich, juicy and decadent, the dusty tannins remain and at 13 years I’m not sure this will ever mellow further - for me that’s more than okay, super tasty.
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11/26/2022 - Cow Town Likes this wine: 91 Points
The last time I had this bottle was…10 years ago. Found it a bit “big” back then, and not much has changed. Edges have softened, but it seemed a bit one-note, with not as much depth as most Lillians. Good, but not great.
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10/25/2022 - redz wrote: 91 Points
Dark purple, muted nose, mild tannins; good, but not great. Decanted. 1 hr, will try longer next time.
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8/22/2022 - PDX-S wrote:
No detailed notes-
Big and round in the mouth. A plush and velvety mouthful of blueberries and spice. Definitely approachable and and mellow at this point.
Though, there’s no masking the the 15%+ abv. It’s rich and concentrated with a lengthy finish. Not yet tertiary, but perhaps close to the verge of heading into that territory.
Drink now for the last of mature primacy, or held to head into the unknown!!
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4/23/2022 - EricU Likes this wine: 92 Points
Chocolate, soft tanins, stewed fruit. A big wine with a great finish.
Not my typical winemaking style, but well made.
A little better on day 2.
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3/4/2022 - Decanting Queen Likes this wine:
Drank this sometime last week so no specific details except to say this continues to evolve in a way that I love for Syrah.
It has maintained the luscious Cali fruit and spice but now has more Washington-like Syrah characteristics of savory olives and Worcester sauce. Absolutely love this wine.
Only thing I forgot, must use a Durand to open. I have yet to have an intact cork from one of these ‘older’ Lillian bottles. Luckily the weak corks have no bearing on what is inside the bottle.
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2/3/2022 - jfkwines wrote: 89 Points
Not a wow but solid. Decan for 90 miutes and still showed alot of improvement throghout the night. No serious notes taken other than we like this alot more than the 08s
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12/23/2021 - leadpencil wrote: 90 Points
Boysenberry. Milk chocolate, soft tannins.
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12/20/2021 - galewskj wrote: 93 Points
Pop and pour. This wine was either in a better place than previous bottles or I was in a good mood. Modern rich fruit with a soft palate and syrah-like secondary components.
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12/4/2020 - tomlee wrote: 94 Points
Crimson in color. 15.2% ABV. Savory nose of dark fruits, olives, games and flowers. Medium body with mouth watering acidity. Exotic, plush and concentrated. Remarkable balance. Blackberry, blueberry liqueur, espresso and charred meats on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. Outstanding Syrah that has aged exceptionally well. Best over the next 1-2 years.
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11/17/2020 - hanasowner wrote:
From magnum...not going to rate as the cork showed seepage...decent nose, though definitely something "off" with the taste and finish...something astringent...after a couple hours it blew off and the wine improved
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11/5/2020 - Paul Lin wrote: 85 Points
I'm not sure what to think about this wine. Slow ox'd for about 5 hours, and when I poured my first glass, all I got was alcohol. But by the second glass, it started to come around. Very pristine winemaking, in my opinion, with some very pure fruit notes: black cherry, spice, and espresso. However, the alcohol seems to get in the way.
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8/29/2020 - bubbachumps wrote: 95 Points
Dark midnight blue in color. Nose has powerful blue and blue fruits, some violets and a touch of minerals on the nose. Mouthcoating, succulent fruit on the palate, tannins completely integrated. Delish!
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7/7/2020 - Decanting Queen Likes this wine:
It is always fun to introduce a wine and surprise people with something they didn’t think they would like! I am a big fan of these Lillian wines and glad that Mark and Carol approved.
This bottle had more savory notes than my last, seemed to have aged a bit quicker as it was lighter in color and slightly more developed. Still plenty of fruit and drinking really nicely.
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7/7/2020 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened for us by Jen, I was immediately taken aback by its bright ruby red color. Lighter in weight than I was expecting and in a good way, so not a heavy, dark, meaty syrah though it did have some savory, odd tasty sensations, I just can't remember exactly what they were! Carol loved it and says it was probably a 94 for her.
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6/14/2020 - galewskj wrote: 91 Points
The nose is a fantastic mix of berries. The palate is smooth, relatively clean with some spice and earth to go with the berries. The nose is a 94, the palate is an 89. I would buy these wines for half or less of the current asking price.
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6/12/2020 - RPerro Likes this wine: 94 Points
P&P. Seriously outstanding wine at 11 years old. Huge black fruit (blackberry, black cherry) followed by a burst of cracked peppercorn and espresso. Maggie sure knows how to make wine to my palate! Drink now - 2029.
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6/7/2020 - Burgundy Al wrote: 90 Points
Very bold and ripe, certainly very tasty, even if just moderately complex. Very good now, and holding very well.
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5/16/2020 - Troon wrote: 93 Points
Excellent aged Syrah. Acquired from JJ Buckley and stored in cellar. Popped and poured. Wine opened up within 30 minutes. Nice red fruit on palate with a medium finish. Was more delicate and refined than I expected, so I wonder if it will evolve much more. No rush to drink, though.
