This was a quirky and untraditional wine. Nose was purely gorgeous but the palate uneven to me. There is a coarse burst of acid that cut through the flavors that I found distracting. My wife on the other hand thought it provided balance to the ripe fruit flavors and distinctiveness. If you like a sweet and sour experience in your wines, or are pairing with foods of a similar profile this will be a home run. If drinking without food and looking for a more traditional flavor palate, I’d hold onto this for the right moment.
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I don't know what was going on with this wine but it was thin, had a metallic taste and a sour finish. Brought it to a restaurant with some friends and we all had the same conclusion. Giving it an 80 was a gift. Big disappointment.
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Well balanced for a big wine, and for our tastes still youthful. Bonedoc mentioned it having higher acidity, which is true, but IMO is precisely what helps with the balance, and the very thing that prevents palate fatigue. Doc, we’ll help you drink the rest of yours, if you still have any left 😃
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Confusing wine, excellent concentration of fruits, tart balsamic vinegar, high acidity, a bit cloying and tiring too drink - something is out of balance ... maybe too much acid?
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Double Blind Syrah Tasting (Eddie V/s): Sweet red fruits, loads of cooking spices, chewy tannins, nice mouthfeel. A good mix of new and old world, nearly the end of it's best drinking window IMO.
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Decanted and drank over 3 hours. Concentrated, heavy oak, good acid, mid palate a touch lean. Tannins still high. Drink w decant now, or hold 5-10 yrs.
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Big huge Washington syrah. Both tannic and acidic upon opening, but after 90 minutes or so it began to open up. Great depth and nice flavors to this wine. I will revisit in 2017, and probably every 6-12 months after that. For the price I think it is going to be a really nice wine.
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Great nose, sweet vanilla, cocoa powder and cassis. Extracted bright red fruits, cherry, raspberry, red currants and rhubarb. Still fairly tannic on the backend, I'd give it a few more years. This says pure Syrah but to me fastest like a Syrah/Cabernet mix.
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Still tight and tanic even after decanted for 6 hours. Lots of oak as well but loads of medium red fruit and acidity, this will most likely come into very good balance in 10 years or so.
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What a let down. In no way does this wine live up to the hype. Either it's dead asleep and needs 10 more years or it's just not as advertised. Was decanted for 6 hours and still nothing. For the price avoid like certain death, which is not far off mind you.
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Wow, double decanted and attempted to drink 4 hrs later, and still unyielding. Under a wall of tannins and structure is massive concentration of black cherry and coffee notes. Don't touch for a few years. 94+
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Had to try one to see if I should stay with Sheridan or not after not being in love with some of their mid price point bottles, and my palate moving away from this style. Decanted this all day. Drank with spaghetti and meatballs. Well structured Syrah that is a big huge beast...dark berries and chocolate. Tannins and intensity is prominent. Agree with other poster this reminds me more of Cali than Washington in style (though shouldn't be a surprise given their other offerings I have tried). I guess these integrate but I honestly am not sure. This style is a bit too much for me. Loses a bit of the Syrah varietal and becomes more just a "big wine" - as example drank with Cab lovers and they liked this a lot. Still well made and not bad at all...just not my style...
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Finally broke down and tried one. Decanted 7 hours. Rich, creamy, smokey, smooth. Still really young, with tons of oak. Will take years before the fruit shows up. Consensus WOTN against Quilceda Creek, Silver Oak and a Carlisle syrah. That WA guy is an idiot. If anybody wants to sell me theirs based on his rating, I am buying!
Single vineyard Yakima Valley Washington syrah. Inky purple color with viscous texture. Medicinal blackberry nose. Extremely young with blackberry, plums, tart cherries, and chocolate palate. We decanted for 6 hours and still needs significantly more time (better to wait to open). Reminds me more of California than Washington. Paired nicely with Colorado lamb chops and potatoes.
See picture at http://maxsatisfactionwine.com/post/46804414156
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It's been too long to write a descriptive note. This was a powerful and impressive bottle of wine; huge jammy dark purple fruit explodes from this Syrah which had a lot of depth to its flavors and a strong finish. This is great juice, though I wasn't quite as blown away as everyone else who had been raving about it and would not buy it again at about $80.
