Opened a 2007 last night which shone above this. The 2008 started well with flavors of black cherry and leather, but quickly turned to decidedly acidic. Rating a 90 to begin and a generous 85 at the end.
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Friends opened this for a 6/29/18 card game. It had a rich, ripe bouquet of violet, smoked meat, plum, blackberry, licorice, pepper, herb and spice aromas. The palate was rich, ripe, round and elegant with flavors of plum, blackberry, licorice, pepper, herb and spice.
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Inky in color. Nose is boysenberry, plum, dark cherry, leather, vanilla, violets, and wet river rock. The palate is very similar, with the addition of some forest floor and pepper. Flavors are intense, and the wine is lengthy in terms of finish. Nicely balanced in general terms, though on the more chewy side overall. Enjoyed with beef short ribs and mashed potatoes.
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3 years since the last bottle. Opened about 4 hours prior to dinner.
Sweet plum on the nose. My last notes talked about just not coming together completely and it needing some more time. And on the positive side a lot of the heat that was present then is gone now. But unfortunately it still has never really developed a balance that looked so promising and honestly don't think it ever will. The fruit is still out fruit, dark plum with some bright acidity. Whatever hints of secondary flavors were there before are gone now. The finish is medium but pretty one dimensional. Perfectly acceptable wine, but I really thought it would develop into something more. If you have some I would drink now since I don't think it will improve and not sure if it isn't starting to take a small step back.
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Last bottle was 4 years ago. For a $16 bottle, this is a good value. Compared with more sophisticated wines in the cellar from Tensley, Alta Colina, Terry Hoage, Herman Story, and others... not in the same class. Seems to be on the waning side of its drinking window. If you've got 'em - drink 'em up.
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Dark purple in color. Nose of dark fruit and a little pepper. Was a little hot out of the bottle. Should have decanted. Finally calmed down about 2 hours later. This was a big wine. Cherry and raspberry really stood out but there were some others there that I just couldn't pick up. There was a lot going on and at first it almost felt like a competition in the mouth. But over time it ironed itself out and was silky red fruit that went on awhile. Underneath was some spice and maybe a little leather. Tannins were still a little in your face but settled down after a couple of hours. Drank with rare coriander cumin spiced lamb chops and it really held up to the spice. Drank with 1998 Guigal Brunat e Blonde and contrast was startling. The Doyenne matched much better with the chops (which I would have expected) but both really good wines, with the Guigal at the very end of life and this just entering its prime. I will wait a few years to open the other bottle as I think it is just starting to come together.
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So nice to have a syrah with real fruit and pepper today...dark berries, tar and smooth smoke on nose; nicely developed and soft on palate, with supple tannins woven around a cool pepper finish. Delicious
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PnP; maybe not a good thing as the wine was pretty tight. It did open up a little within 30 minutes, but with ten of us drinking it, it didn't last long.
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This had a soft, elegant, well integrated bouquet of raspberry, blackberry, char, pepper, licorice, spice and smoked meat aromas. The palate was soft, elegant and nuanced with flavors of blackberry, raspberry, char, pepper, licorice and spice. The finish was just a little tart.
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The wine looks Crimson colored. The legs are Slow. It smells like Blackberry, Cranberry, Plum, Dust, Coffee, Cedar, Vanilla, Meaty, Barnyard, and Alcohol/Hot. It tastes like Blackberry, Cedar, Bell Pepper, Bark, Vanilla, and Alcohol/Hot. The body is Full. The wine has Angular texture. The wine finishes Long.
The wine looks Purple colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Blackberry, and Dust. It tastes like Clove, and Meaty. The body is Full. The wine has Polished texture. The wine finishes Short.
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Very very good. Rich and flavorful. Warm dark berries, plum, blueberries, smoked meats. smooth tannins. with short decant, this is ready for prime drinking.
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This wine has classic Syrah character out of the bottle, with a deep, inky purple color. The nose had pomegranate, some floral characteristics, raspberry, pepper and the minerally quality characteristic of WA Syrah. Black plums, fresh herbs, grilled meat and a bit of smoke showed up on the palate. The wine is structured, with an elegant mouth feel. The finish was long and focused. I probably opened the wine a year, or so, too early.