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4/3/2020 - Nutty08 wrote: 90 Points
4yrs from my bottle. A little past peak for me. Showed a lot of heat upon opening but got better with a few hours air. Some pepper and sage on the nose. Has a little spice and a savory streak mixed with refined polished fruit on the palate. Quite soft and smooth at this point. Seems fully mature. I liked it a bit better with brighter acidity and fuller tannic backbone. Has moved to a more elegant stage.
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3/30/2020 - TMOVino2 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Visual - (5/5) Visually stunning at 11 years old with a deep ruby color with very little signs of age
Aromas - (15/15) Aromatics are off the charts with massive notes of violets, tart raspberry, cherry, and some stone undertones that just keep building with air time
Palate - (16/20) - The Palate was a bit one-dimensional but I feel this wine if kept well would be similar to other great worldly Syrah that won't peak for another 10 years. Tart raspberry and cherry as well as red currant. Medium-full bodied with fresh almost crisp tannins still in tact. The acidity still seems a bit out of balance but again points back to needing more age to me.
Overall - (7/10) - For the price this represents to me some of the best qualities of both old world Syrah and US Syrah. Reminds me a lot of Chave's Saint Joseph wine.
93+ with room to get better if stored properly. My cork showed a bit of seepage so decided to pull it now vs risk it. Cork also fell apart removing.
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3/16/2020 - Decanting Queen Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fantastic Cali Syrah. Crumbly cork had me worried, but once removed this wine was drinking youthfully. Dark in color, intense floral aromas, lavender and berries. Mostly fruit and some spice on the palate with a subtle elegant finish. The abv was undetectable and alcohol, tannin and acid in perfect harmony. I was surprised not to find more savory notes but otherwise excellent.
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12/29/2019 - Redfish wrote: 92 Points
Tasted from magnum. Decanted and tasted after about 15 min and it was good but unremarkable. After an hour it started to open up and after 2 hours it was really special. Floral and dark fruit aromas with some earth. Nice smooth tannins. Dark fruit, but also some bright notes with nice acidity and a little pepper. If I had more I'd decant 2 hours before first sip.
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10/31/2019 - bobvictor wrote: 92 Points
Better than last time. Very rich and complete, harmonious if with only one or two notes. Silky viscous consistency without being syrupy. Drinking very well now.
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10/21/2019 - spidersva Likes this wine: 93 Points
Whoa. Drank at the end of the night (#mistake), and we still knew it was spectacular.
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10/9/2019 - wiscgrad wrote: 90 Points
A bit of a disappointment. Aromatics were nice but a bit of a one note on the palate and the alcohol came through a bit
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6/2/2019 - tcufletch Likes this wine: 95 Points
Full throttle yet dialed in and under control.
After a three hour double decant; deep and dark inky purple in color; intoxicating floral perfume and lavender on the nose, liqueur, and meatiness; palate is so smooth and plush, with blackberry and blueberry compote, subtle smokiness, kirsch liqueur, mild black olive, definite lemon curd zing on the mid-palate; the 15.2% alcohol is under control as I get no heat or burn; this is rich but such a smooth drinker. Just wonderful.
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4/18/2019 - Snoman Likes this wine: 96 Points
Tha magic continues for Maggie Harrison's reference-defining Syrah at age !0 on the vintage. Amazing and memorable, even more so at this bottle age. Worth tracking down, if you want to see just how good domestic Syrah can be.
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3/17/2019 - smphelps wrote: 88 Points
Had alongside the 2011 Gold series, and this was clearly better; still composed and dense at 10yrs. However: the wine was tiring, and ultimately a little too one note for me.
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2/26/2019 - tomlee wrote: 96 Points
Bright crimson in color with a little bricking at the edge. 15.2% ABV. Sublime nose of black and blue fruits, olive brine, flowers and Whitman Sampler box. Full bodied with exceptional acidity. Well balanced. Sleek, silky and plush. Blackberry liqueur, blueberry, espresso and black olives on the palate. The finish is long and seamless. Tremendous wine and any comparisons to Saxum and SQN are fair. Best over the next 2-4 years.
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1/7/2019 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 97 Points
Opened, given two hours, blackberry cobbler, blueberries, some lemon tartness with gorgeous depth and balance. Extremely well done!
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12/29/2018 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark purple, smoky meat,blackberries, palate has deep blueberries, blackberries smooth and drinking well now
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12/17/2018 - WineGuyDelMar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Similar to last note. Decanted 3 hours. Dark purple color. Ripe, Big & Bold but well balanced and smooth. Tannins are soft. Alcohol is high (15,2%) butis integrated nicely. No hot nose or taste. A fair amount of sediment in the bottle. This is not SQN. It’s a good wine but not great Bought a couple of bottles to try but I’m not inclined to buy more. I prefer the layers of flavors in Araujo Eisele and Alban Single Vineyards.
