Slo-oxed for 15 minutes. With some sediment in the last glass, this wine may do better with a short decant. The color was a dark violet to a faded rim. Lots of earth notes and dark fruit on the nose. The palate was to the lighter side of medium bodied and showed lots of earth notes (a sign of age?) along with some dark fruit and some spice, with balancing acidity. I would suggest drinking up this vintage.
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Lets talk about the oak. It seems not to have integrated as well as it should and it just tasted like a glass of splinters above all else. The fruit notes and elegance are there as others have commented but rather frustrating overall for this palette.
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2019 Suntacular--Champagne Tasting to raise money for Laura's House: Bought a couple of these several years ago, held onto this final one through that time. Was curious to see where the wine was headed so I opened it about 2PM yesterday, and a # of people worked through the bottle, but had enough leftover for a good size taste of it this afternoon--it's had a lot of aeration. Distinct aroma of cracked black pepper, cooked meat and lavender. Very cool climate toned. The core of the wine has held up very well, with a red/black fruited note, mainly a tangy red fruit that has a garrigue line running through to the finish. Reminds me a lot of Cornas. This is a tangy, lighter weighted syrah yet it's not short on fruit, and is not showing any signs of fading out.
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Delicious as usual. Japanese plum, Cassis, Blackberry leather, and toffee. I would leave it in the bottle for another year or two. Decanted for 2 hours and was great, first glass 45 minutes after decant was a bit tight
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Opened and poured with no air. Delicious. Graphite, tangy sweet cherry, game, soil and a whiff of the pepper that was so lovely in this past Summer's bottle, although less pronounced this time. Of note with this bottle, at least at this stage of being open, is that the wine is medium weight. I dig that it doesn't get heavy.....over dinner, this added weight but didn't add any additional complexity. The cherry profile became more blackberry - like. Overall, good but not as much as this Summer's past bottle.
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From a vineyard perched 1,400' in the SCM. 13.2% abv. Deep ruby red with expressive aromas. Raspberry, black cherry, smoke and leather on the palate. Good depth, lingering aftertaste. A fine effort from this cool vintage. drink or hold.
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Big Basin Tasting with Bradley (FMIII in the OC): Fantastic wine. Beautiful blackberry with spice, incense, and minerals. Firm acid backbone. Silver medal winner for me tonight in an extremely strong lineup.
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Big Basin In The OC--Dinner With Bradley Brown PART 2 (My House): Ah-ha! This has the '11 vintage signature all over it, and what makes it more obvious that the vintage stamped itself to this '11 is that we tasted the '10 right next to it. The '11 shows that distinct vintage quality of lower ABV, savory with herb and noticeable pepper. Reminds me a lot of Wind Gap. I'm buying some of this '11 and laying it down for a few years. Excellent expression of Rattlesnake.
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Aroma: intriguing and complex aromas of eucalyptus, bacon fat, a touch of lavender,and blackberry. Palate: spicy, medium bodied flavors of smoked brisket, blackberry, tobacco and cherries. Finishes on a bright note. Good structure and tannic backbone. Give it a few years to integrate.
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Santa Cruz Mountains Day 2 (Rhys, Big Basin, Plumed Horse): Tasted non blind from a barrel sample at the winery with Bradley. Wonderful nose with strong floral elements, pepper and dark berries. The palate is very similar and has a not often experienced balance between the floral, spice and fruit. Long finish that is consistent and very pleasant. I have high expectations for this one. Bradley mentioned that floral properties are typical for this property. 92-94
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2/12/2023 - VlgJeff wrote: 90 Points
Slo-oxed for 15 minutes. With some sediment in the last glass, this wine may do better with a short decant. The color was a dark violet to a faded rim. Lots of earth notes and dark fruit on the nose. The palate was to the lighter side of medium bodied and showed lots of earth notes (a sign of age?) along with some dark fruit and some spice, with balancing acidity. I would suggest drinking up this vintage.
