14 years in.. still a considerable amount of fruit left! Definitely a California Syrah. Still, the age tempers the fruit to an acceptable level - a nice bouquet of green and black pepper, elderberry and other dark fruit; blackberry and medium tannin on the palate.
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Expected this to be over the top and lacking subtlety but this was a pleasant surprise. The nose is especially expressive and funky with cedar notes - strangely like old school Bordeaux. It's a bit of a letdown on the palate - typical CA Syrah ripeness is a little monolithic but there's enough acidity to keep it from being a total washout. Not really my style but definitely moving in the right direction!
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Dark inky ruby color. Soft perfume of cherries and chocolate on the nose. Black cherries, cola, chocolate; and slight hint of bitter dark chocolate, violet flowers and candied fruits; followed by a spicy, peppery finish of medium to long length. Medium to full body with sumptuous tannins. Very well balanced and drinking wonderfully.
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Excellent Cali Syrah, this one did not feel over the top from a fruit/alc. perspective and it was quite elegant and balanced, still struggling to understand why this varietal struggles in Cali and it is quite unique and attractive when put against it's Aussie Shiraz 'cousins' (albeit the good examples are more pricey) - Black, full bodied with a nose of blueberry, plum, cherry, pepper and vanilla, good structure, decent tannins and acidity, well balanced, sweet, silky smooth on the palate with excellent length, outstanding (92 Points).
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Really some very nice fruit and spice in this wine, but it seemed a bit disjointed right now and some heat on the finish as well. This probably needs to rest for a couple of years.
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8/28/2020 - aronh Likes this wine: 90 Points
14 years in.. still a considerable amount of fruit left! Definitely a California Syrah. Still, the age tempers the fruit to an acceptable level - a nice bouquet of green and black pepper, elderberry and other dark fruit; blackberry and medium tannin on the palate.
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10/17/2014 - BillBell73 wrote: 90 Points
Expected this to be over the top and lacking subtlety but this was a pleasant surprise. The nose is especially expressive and funky with cedar notes - strangely like old school Bordeaux. It's a bit of a letdown on the palate - typical CA Syrah ripeness is a little monolithic but there's enough acidity to keep it from being a total washout. Not really my style but definitely moving in the right direction!
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10/20/2013 - Hodad Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark inky ruby color. Soft perfume of cherries and chocolate on the nose. Black cherries, cola, chocolate; and slight hint of bitter dark chocolate, violet flowers and candied fruits; followed by a spicy, peppery finish of medium to long length. Medium to full body with sumptuous tannins. Very well balanced and drinking wonderfully.
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3/10/2012 - ListenToMeWine wrote: 90 Points
Dark chocolate, bramble berry, white paper. Good and ready to go.
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9/5/2011 - Tarrant wrote: 92 Points
Excellent Cali Syrah, this one did not feel over the top from a fruit/alc. perspective and it was quite elegant and balanced, still struggling to understand why this varietal struggles in Cali and it is quite unique and attractive when put against it's Aussie Shiraz 'cousins' (albeit the good examples are more pricey) - Black, full bodied with a nose of blueberry, plum, cherry, pepper and vanilla, good structure, decent tannins and acidity, well balanced, sweet, silky smooth on the palate with excellent length, outstanding (92 Points).
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2/10/2010 - PIntag wrote: 87 Points
Really some very nice fruit and spice in this wine, but it seemed a bit disjointed right now and some heat on the finish as well. This probably needs to rest for a couple of years.
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