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12/2/2018 - galewskj wrote: 89 Points
Que Sera Sera (Mike's House): A 2 hour decant, and this wine is still alcoholic. There is a fair amount of spice. Will the alcohol continue to build on this?
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11/4/2018 - kenthargis wrote: 95 Points
This was excellent. The age was spot on and hits the right balance between alcohol, fruit and acidity. Juicy, dark red and black fruits. Not iron flavored or peppery.
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10/21/2018 - WineGuyDelMar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Super Big and Bold Cali Syrah with a lot of ripeness with a hint of sweetness but not too much. Much more fruit forward than savory. Was paired with an Arnot Roberts Griffins Lair which is super savory, more cool weather Syrah so quite contrasting styles. I felt while the extraction of the Lillian was quite massive I found it a bit one dimensional in this respect and lacked the underneath layers of more subtle flavors. The wine is very good but you have to be a fan of this style.
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9/11/2018 - galewskj wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 1 hour, I am not surprised that this was bested by a Carlisle Sonoma Coast syrah at my last high/low blind tasting. This was enjoyable as a full throttle modern syrah. Great fruit and rich full-bodied modern appeal, although not very sophisticated. I would like to know if it is a mistake to drink these down, because I see nothing but negatives for this wine going forward, and I wish I hadn't bought so many, even at a reduced price.
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8/22/2018 - hanasowner wrote: 96 Points
Opened and decanted at the restaurant...dark purple...thought we would let it sit, but the aromas were jumping from the decanter...concentrated blueberries and blackberries without being too ripe...full-bodied and smooth...tannins are fully integrated and the finish was 30+ seconds...consumed three glasses over a couple hours and got better and better.
My favorite Lillians have been from 2004-2006...this is undoubtedly the best experience I've had from any other year.
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8/17/2018 - galewskj wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 1 hour, better at lower temperature due to high alcohol. This was enjoyable as a full throttle modern syrah. Great fruit and rich full-boddied modern appeal, although not very sophisticated.
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8/3/2018 - csimm wrote: 91 Points
Calistoga Inn Restaurant & Brewery - Aubert, Shafer, Bevan, Sea Smoke, Togni, and more... (Calistoga): A Syrah trio of 2008 and 2009 Lillians, and a 2012 Andremily No. 1. The latter was clearly the more complex wine.
The Lillian Syrahs were almost identical in their specific flavor profiles. Notes of blackberry, spicy black peppercorn, and hints of dried cranberry. The 2009 had just a touch more intensity than the 2008, but otherwise they were the same to me. A little hollow mid-palate, with a tart clip on the back end. The 2008 was a bit smoother in that regard.
Holding bottles might help further smooth out the tart/bitterness, but I’m not confident the core fruit will hold up for any length of extended time after the next few years. I’d recommend drinking sooner than later and allowing it to breathe in the glass in hopes it levels out with a little air.
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7/10/2018 - Burgundy Al wrote: 90 Points
Ultra ripe with intense concentration. Fantastic to enjoy with rich BBQ, maybe not the most elegant wine for what I enjoy on a more typical day.
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5/29/2018 - hrazdiiv wrote: flawed
I really dislike giving NR but feel it's warranted in this case. Having drunk (and praised) this wine many times I was surprised to find this particular vintage lacking. Despite it being only nine years old, the cork crumbled and the initial impressions confirmed that the wine was probably off a bit. Still displaying a nice medium-dark color, the nose was a little too subtle for me and the tannins were just a little too polished (barely there). But this bottle had a beam of acidity that was out of place, so I will chalk it up to a slightly tainted bottle. The wine eventually came together after about an hour and featured the usual blueberry, pepper combo that everyone describes and was quite pleasant. But I know the producer well and was expecting better, which I am sure will happen next time.
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4/14/2018 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 96 Points
Delicious mature Syrah. Opened about two hours before drinking. This wine had rich dark fruit flavors, spice , licorice and some smoke. This wine is in prime time. Drink or hold.
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3/25/2018 - ajohn206 wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for an hour prior to dinner - this vintage is outstanding and showing very well right now. Long savory finish.
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10/8/2017 - galewskj wrote: 92 Points
Slow o'd a few hours. Drank the bottle with my wife over the course of an evening. This wine is big, fruity, probably over the top, and yet so fun to drink. Nice fresh fruit. This is along the lines of an Aussie shiraz, or maybe a Turley Petite Sirah.
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8/22/2017 - smphelps wrote: 92 Points
Dark garnet ruby. Grilled meat aromas with rich cherry, blueberry, pepper, and violets. Long and graceful, with great weight and texture.
