Popped and poured. Concentrated all-black fruit with road tar, roast beef, black licorice and raw fennel clobber you with youthful power. Substantial tannins soften in the glass, but for those more interested in the destination than the journey, a two-three hour decant would harmonize. One of the most Northern Rhone-y American syrahs I've ever had. Not yet at peak, and probably has the stuffing for a long road ahead.
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Opened this on Saturday to take to a friend's, but it was too raw and closed to leave home. By Sunday night it was ready. And while it lacks the typicity that I associate with syrah (tar, smoked meats, olives) it's a nicely maturing robust red wine that's gaining good secondary complexity albeit in a manner more rustic than elegant.
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One of six wines I took to a Thanksgiving feast, and my memory of them is frankly hazy. However, three of the wines were from the Rhone Valley, and this wine displayed more minerals, garrigue, grilled meat, etc. than any of the actual Rhone wines. Not a heavyweight, but pretty nice.
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Thought it would be safe to PnP a '10 Cal Syrah but not so, Bucky. Great syrah nose, nice entry but hollow mid-palate and citric finish. Definitely needs more time.
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Slight improvement from my first bottle four months ago. Same terrific nose that almost screams "Syrah". Good balance and medium body. Blueberries on the palate, with hints of garrigue, grilled meat, pepper, etc. Compared to previous bottle, the fruit seemed a little more vibrant, and is seemed to have gained a little wight. Improvement may have been due to the food it accompanied and/or in comparison to other wines I had just tasted. Either way, it's a solid wine.
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Beautiful classic syrah nose - grilled meats, garrigue, etc. Blueberries on the palate, but not much else. Medium body, but an excellent finish for a wine in this price range. Kind of a lightweight, but still a good wine and a terrific value.
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Improved with air, but tannins are tighter/grittier than they were a year ago and the opulent Northern Rhone characteristics I remember not quite on display. Basically, the wine's grumpy right now. Let it sleep!
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Dork blind tasting. Very Rhonish with bacon, rosemary, tar, a hint of barnyard, and sturdy tannins but the sweet fruit and root beer notes suggested it could be California--cool thing was that none of us were sure. Impressive. (Next day, I went and bought half a dozen.) I'm putting this down for 2020 but wouldn't be surprised to get more mileage.
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Two years between bottles, this one here being the last one in my cellar. Honestly, not sure how long this has been open, as my house sitter drank it but left me about 1/4 bottle. I would think open for only a few days but if longer, I would say this held up just fine. It's hot as piss here right now so I put a chill on this to get it to the right optimal temp. Aromatics show purple flowers, lavender, mint. The palate shows Garys' terroir of steak sauce, dark fruit, tar and some garrigue, along with jerky. Just a hint of something barnyardy here but it's very faint to me and just adds a note of character. Kind of a dense finish, with some dark fruit that has a little edge to it. All in, this is drinking great, aside from knowing how long it was open.
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purple in color. spicy, alcohol, green vegetables, on the nose. cherry, spice, mineral, cocoa, on the palate. medium acid, high tannins, on this hot finish.
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Listed alc of 14.2%. As with the 2010 Susan's Hill from a few nights ago, I am following the same course with this wine: opened last night, drank a glass to form an initial impression, then returned to the cellar closed only by the screwtop for the bottle. Served tonight from the cellar, enjoying at nearly room temp of 68 degrees. For me, this Garys' takes the Susan's up a notch, in both intensity and enjoyment. Like the Susan's, this shows a nice dark color, a feature I like when I drink CA syrah. Like the Susan's too, there seems to be some nice aromatic intensity here, simply more, showing a note of crushed rock, riper notes and graphite. The palate is terrific--silky, juicy and medium + weight. Delicious. Tarry, with a nice garrigue note and a real good splash of finishing SLH citrusy acids. As the wine warms and aerates further, that acid really comes through the finish, which gives it that additional intensity that I did not get in the Susan's. Dark berry, licorice and bitter espresso join the citrus finish, turning to chocolate. There is decadence here, but also some energy in the stuffing. Rock solid.
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8/6/2022 - WinePT wrote: 91 Points
Nice nose. Soft plush tannins black fruit, touch of black licorice, earth/stone, and hints of cocoa powder. Delicious.
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12/24/2021 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Dark purple color, earthy flavors, tannins fairly resolved. At peak for current drinking and probably starting the descent. Drink over the next year.
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1/10/2021 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Popped and poured. Concentrated all-black fruit with road tar, roast beef, black licorice and raw fennel clobber you with youthful power. Substantial tannins soften in the glass, but for those more interested in the destination than the journey, a two-three hour decant would harmonize. One of the most Northern Rhone-y American syrahs I've ever had. Not yet at peak, and probably has the stuffing for a long road ahead.