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A night at Saffron (Walla Walla, WA): Pitch black core with a violet rim. This was, like many Yakima Valley Syrahs of character locked down & stubborn to show much at first. The nose offered some meaty/peppered notes with some olive & plum. Full bodied with loads of cracked black peppercorn accented with a figgy note & some anise. Not the thick, fruit slather I expected when I saw the bottle. This was augmented by a wall of acid & tannin- quite simply, not fun to drink at this stage. A flatbread with spiced lamb hit the table, and this wine simply popped. The savory notes here played off the spices and showed a cool, tart blackberry quality. Lamb tartare arrived, & took it to another level with the rich oily texture of the tartare playing off the acid in the wine. Excellent stuff, but not quite ready right now.
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obviously nowhere near ready but i had to try one and it is surprisingly approachable a really big earthy nose with dark fruit mouth filling tannin but does not overwhelm like i thought it would considering just received from the winery where they produced just 100 cases of this very fine wine liqorice notes and outstanding length give this wine at least 5 years and drink for many years after
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3/19/2021 - CheviotCellar wrote:
This was a quirky and untraditional wine. Nose was purely gorgeous but the palate uneven to me. There is a coarse burst of acid that cut through the flavors that I found distracting. My wife on the other hand thought it provided balance to the ripe fruit flavors and distinctiveness. If you like a sweet and sour experience in your wines, or are pairing with foods of a similar profile this will be a home run. If drinking without food and looking for a more traditional flavor palate, I’d hold onto this for the right moment.
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6/8/2019 - Nbkat8 wrote: 80 Points
I don't know what was going on with this wine but it was thin, had a metallic taste and a sour finish. Brought it to a restaurant with some friends and we all had the same conclusion. Giving it an 80 was a gift. Big disappointment.
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8/11/2018 - millerarner wrote: 94 Points
Well balanced for a big wine, and for our tastes still youthful. Bonedoc mentioned it having higher acidity, which is true, but IMO is precisely what helps with the balance, and the very thing that prevents palate fatigue. Doc, we’ll help you drink the rest of yours, if you still have any left 😃
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7/8/2018 - bonedoc wrote:
Confusing wine, excellent concentration of fruits, tart balsamic vinegar, high acidity, a bit cloying and tiring too drink - something is out of balance ... maybe too much acid?
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4/11/2018 - pakabear Likes this wine: 92 Points
Double Blind Syrah Tasting (Eddie V/s): Sweet red fruits, loads of cooking spices, chewy tannins, nice mouthfeel. A good mix of new and old world, nearly the end of it's best drinking window IMO.
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1/14/2018 - npettit wrote: 94 Points
Drinking really well right now
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9/16/2017 - bonedoc wrote: 93 Points
Decanted and drank over 3 hours. Concentrated, heavy oak, good acid, mid palate a touch lean. Tannins still high. Drink w decant now, or hold 5-10 yrs.
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2/3/2017 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for an hour. Dark fruit, great body. Soft tannin. Very long finish. Served with roast beef and root veggies.
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8/16/2016 - npettit wrote: 93 Points
Big huge Washington syrah. Both tannic and acidic upon opening, but after 90 minutes or so it began to open up. Great depth and nice flavors to this wine. I will revisit in 2017, and probably every 6-12 months after that. For the price I think it is going to be a really nice wine.
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7/3/2016 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent with steaks on the grill smooth, rich, full bodied and opulent
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11/12/2015 - pakabear Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great nose, sweet vanilla, cocoa powder and cassis. Extracted bright red fruits, cherry, raspberry, red currants and rhubarb. Still fairly tannic on the backend, I'd give it a few more years. This says pure Syrah but to me fastest like a Syrah/Cabernet mix.
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4/19/2014 - pakabear Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still tight and tanic even after decanted for 6 hours. Lots of oak as well but loads of medium red fruit and acidity, this will most likely come into very good balance in 10 years or so.
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11/15/2013 - spatchmo2 wrote: 87 Points
What a let down. In no way does this wine live up to the hype. Either it's dead asleep and needs 10 more years or it's just not as advertised. Was decanted for 6 hours and still nothing. For the price avoid like certain death, which is not far off mind you.