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11/22/2021 - tekygeek wrote: 89 Points
Lets talk about the oak. It seems not to have integrated as well as it should and it just tasted like a glass of splinters above all else. The fruit notes and elegance are there as others have commented but rather frustrating overall for this palette.
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7/31/2021 - ClaytonDave Likes this wine: 91 Points
Bright with notes of cherry and raspberry on the palate. Ready now, with short decant.
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8/25/2019 - Frank Murray III wrote:
2019 Suntacular--Champagne Tasting to raise money for Laura's House: Bought a couple of these several years ago, held onto this final one through that time. Was curious to see where the wine was headed so I opened it about 2PM yesterday, and a # of people worked through the bottle, but had enough leftover for a good size taste of it this afternoon--it's had a lot of aeration. Distinct aroma of cracked black pepper, cooked meat and lavender. Very cool climate toned. The core of the wine has held up very well, with a red/black fruited note, mainly a tangy red fruit that has a garrigue line running through to the finish. Reminds me a lot of Cornas. This is a tangy, lighter weighted syrah yet it's not short on fruit, and is not showing any signs of fading out.
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9/18/2016 - jemccray64 wrote: 93 Points
Japanese plum, Cassis, Blackberry leather, and toffee. I would leave it in the bottle for another year or two. Decant for 2 hours
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9/18/2016 - jemccray64 wrote: 93 Points
Delicious as usual. Japanese plum, Cassis, Blackberry leather, and toffee. I would leave it in the bottle for another year or two. Decanted for 2 hours and was great, first glass 45 minutes after decant was a bit tight
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11/28/2015 - brigcampbell wrote:
Lighter weight style syrah with mild BlackBerry fruit and mineral backbone. Light spice and pepper. Medium plus acid. Nimble wine which I like.
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11/28/2015 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Opened and poured with no air. Delicious. Graphite, tangy sweet cherry, game, soil and a whiff of the pepper that was so lovely in this past Summer's bottle, although less pronounced this time. Of note with this bottle, at least at this stage of being open, is that the wine is medium weight. I dig that it doesn't get heavy.....over dinner, this added weight but didn't add any additional complexity. The cherry profile became more blackberry - like. Overall, good but not as much as this Summer's past bottle.
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7/3/2015 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 92 Points
From a vineyard perched 1,400' in the SCM. 13.2% abv. Deep ruby red with expressive aromas. Raspberry, black cherry, smoke and leather on the palate. Good depth, lingering aftertaste. A fine effort from this cool vintage. drink or hold.
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6/27/2015 - brigcampbell wrote:
Big Basin Tasting with Bradley (FMIII in the OC): Fantastic wine. Beautiful blackberry with spice, incense, and minerals. Firm acid backbone. Silver medal winner for me tonight in an extremely strong lineup.
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6/26/2015 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Big Basin In The OC--Dinner With Bradley Brown PART 2 (My House): Ah-ha! This has the '11 vintage signature all over it, and what makes it more obvious that the vintage stamped itself to this '11 is that we tasted the '10 right next to it. The '11 shows that distinct vintage quality of lower ABV, savory with herb and noticeable pepper. Reminds me a lot of Wind Gap. I'm buying some of this '11 and laying it down for a few years. Excellent expression of Rattlesnake.
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4/12/2015 - Caligrrl Likes this wine: 93 Points
Herbs, black pepper
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4/12/2015 - kosinski wrote:
Aroma: intriguing and complex aromas of eucalyptus, bacon fat, a touch of lavender,and blackberry.
Palate: spicy, medium bodied flavors of smoked brisket, blackberry, tobacco and cherries. Finishes on a bright note. Good structure and tannic backbone. Give it a few years to integrate.
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3/23/2012 - floydtp wrote:
Santa Cruz Mountains Day 2 (Rhys, Big Basin, Plumed Horse): Tasted non blind from a barrel sample at the winery with Bradley. Wonderful nose with strong floral elements, pepper and dark berries. The palate is very similar and has a not often experienced balance between the floral, spice and fruit. Long finish that is consistent and very pleasant. I have high expectations for this one. Bradley mentioned that floral properties are typical for this property. 92-94
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