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Bright bouncy color in glass(!) restrained elegant nose with black berry fruit, tar, and pepper notes. Nice structure evident on palate with long, balanced finish. Lovely
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Nice weight on the palate and not the typical WA vanilla-bomb syrah. This had nice smoke and tart red fruit on the nose, midpalate was weighty with a quick snap red fruit tartness, finish was complex with more black fruits, pepper and just kept going and going.
I would buy this wine again!
-- Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
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Some friends and I tasted this at the Woodinville tasting room on 2/11/12. It had a rich, dense bouquet of raspberry, blackberry, pepper, anise, toast, spice and mineral aromas. The palate was soft, round and plush with flavors of raspberry, blackberry, pepper, toast and licorice. I suspect it had been opened the previous day.
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Solid WA syrah day one. It became the WOW wine I expected on day two. Rich aromas of cherry, smoke, toast, and pepper. Nice minerality, a little short on the finish, but it should continue to impress for years.
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Ripe and plenty of fruit on this one. Blackberries, cherries, minerals and coffee. Medium finish and balanced overall. A little heat that blew off. Well made and should improve over time.
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A friend and I tasted this at the Woodinville tasting room on 11/5/11. It had a rich, ripe and fragrant bouquet of wood smoke, burnt toast, plum, blackberry, black cherry, pepper, spice and mineral aromas. The palate was rich, dense and delicious with flavors that followed the nose. 91+
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Aromas of pomegranate, black raspberry, flowers, black pepper and minerals along with wet stone. Some black plum as well. Flavors of all that with fresh herbs. Superb elegance, balance and power with a focused, long finish. Really big, complex and tasty!
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Day 1 in Woodinville (Woodinville, WA): This was my favorite wine that was being poured at DeLille. The nose was very characteristic of a young Cote-Rotie. with bacon drippings, roasted herbs, lots of black pepper and violets. The body of the wine was not as massive as their Grand Ciel Syrah, but offered far more balance, structure and elegance. It had a really nice tart cherry and smokey mineral compoent on the palate that I thoroughly enjoyed. One of my favorite Washington syrahs!
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A friend and I tasted this at the winery on 3/5/11. It had an intense and complex bouquet of blackberry, raspberry, pepper, smoked meat and mineral aromas. The palate was moderately tannic and astringent with flavors of plum, spice, pepper and minerals. I think it will improve significantly with a couple more years. 91+
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6/25/2023 - bigredPA wrote:
Past its prime; bland. Drinkable but not enjoyable.
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12/29/2021 - Neecies wrote:
Tight and youngish. Not the developed flavors I expected or have experienced in other bottles a few years back. HOLD or decant well in advance.
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5/9/2020 - Neecies wrote: flawed
Corked. Bad week for clunkers!
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4/11/2020 - lewisrise wrote: 86 Points
Tasted during Covid 19 shelter in place virtual tasting. Past it’s prime, muted dark fruits with earth and mushrooms on the finish
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3/10/2020 - MIRick wrote: 87 Points
Opened a 2007 last night which shone above this. The 2008 started well with flavors of black cherry and leather, but quickly turned to decidedly acidic. Rating a 90 to begin and a generous 85 at the end.
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11/15/2019 - mlawren1 wrote: 93 Points
Plums and blackberries over a smooth silky core. Finishes with a little pepper.
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6/29/2018 - garambler Likes this wine: 92 Points
Friends opened this for a 6/29/18 card game. It had a rich, ripe bouquet of violet, smoked meat, plum, blackberry, licorice, pepper, herb and spice aromas. The palate was rich, ripe, round and elegant with flavors of plum, blackberry, licorice, pepper, herb and spice.
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7/7/2017 - The13thGryphon Likes this wine: 89 Points
Inky in color. Nose is boysenberry, plum, dark cherry, leather, vanilla, violets, and wet river rock. The palate is very similar, with the addition of some forest floor and pepper. Flavors are intense, and the wine is lengthy in terms of finish. Nicely balanced in general terms, though on the more chewy side overall. Enjoyed with beef short ribs and mashed potatoes.
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7/3/2017 - JS1056 wrote: 88 Points
3 years since the last bottle. Opened about 4 hours prior to dinner.
Sweet plum on the nose.
My last notes talked about just not coming together completely and it needing some more time. And on the positive side a lot of the heat that was present then is gone now. But unfortunately it still has never really developed a balance that looked so promising and honestly don't think it ever will.