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5/25/2020 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Opened this on Saturday to take to a friend's, but it was too raw and closed to leave home. By Sunday night it was ready. And while it lacks the typicity that I associate with syrah (tar, smoked meats, olives) it's a nicely maturing robust red wine that's gaining good secondary complexity albeit in a manner more rustic than elegant.
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11/28/2019 - Night Train Likes this wine: 90 Points
One of six wines I took to a Thanksgiving feast, and my memory of them is frankly hazy. However, three of the wines were from the Rhone Valley, and this wine displayed more minerals, garrigue, grilled meat, etc. than any of the actual Rhone wines. Not a heavyweight, but pretty nice.
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5/27/2019 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Thought it would be safe to PnP a '10 Cal Syrah but not so, Bucky. Great syrah nose, nice entry but hollow mid-palate and citric finish. Definitely needs more time.
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5/7/2019 - Night Train Likes this wine: 90 Points
Slight improvement from my first bottle four months ago. Same terrific nose that almost screams "Syrah". Good balance and medium body. Blueberries on the palate, with hints of garrigue, grilled meat, pepper, etc. Compared to previous bottle, the fruit seemed a little more vibrant, and is seemed to have gained a little wight. Improvement may have been due to the food it accompanied and/or in comparison to other wines I had just tasted. Either way, it's a solid wine.
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1/16/2019 - Night Train Likes this wine: 89 Points
Beautiful classic syrah nose - grilled meats, garrigue, etc. Blueberries on the palate, but not much else. Medium body, but an excellent finish for a wine in this price range. Kind of a lightweight, but still a good wine and a terrific value.
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4/29/2016 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Improved with air, but tannins are tighter/grittier than they were a year ago and the opulent Northern Rhone characteristics I remember not quite on display. Basically, the wine's grumpy right now. Let it sleep!
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3/1/2015 - Neecies Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dork blind tasting. Very Rhonish with bacon, rosemary, tar, a hint of barnyard, and sturdy tannins but the sweet fruit and root beer notes suggested it could be California--cool thing was that none of us were sure. Impressive. (Next day, I went and bought half a dozen.) I'm putting this down for 2020 but wouldn't be surprised to get more mileage.
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5/16/2014 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Two years between bottles, this one here being the last one in my cellar. Honestly, not sure how long this has been open, as my house sitter drank it but left me about 1/4 bottle. I would think open for only a few days but if longer, I would say this held up just fine. It's hot as piss here right now so I put a chill on this to get it to the right optimal temp. Aromatics show purple flowers, lavender, mint. The palate shows Garys' terroir of steak sauce, dark fruit, tar and some garrigue, along with jerky. Just a hint of something barnyardy here but it's very faint to me and just adds a note of character. Kind of a dense finish, with some dark fruit that has a little edge to it. All in, this is drinking great, aside from knowing how long it was open.
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3/1/2014 - dmatley wrote: 91 Points
a little more tannin than I remember last time. A very good syrah, especially for the vintage. Just as good, if not better on day 2.
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12/24/2013 - dmatley Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good aromatics. Does not show heat. Medium acididity. Not much tannin.
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12/7/2013 - Michael Davidson wrote:
My bottle seems a bit different than Frank's below. Nose is pretty mute, although I do get a bit of grapefruit and smoke.
The palate is great, though. Medium intensity, dark fruit, some smoke.
No evident heat, moderate tannins and just enough acidity to keep it interesting.
Definitely a California take on syrah, but a delicious one. Enjoyable as a wine to think about or just a wine to drink.
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8/16/2012 - affordableCollector wrote: 87 Points
purple in color. spicy, alcohol, green vegetables, on the nose. cherry, spice, mineral, cocoa, on the palate. medium acid, high tannins, on this hot finish.
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5/23/2012 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Listed alc of 14.2%. As with the 2010 Susan's Hill from a few nights ago, I am following the same course with this wine: opened last night, drank a glass to form an initial impression, then returned to the cellar closed only by the screwtop for the bottle. Served tonight from the cellar, enjoying at nearly room temp of 68 degrees. For me, this Garys' takes the Susan's up a notch, in both intensity and enjoyment. Like the Susan's, this shows a nice dark color, a feature I like when I drink CA syrah. Like the Susan's too, there seems to be some nice aromatic intensity here, simply more, showing a note of crushed rock, riper notes and graphite. The palate is terrific--silky, juicy and medium + weight. Delicious. Tarry, with a nice garrigue note and a real good splash of finishing SLH citrusy acids. As the wine warms and aerates further, that acid really comes through the finish, which gives it that additional intensity that I did not get in the Susan's. Dark berry, licorice and bitter espresso join the citrus finish, turning to chocolate. There is decadence here, but also some energy in the stuffing. Rock solid.
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