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8/18/2017 - garambler Likes this wine: 94 Points
I had this with rack of lamb on 8/18/17. It had a deep, rich, expressive bouquet of smoked meat, violet, blackberry, blueberry, black olive, pepper and spice aromas. The palate was rich, lush and ripe with great energy…flavors of blackberry, blueberry, black olive, pepper, spice and minerals. 93+
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7/22/2017 - Cote d'Or wrote:
Decanted 30 minutes
-inky black red
-moderately aromatic violet ripe berry whiff of smoky bacon
-med- acidity, heavyweight still with a lot of ripe berry fruit and a fairly hot finish
-doing OK now, would drink before the fruit fades much further
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4/15/2017 - ews3 wrote: 95 Points
needed long decant -- poured a glass night one and it was tight PnP with some aromas that made me think there was some VA. Decided to open something else. Night two, the nose on this shows boysenberry, baking chocolate, sage, herbs, dark flowers, and smoke. still very youthful despite being open for 24 hours. full bodied, this has generous velvety tannins, with a really elegant mouthfeel. the spice notes are more prominent on the palate and leading into a lovely long finish. a great wine, but give it time to open up as it is painfully youthful. glad I waited until night 2.
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4/7/2017 - Salute Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted, small amount of fine sediment. Back in the bottle, off to restaurant. Floral notes give way to full smooth body. Not overly fruit forward, wonderful finish. Drinking very well now.
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2/12/2017 - Neras Likes this wine: 97 Points
Outstanding. Dark red. Lots of dark, black berries on the nose. Very dense. Seductive on the palate with perfect balance. Very, very long taste. Come and get me wine. My last bottle, but it has a long future ahead.
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12/11/2016 - galewskj wrote: 90 Points
Saturday Snowy Winter Wine Tasting (Ray and Teresa's): A 2 hour decant, drank 1.5 glasses over 1.5 hours. Compared to the last bottle, this seemed more alcoholic and less fruit on the palate. I'm wondering if this wine fits the standard modern profile - the fruit fades and there's nothing behind it. I hope this is either in a dumb phase or a bad bottle.
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10/15/2016 - etc Likes this wine:
From memory. PnP Beautiful lush nose of black fruit and just a hint of spice. Mouth coating black berries and dried figs. Well balanced and no hint of heat. Good finish and decent qpr.
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6/12/2016 - rwstorer wrote: 90 Points
- Purple color and aromas of cherry and raspberry. It's somewhat balanced and has flavours of cherry with a medium body - Never really came around. Lots of blueberry.
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5/25/2016 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Sine Qua Non Dinner (Formento's - Chicago IL): Dense black fruit with Asian five spice and black pepper. Great fruit comes across a so clean and precise, just slightly less nuanced than the best of the SQNs tasted tonight. Upside going forward. Very tasty.
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5/21/2016 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 94 Points
4yrs since my last bottle. Sometimes I think I like the Lillian wines with less age, but this vintage is really striking. Large in scale but beautifully crafted and minimal heat. Loads of concentrated dark fruit with a polished plus texture. Fantastic pepper and spice which has integrated with the large scaled fruit. Long finish. Not fatiguing at all despite the style.
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5/15/2016 - BVal wrote: 89 Points
Color: dark/deep ruby core -> fairly dense ruby/fuchsia rim. Opened and decanted for 2+ hours before tasting. Truly a reticent bouquet that required a lot of swirling and coaxing to get much; blueberries and plums with a touch of anisette. Clean, foursquare palate featuring the aforementioned fruits as well as a little chocolate. Good midpalate, acidity and a nice long finish, this wine is in serious need of some personality. Don't get me wrong, it is certainly well made and quaffable, it just needs to bring more to the plate --especially considering the price. I'd give it a 90 if it was around $35 but have to knock one off for missing that mark.
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5/4/2016 - meganmdaley Likes this wine: 93 Points
Good fruit, a bit of smokey. Dark purple. A beautiful wine overall, good acidity that lingers. Not complex but clean with a bit of "makes you think and enjoy"
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4/27/2016 - cpsmith33 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popped and poured and drank over 4 hours.
Should have gotten it more time as the sweet fruit and tannins were just too prominent out of the box. Was a bit disappointed with this one as it was one dimensional and didn't evolve much over time.
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3/6/2016 - ELH wrote: 88 Points
Not much personality. Restrained and muted.
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1/4/2016 - galewskj wrote: 93 Points
Vikings actually beat the Packers (Gary and Judy's): A 5 hour decant this time as opposed to 3 last time, and it really wasn't that different. The only thing it suffered from was that we all had the 2012 Caymus SS before this. Otherwise, consistent with previous note.
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11/9/2015 - Hollowine wrote:
Just beautiful. Coravin'd a couple glasses over a week, finished the bottle last night. No need to worry about popping the cork and letting half sit to the next day...I left half a glass overnight and at 12 hours it was even better. Really, if you pop one, consider a 4-6 hour decant.
Smooth, luscious fruit, nice hints of tar and spice on the back palate. Just delightful.
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10/23/2015 - celo4life wrote: 93 Points
Had some notes of tar/rubber w/ blackberry, and pepper on the nose. Tripped me out for quite a bit, but a great bottle.