The fruit is still out fruit, dark plum with some bright acidity. Whatever hints of secondary flavors were there before are gone now. The finish is medium but pretty one dimensional.
Perfectly acceptable wine, but I really thought it would develop into something more.
If you have some I would drink now since I don't think it will improve and not sure if it isn't starting to take a small step back.
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6/2/2017 - JERB wrote: 88 Points
Last bottle was 4 years ago. For a $16 bottle, this is a good value. Compared with more sophisticated wines in the cellar from Tensley, Alta Colina, Terry Hoage, Herman Story, and others... not in the same class. Seems to be on the waning side of its drinking window. If you've got 'em - drink 'em up.
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5/11/2016 - SeaWine wrote: 90 Points
Not quite as good as I recall it previously a year or two ago, but still good.
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10/23/2014 - PrimeTime77 Likes this wine:
Drank 10/19. Great wine once it had time to breathe
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6/29/2014 - JS1056 wrote: 89 Points
Dark purple in color. Nose of dark fruit and a little pepper. Was a little hot out of the bottle. Should have decanted. Finally calmed down about 2 hours later.
This was a big wine. Cherry and raspberry really stood out but there were some others there that I just couldn't pick up. There was a lot going on and at first it almost felt like a competition in the mouth. But over time it ironed itself out and was silky red fruit that went on awhile. Underneath was some spice and maybe a little leather.
Tannins were still a little in your face but settled down after a couple of hours. Drank with rare coriander cumin spiced lamb chops and it really held up to the spice.
Drank with 1998 Guigal Brunat e Blonde and contrast was startling. The Doyenne matched much better with the chops (which I would have expected) but both really good wines, with the Guigal at the very end of life and this just entering its prime.
I will wait a few years to open the other bottle as I think it is just starting to come together.
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5/28/2014 - fitchbuck wrote: 92 Points
Ok this bottle was much improved over last September's, both pop pour. Probably still a few more years out from fully integrating.
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1/31/2014 - tombiro wrote: 92 Points
Decent spice, super fruity. Great nose that got even longer after an hour open. Really enjoyed this bottle.
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1/25/2014 - jmcmchi wrote: 91 Points
So nice to have a syrah with real fruit and pepper today...dark berries, tar and smooth smoke on nose; nicely developed and soft on palate, with supple tannins woven around a cool pepper finish. Delicious
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1/23/2014 - Pedroel Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Surprised that this was so lackluster. Balance was off. Fruit turning kinda sour, savory not there. Maybe a going-bad bottle.
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11/13/2013 - JERB Likes this wine: 88 Points
PnP; maybe not a good thing as the wine was pretty tight. It did open up a little within 30 minutes, but with ten of us drinking it, it didn't last long.
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9/28/2013 - fitchbuck wrote: 91 Points
Tasty, but an alcoholic bomb upon pour - score 90.
Let it sit in fridge for 2-3 days: smoothed out, much more reasonable - score 92.
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8/20/2013 - garambler wrote: 91 Points
This had a soft, elegant, well integrated bouquet of raspberry, blackberry, char, pepper, licorice, spice and smoked meat aromas. The palate was soft, elegant and nuanced with flavors of blackberry, raspberry, char, pepper, licorice and spice. The finish was just a little tart.
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8/3/2013 - W2WineGuy Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep and dark, still a bit tannic, think it could use some time to soften up and integrae a bit more. Good one, give it another year
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6/2/2013 - spidersva Likes this wine: 87 Points
Just didn't do a lot for me. Not a ton of depth, not a ton of complexity. Maybe I'm missing something?
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5/19/2013 - RussK wrote: 90 Points
Russk. for me it was a bit too big hot and disjointed. 90-
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4/12/2013 - jmcmchi wrote: 91 Points
Nose of tar and dark fruit. Beautiful balance on palate; spice comes through with a delicious juiciness. steady improvement through the bottle.
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4/3/2013 - MarkC1217 Likes this wine: 92 Points
The wine looks Crimson colored. The legs are Slow. It smells like Blackberry, Cranberry, Plum, Dust, Coffee, Cedar, Vanilla, Meaty, Barnyard, and Alcohol/Hot. It tastes like Blackberry, Cedar, Bell Pepper, Bark, Vanilla, and Alcohol/Hot. The body is Full. The wine has Angular texture. The wine finishes Long.