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10/27/2013 - bonedoc wrote:
Wow, double decanted and attempted to drink 4 hrs later, and still unyielding. Under a wall of tannins and structure is massive concentration of black cherry and coffee notes. Don't touch for a few years. 94+
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10/27/2013 - cpsmith33 wrote: 91 Points
Had to try one to see if I should stay with Sheridan or not after not being in love with some of their mid price point bottles, and my palate moving away from this style. Decanted this all day. Drank with spaghetti and meatballs. Well structured Syrah that is a big huge beast...dark berries and chocolate. Tannins and intensity is prominent. Agree with other poster this reminds me more of Cali than Washington in style (though shouldn't be a surprise given their other offerings I have tried). I guess these integrate but I honestly am not sure. This style is a bit too much for me. Loses a bit of the Syrah varietal and becomes more just a "big wine" - as example drank with Cab lovers and they liked this a lot. Still well made and not bad at all...just not my style...
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7/17/2013 - camben wrote: 92 Points
let this beast lay. i am puzzled by the low acidity. sleep mode
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7/15/2013 - camben Likes this wine: 92 Points
dead asleep. do not open this if you are lucky enough to have one. In my opinion, this will be much like a la la wine when it finds the time.
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5/25/2013 - mojowine wrote: 94 Points
Finally broke down and tried one. Decanted 7 hours. Rich, creamy, smokey, smooth. Still really young, with tons of oak. Will take years before the fruit shows up. Consensus WOTN against Quilceda Creek, Silver Oak and a Carlisle syrah. That WA guy is an idiot. If anybody wants to sell me theirs based on his rating, I am buying!
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3/31/2013 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION Likes this wine: 93 Points
Single vineyard Yakima Valley Washington syrah. Inky purple color with viscous texture. Medicinal blackberry nose. Extremely young with blackberry, plums, tart cherries, and chocolate palate. We decanted for 6 hours and still needs significantly more time (better to wait to open). Reminds me more of California than Washington. Paired nicely with Colorado lamb chops and potatoes.
See picture at
http://maxsatisfactionwine.com/post/46804414156
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3/4/2013 - camben Likes this wine: 97 Points
More chocolate and bacon than the 08
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12/31/2012 - OTTnMIA Likes this wine: 92 Points
It's been too long to write a descriptive note. This was a powerful and impressive bottle of wine; huge jammy dark purple fruit explodes from this Syrah which had a lot of depth to its flavors and a strong finish. This is great juice, though I wasn't quite as blown away as everyone else who had been raving about it and would not buy it again at about $80.
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11/27/2012 - Anthony Lombardi wrote:
A night at Saffron (Walla Walla, WA): Pitch black core with a violet rim. This was, like many Yakima Valley Syrahs of character locked down & stubborn to show much at first. The nose offered some meaty/peppered notes with some olive & plum. Full bodied with loads of cracked black peppercorn accented with a figgy note & some anise. Not the thick, fruit slather I expected when I saw the bottle. This was augmented by a wall of acid & tannin- quite simply, not fun to drink at this stage. A flatbread with spiced lamb hit the table, and this wine simply popped. The savory notes here played off the spices and showed a cool, tart blackberry quality. Lamb tartare arrived, & took it to another level with the rich oily texture of the tartare playing off the acid in the wine. Excellent stuff, but not quite ready right now.
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11/19/2012 - piontenvy wrote: 99 Points
Reminds me of Alban on steroids. Buy this wine and hide it from yourself
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11/10/2012 - pakabear wrote: 93 Points
Not a 97-100 but really nice! Yes, too early to get the most enjoyment, with a long decant you can see a lot of promise.
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10/30/2012 - piontenvy wrote: 98 Points
Wow. This reminds me of the La.......
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10/10/2012 - pointrob wrote: 95 Points
obviously nowhere near ready but i had to try one and it is surprisingly approachable
a really big earthy nose with dark fruit mouth filling tannin but does not overwhelm like i thought it would considering just received from the winery where they produced just 100 cases of this very fine wine
liqorice notes and outstanding length
give this wine at least 5 years and drink for many years after
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