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10/18/2015 - kodreaming Does not like this wine: 88 Points
A typical cali Syrah. Overwhelming sweet fruit flavor with somewhat tight tannin. I guess it is a good bottle for this kind of style as it is surprising balanced for 15.2%. Still it is quite one dimensional and there is really not much to say about it.
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8/26/2015 - RickyT12 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 30 minutes
Blood, iron, kind of an incense type smell, blueberry, pepper. After 1 hour coffee comes out on a big on the nose. Flavors super sharp raspberry, coffee, fennel, some green aspects. Interesting mixture of flavors an nose. I like it but just not mind blowing. Weight heavy, acid high.
Liked it better than last time.
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8/20/2015 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 94 Points
Just a lovely syrah with great fruit and soft spice backbone. So easy to drink and likely to remain so for several years to come.
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8/18/2015 - galewskj Likes this wine: 93 Points
Gary's Famous Ribs (Judith's House): 3 hour decant, drank a couple small glasses over the course of an evening. This wine was consistent with my experiences with other vintages of it. A bit amped-up in flavor, but so well-balanced.
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8/15/2015 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Gary's Famous BBQ Ribs Event (Judith's House, WI): Very dark purple/red color. Decanted, but unsure how long. Drank 1+ glass over 90 minutes. As always, I'm pleased and impressed by this wine; such nice balance, quite finessed and very well balanced. No sense of heaviness or alcohol, everything blends so nicely together. the nose is complex with a good mix of savory meatiness and lovely black fruits. The palate is quite consistent, lovely texture, quite sophisticated, tar, boysenberry, cassis, and subtle blueberry influences on top of the meaty depth and mineral essence that leaves you wanting to refill your glass despite the heat of an August evening. 93+pts. My and group WOTN with 7 of 8 votes.
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8/13/2015 - RickyT12 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Splash decant
Light purple With light red edges.
Inky, black fruit, dark chocolate has a sharp nose and a hint of smoke. Flavors blackberry, blueberry, smoked meat actually like a hint of a bit of bitter vegetable, a little heat and lots of tannins. Interesting waxy type mouth feel. Probably needs a couple more years or a nice 3 hour decant in my opinion. Seems a bit rigid, but nice wine with several things going on. Definitely a mixture of Cali and traditional Syrah. Weight heavy, acid medium plus.
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7/26/2015 - GalvezGuy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep color. Nose of blueberry, pepper, smoked game, olive, hints of sage. On the palate, rich and dense, with gobs of fruit mostly blue and black, black olive, herbs, and vanilla. Long finish with enough cut to balance the fruit. Drink of hold, it will change but probably not get much better than this.
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7/12/2015 - dbg wrote:
Nice bottle brought by Mindy & Al to taste alongside the SQN. Though this is a Syrah and the SQN was a Grenache, knowing the history of Maggie Harrison's tenure as an assistant at SQN made it easy to see (or imagine?) the connection. Pop and pour and enjoyed over 2 hours. Dark red to rim. Rich ripe fruit, full body, nice balance seamless palate feel, long finish, outstanding.
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7/6/2015 - Tim Heaton wrote:
Looking back at my note from Feb '13, not a whole lot has changed. This is still compact and keeping things very close to the vest - but as before, I do like what I see. In the moments the cork was first pulled, the nose and palate had little to offer. By the one hour mark, it was slowly unfolding. It wasn't until the last glass, more than 2 hours into it, that it really signaled what it was made of. Trim and fit, as opposed to thick and muscled, this one's got good tannic and acidic structure to see this another 7-8 years; HOLD for another 3-4 years, needs time to build on its foundation of complexity. 15,2% abv. (resolved) recommended
PnP; served non-blind and followed over 2+ hrs (best to aerate in decanter at LEAST 90 minutes if serving anytime during the next few years.
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6/7/2015 - pakabear Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark kirsch liquor, blackberry and meat. Drinks well after 20-30 min of air and doesn't look back. I'd drink up over the next few years, the tannins are well integrated and is in a good place right now. Would be much happier at a 50-60 price point however.
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5/20/2015 - lucaslabelle wrote: 95 Points
Decanted for a few hours then consumed over an hour. Tonight the wine was spectacular. Big yet balanced mouthfeel with many nuanced primary and secondary flavors. One of the best bottles of Lillian I've had.
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4/3/2015 - Rosengoo wrote: 91 Points
The was drank at home after opening for one hour. The wine was clear and a deep purple in colour. With quite a strong nose of prunes and some dark chocolate, this wine had those same flavours in the glass but mixed with some lighter spices. The acidity seemed quite light while that tannins were very noticeable. The wine did seem to have a slight indicenrable aftertaste. Despite this, it was still a very pleasant wine.
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4/3/2015 - hrazdiiv Likes this wine: 93 Points
Not much to add to the other reviews. This disciple of Manfred Krankel has turned out exceptional wine year after year (almost a little too consistent for my liking). This effort boasts a dark colour, with medium-high fruit and excellent finishes of tobacco and clove but what impressed me was the right amount of "heat" coming off the wine; most Syrahs of this age are not yet settled, yet this was a perfectly drinkable effort that also easily has 10yrs ahead of it. I have always found Maggie's efforts, like this wine, to be very well integrated. I will invoke the cliché that if you cannot afford SQN, then try this wine instead, it will not disappoint.