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3/4/2013 - mclancy10006 wrote: 89 Points
The wine looks Purple colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Blackberry, and Dust. It tastes like Clove, and Meaty. The body is Full. The wine has Polished texture. The wine finishes Short.
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2/10/2013 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine:
No formal notes, but quiet tasty. Glad I have a few more.
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2/8/2013 - mattyboy_ Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very very good. Rich and flavorful. Warm dark berries, plum, blueberries, smoked meats. smooth tannins. with short decant, this is ready for prime drinking.
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5/5/2012 - vegasoenophile wrote: 93 Points
Very nice wine. Dry, rich and flavorful.
-Wine Spectator Grand Tour 5/5/12
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4/11/2012 - ecowper Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine has classic Syrah character out of the bottle, with a deep, inky purple color. The nose had pomegranate, some floral characteristics, raspberry, pepper and the minerally quality characteristic of WA Syrah. Black plums, fresh herbs, grilled meat and a bit of smoke showed up on the palate. The wine is structured, with an elegant mouth feel. The finish was long and focused. I probably opened the wine a year, or so, too early.
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3/17/2012 - jmcmchi wrote: 92 Points
Bright bouncy color in glass(!) restrained elegant nose with black berry fruit, tar, and pepper notes. Nice structure evident on palate with long, balanced finish. Lovely
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2/13/2012 - Gestalted wrote: 93 Points
Nice weight on the palate and not the typical WA vanilla-bomb syrah. This had nice smoke and tart red fruit on the nose, midpalate was weighty with a quick snap red fruit tartness, finish was complex with more black fruits, pepper and just kept going and going.
I would buy this wine again!
--
Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
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2/11/2012 - garambler wrote: 91 Points
Some friends and I tasted this at the Woodinville tasting room on 2/11/12. It had a rich, dense bouquet of raspberry, blackberry, pepper, anise, toast, spice and mineral aromas. The palate was soft, round and plush with flavors of raspberry, blackberry, pepper, toast and licorice. I suspect it had been opened the previous day.
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2/1/2012 - erunama wrote: 93 Points
Solid WA syrah day one. It became the WOW wine I expected on day two. Rich aromas of cherry, smoke, toast, and pepper. Nice minerality, a little short on the finish, but it should continue to impress for years.
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1/20/2012 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 90 Points
Ripe and plenty of fruit on this one. Blackberries, cherries, minerals and coffee. Medium finish and balanced overall. A little heat that blew off. Well made and should improve over time.
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11/5/2011 - garambler wrote: 92 Points
A friend and I tasted this at the Woodinville tasting room on 11/5/11. It had a rich, ripe and fragrant bouquet of wood smoke, burnt toast, plum, blackberry, black cherry, pepper, spice and mineral aromas. The palate was rich, dense and delicious with flavors that followed the nose. 91+
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8/12/2011 - vegasoenophile wrote: 95 Points
Aromas of pomegranate, black raspberry, flowers, black pepper and minerals along with wet stone. Some black plum as well. Flavors of all that with fresh herbs. Superb elegance, balance and power with a focused, long finish. Really big, complex and tasty!
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7/5/2011 - cpsmith33 wrote: 90 Points
Tasted at winery: Very nice syrah. Big tannic syrah still. Red fruits, pepper. Needs time. Liked the grand ciel's (07 and 08) better.
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6/16/2011 - tooch wrote: 92 Points
Day 1 in Woodinville (Woodinville, WA): This was my favorite wine that was being poured at DeLille. The nose was very characteristic of a young Cote-Rotie. with bacon drippings, roasted herbs, lots of black pepper and violets. The body of the wine was not as massive as their Grand Ciel Syrah, but offered far more balance, structure and elegance. It had a really nice tart cherry and smokey mineral compoent on the palate that I thoroughly enjoyed. One of my favorite Washington syrahs!
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4/2/2011 - cgrimes wrote: 91 Points
Purple opaque. Nose of dark fruits, plum, pepper, smoke, meat. Similar palate with hints of tar. Nice Syrah.
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3/5/2011 - garambler wrote: 92 Points
A friend and I tasted this at the winery on 3/5/11. It had an intense and complex bouquet of blackberry, raspberry, pepper, smoked meat and mineral aromas. The palate was moderately tannic and astringent with flavors of plum, spice, pepper and minerals. I think it will improve significantly with a couple more years. 91+
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