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1/31/2015 - jctra wrote: 95 Points
Lots of dark berries, chocolate, mocha, spices, ... wow. So much going on here. Full body and long finish. Drinking well right now and for the next 5 years for sure.
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12/14/2014 - Kemo Sabe Likes this wine:
Really solid. Drank from a mag. Popped and poured. Rich and smooth. Deep dark color - mouth coating richness. Dark fruits. 93+
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12/11/2014 - wineberg Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still a great bottle of wine! Gave it a couple hours in the decanter. In line with my last TN; blue and blackberry, meat, vanilla, black olives, flowers.
A long life left ahead of this wine.
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11/8/2014 - rockguit wrote: 93 Points
Big & bold; complex palate of dark fruits and smoke. A nice bitter note on the back end. A point taken off for the smidgen of heat at the very end.
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10/5/2014 - brouigu1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Odd, such high ratings for this wine and very few comments as to why?
Fantastic showing by Lilian. PnP in the glass and consumed over several hours. A lighter dark purple in the glass with a nose full of black fruits, tobacco and hints of pepper.
On the palate the wine is silky and very well integrated. The balance was very good and the dark fruits are present on the mid palate. I was pleased that the alcohol was not dominate which is why the balance was so good.
Decent finish with smokey wood and black pepper. This wine is drinking great now and should deliver the same delight if not greater delights for several more years.
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5/24/2014 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 96 Points
Light purple. More red fruit than the Torrin that we drank it against. At this time it was less primary and had better balance overall. Super long finish. Needed several hours to open, but dynamite when it did. WOTN for most.
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4/28/2014 - arthrovine wrote: 92 Points
Purple, round deep penetrating and full mouth feel. Some bitter plum, dark chocolate-char on finish. Medium tannins. Medium length finish. Not much savory character to this wine yet. Too much wood at times.. Somewhat monolithic in its presence. Guns of Navarone...... soon to be waylaid... Needs a few years I think to show its best - which should be exciting.
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4/26/2014 - kwn70 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Killer wine! Had this at the tasting room and it was even more delightful than I remember. Seemless and delicious. Great deep garnet color, ripe fruit and long finish. Just purchased more (2010)!
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4/4/2014 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tasted this wine at the winery today and it was just singing. Beautiful palate filed with dark fruits, spice and earthy notes. Every sip begged another. The wine was balanced and elegant for such a young wine. Any syrah lover owes it to themselves to try this wine. Bravo!
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3/9/2014 - RMundell Likes this wine: 94 Points
As good as Syrah gets for me.
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3/6/2014 - soyhead wrote:
nose - smoky, whisky
mouth - complex, juicy, slightly meaty, coffee. a tad syrupy. hold
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12/8/2013 - S1 Likes this wine:
Tasting Syrah Blind in the Sunroom (It's for charity, after all): Slow ox for about ten hours.
Beautiful blend of dark red and black fruits with silky tannins, a little toasty caramel and exotic spices. There is a whiff of tobacco and nicely balanced black pepper on the finish rather than the attack. Amazingly balanced for such a young Lillian. WOTD? First bottle empty!
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10/27/2013 - Minkey Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark purple in color, almost black, the nose shows dark berries, touch of pepper and a hint of smoke. Very big on the palate this wine shows dark fruit as well as hints of pepper and a touch of game.
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10/12/2013 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 91 Points
Friday Night @ Ripple (Ripple - Cleveland Park - Washington, DC): The biggest, most purple wine of the night, but it's damn good stuff. Aromas of plum sauce, magic markers and creme brulee. Jammy and rich on the palate, with ripe black fruits and notes of spice and wintergreen. Pure deliciousness.
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9/30/2013 - Griffin5416 wrote: 90 Points
A bit too gamey for my tastes.
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9/21/2013 - winopops3 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Early autumn gathering with friends: Very dark. Nose is fairly floral ?lilac. Beautiful fruit on the palate, secondary notes of pepper and smoke. Agree that there is just a touch of heat on the fairly long finish. A beautiful wine that stood its own among some very heavy hitters.
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9/13/2013 - G_H Likes this wine: 93 Points
Classic central coast syrah notes, quite on the elegant side of things!
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9/12/2013 - Eric wrote: 95 Points
Popped and poured and followed for a few hours. Freaking delicious. Very much in the SQN mold and much more approachable than my experiences with the 2007 and 2008. Simply lovely, silky, rich, yet not cloying or heavy.
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9/2/2013 - wineberg Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 6+ hours, leftovers rebottled and recorked overnight. TN is from next evening. 15.2% ABV
Black and blueberry, florals, subtle black olives, hints of vanilla, smoked meat, pepper. Some of the 15.2 shows itself on the finish. Tannins are pronounced but silky smooth.
These need some air if drinking in the next few years.
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9/1/2013 - Ilikadajuice wrote: 94 Points
Finally decided to pop one of these after reading the tasting notes. Two hour decant and could have used more. A superb effort bursting with fruit on the nose that carries forward to the palate. Complexity in the mouth As it sits nicely on the tongue and makes you want to keep it there. Finish is extremely lengthy. Fine effort, will hold remaining bottle for a year plus.
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8/31/2013 - Mtnmd1 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Superb, opening up hour after hour. Would save a glass for the next day but can't help myself. Tasted over 6 hrs.
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8/30/2013 - S R U D I N Likes this wine: 93 Points
Young but ready to drink. Very elegant and pleasant wine, I hope to drink a lot more.
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8/21/2013 - jdabrowski1027 wrote:
No formal notes taken, but this hit the spot. Sure its young, but its got that pure fruit density, with enough acidity to keep it in check. Enjoy!
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8/6/2013 - caeleric Likes this wine:
when i drink lillian, i turn into meg ryan in the diner scene in when harry met sally. the only differences are 1) i'm a dude, and 2) I'M NOT FAKING IT!!! these are such special wines. bursting with layers of gooey black and purple buttressed by haunting sweet and savory spices and the perfect amounts of tannin and acid. i wish i could afford to buy my allocation, and everyone else's too! 97+. drink or hold for another 6-8 years.
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7/31/2013 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Willamette Valley Oregon Trip 4 & 1/2 Days; 7/29/2013-8/4/2013 (Willamette Valley, Oregon): I have to say I was really impressed by this wine. I was not expecting it to be so open and enjoyable at this point. But it was quite remarkable, I don't often describe Syrah as elegant, but I find myself using that term for almost all of Maggie's wines in this tasting. This was elegant, pretty, dark fruits, blackberry, juicy plum, vanilla, graphite, minerals, and allspice. What an alluring way to finish the tasting. 93+(+)pts.
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7/4/2013 - shadow wrote: 96 Points
Got the wonderful sea breese syrah nose that sucks you in, mouth feel is on point as it delivers the meaty dark fruit laced leather wrapped basket of can't get enough goodness
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7/2/2013 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very soft and smooth even at this young age. Wonderfully round mouth feel. Very nice wine.
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6/19/2013 - jlaws7lh wrote: 94 Points
Very intense, deeply saturated, wonderfully textured, and containing layers of flavor. Decanted for 4 hours prior to having with steaks off the grill on Father's Day. Awesome wine!
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6/9/2013 - ccotton8 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Awesome nose of dark red fruits, spices, and smokey. The wine was deep purple, on the pallet it was smooth with the acid in perfect to make pause in amazement. I slow-ox this for 5 hours and decanted the last hour before dinner, but the wine still evolved over next 2 hours. This will go well with any meat.
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6/8/2013 - Neras Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very concentrated - almost like if it has been reduced. It is a fantastic effort, but maybe a little overwhelming. I look forward to trying the next bottle in a few years time.
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5/11/2013 - kwn70 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opaque magenta. Salty air and red meat on the nose. Delicious spice, blackberry and blue fruit grace the palate. The smooth finish goes on and on! One of the wines of the year so far!
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5/6/2013 - prasm Likes this wine: 91 Points
Consumed over 2 days, note from day 2. Nose: Medium expressiveness, violets, black berry, blueberry, pie crust, spice, and licorice. Palate: Medium-full bodied, sweet dark fruit attack, fruit carries nicely into mid-palate where it's joined by a spice kick and smokiness, also acid makes a noticeable appearance which really balances out the sweet fruit. Finish: Lengthy sense of spicy dark fruit. Quite exceptional effort, just lacks depth to keep it from being truly outstanding - perhaps with a little time...
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5/4/2013 - Griffin5416 Likes this wine: 92 Points
So much better on night two. It was more relaxed and open. Like these not sure I love these.
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4/26/2013 - pakabear wrote: flawed
corked...
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3/29/2013 - pakabear Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great nose on this already, dark dark fruit, sweet oak (not over-done), toast and rhubarb. Very nice balance with a fairly extracted palate. This is drinking very well with an hour decant, I would drink when ready.
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3/2/2013 - Griffin5416 wrote: 92 Points
Big mouthfeel, definitely new world. Each glass was better than the last. I should have decanted at least two hours. I will let my remainder sit for awhile.
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2/24/2013 - Robert Pavlovich wrote:
Silky texture, and hedonistic fruit. Persistent finish. Not a great pair with food, on the other hand. Double decanted and given a few hours of air, I'm neither gun-ho nor put off by this wine. Look forward to trying the upcoming cooler vintages (10-11).
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2/23/2013 - Tim Heaton wrote:
Served double-blind at CT offline. Agree with others here, this needs airtime, but prolly needs bottle rest, first, then airtime. A lot of raw material here, and it's of excellent quality. No need to rehash the descriptors, I'd only add that my experience most likely would have been lifted if the cork were popped the day before, perhaps even two days before. I look forward to trying more of Maggie's wines including the A.T. offerings.
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2/3/2013 - caeleric wrote:
3-hour decant, then 4-hour slow ox. consumed over 4 hours. absolutely spectacular. I'm finding that I like Maggie's wines young with a solid decant. this just screamed with roasted blackberry, black cherry, carpaccio, and BBQ spice. in the mouth this was silky yet invasive, and the finish was ridiculously long, tumbling around without wanting you to forget her. this has been my standout wine of 2013. 97-98.
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1/12/2013 - Baggio Likes this wine: 94 Points
Really good and quite drinkable with an hour to breathe in bottle. A very rich, balanced wine, with soft tannins.
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12/27/2012 - G_H Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was a true SQN lookalike, herbs with nice full fruit. Very over ripe but nice.
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12/24/2012 - GalvezGuy wrote: 94 Points
Drank from magnum. Decanted six hours. Complex nose of dark fruit, herbs, anise, olive, nice smoked meats, and an unmistakable funk. On the palate, dark fruit, olive, roasted game, licorice, sage. Finishes with great length and grip. Late entry into the Top 5 wines of the year.
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12/8/2012 - Cow Town Likes this wine: 94 Points
This the youngest I have ever had a Lillian wine, which is maybe why it tasted like the "biggest" one I have ever had. Yet, it was still had a silky, delicate finish and everything was in balance. But, even with an aggressive splash decant, it could have used more air to soften things out a bit. Ultimately, though, it was delicious.
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12/6/2012 - fine137 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Better than the 08, decanted for 4 hours.
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12/2/2012 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 94 Points
I continue to be impressed with the consistency that Maggie makes syrah. Popped and poured for a friend who was about to deploy to Afghanistan. Great nose of white pepper, meat, and black fruits. Nose has a delicious floral aspect that really makes you want to keep your nose in the glass. Palate is sharply defined with prominent acidity, but still has opulent dark fruit, meat, and pepper. Great length on the finish. On par with prior efforts, and seems to have better balance and life than the '05 and '06. This will not disappoint fans of the style.
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12/1/2012 - Chrisinroch wrote: flawed
Corked. Started slight and got worse w more air. UPDATE: Mentioned this to the winery months after the fact when I was placing the next order. Bottle replaced no questions asked. Thumbs up on the service.
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11/21/2012 - ews3 wrote: 93 Points
another great lillian. this tended more towards the chocolate notes of the spectrum. pop/pour from mag. still 1/3 left and will revisit tomorrow.
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11/18/2012 - PDX-S wrote:
Vinturi and opened for 2 hrs before really sampling.
Beautiful and clear purple wine with a ruby rim. A moderately pronounced nose ventures over the rim of the glass to offer some boysenberry/plum, iodine, and smoke. The tail end of the nose is reminiscent of the smell that results from striking two stones together.
So smooth upon entry...a touch of sweetness and dark berries, a hint of iron heralds the arrival of the fine grained tannins on the mid palate, white pepper, vanilla, and a slight oaky smokiness rounds out the moderately long finish. There is just enough acid to balance everything nicely. The stuffing and structure to go the distance. Clearly young, definitely delicious. We opened it knowing full well that it was early, just craving that youthful vigor and sweetness tonight.
Outstanding wine.
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11/17/2012 - pakabear wrote: 94 Points
This is quite good, better than '08, a tiny bit better than '07 (bigger style than '07), better than '06 and might be as good as '05... Really amazing stuff, once again can be confused with a SQN blind.
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11/7/2012 - vanpe003 wrote: 94 Points
Pop/pour. Aromatic nose of dark red fruits accented by a brighter set of florals and a faint hint of game. On the palate, while young this shows a lot of balance. Overtly trends towards "big" but like on the nose the palate has an offsetting "bright" presence that keeps this nimble. Also a hint of sweetness (not "fruit bomb"). The more time this spends in the glass, the more that tannins make their appearance on the finish, which nevertheless is quite long and fruit-driven. Overall, I would characterize this as elegant in styling. It's not shy or delicate, but nor does it beat you over the head. Redundantly, I'm impressed most by the balance of this wine. I probably won't pop another one for a couple of years, but had to give this a test drive. From memory, it's probably one of my favorite Lillian vintages on release.
I will admit that initially the price bump this year took me a little aback. If I recall, this went from $62 for the '08 to '$75 this year, though admittedly the prices were relatively stable prior to this release. But this is starting to push the price boundaries for me. But I'll probably bite for the next release, given my fondness for this vintage. In terms of other favorites, I find this more approachable than most Carlisles in youth, less "masculine" or sauvage than some of the Bedrocks.
Update: Day 2, this is deeper, darker and surprisingly a touch gamier, more masculine. Where did that come from? Perhaps "elegant" is no longer the right description, but certainly remains smooth, albeit much different in character. I like it, perhaps even better, but wow what a change. I withdraw my earlier concerns about price.
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