PNP. Smooth drifting to back. Red fruits and a little earthiness. Well integrated tannins carry softly through a medium finish. Very good, though not remarkable.
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Superb bottle of an intricate Carneros Syrah...very mellow on entry, silky and supple, opening open on the back palate to an array of spice, white pepper...in its prime nie
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I really enjoyed this bottle. Delicious wine. Expressive and well balanced. Some "funk" on the nose. Dark fruit, tobacco, smoked brisket. Can wait several more years on the other bottle I have.
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Much better than the last bottle I opened 2 1/2 years ago. Dark purple with reddish tint. Nose of blueberry, leather, smoke, and vanilla. Ripe palate of dark fruit, hoisin, blueberry, and licorice. Mild oak. Very good length. Young tannins.
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Some overbearing sweet oak on the nose. Beneath the barrel work there is certainly some nice blueberry and dark fruit, but the overall sweetness or sensation of sweetness of the wine undermine some of the more serious elements. Perhaps the oak will integrate with time, but until then this sells as just another, interchangeable, technically sound, hot climate, syrah from the new world.
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Blind home wine tasting with MOT Scoring sheet (at Home): This was far better than I expected and was very enjoyable. The nose is very similar (although a little softer) to the Mollydooker Velvet Glove. Caramel - dark purple and very tannic but rich and tasty. Long finish and I imagine the acidity will soften over the next 2 or 3 years. If it does this is an even better wine than it is now. Great Wow factor and not sure what WS and WA did not see in this one?
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Six of these arrived from the winery last week. I opened one to check them out. Dark, opaque purple. Nose of plum, fig, leather, dust, licorice, and vanilla. Ripe palate of blackberry, blueberry, fig, and licorice. OK length. Pleasant acidity. A little bitterness on the finish. Youthful tannins. Good, not great. May get better with a year or three in the cellar.
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A wonderful Syrah, available in winery only, from Joseph Phelps. Whom, many don't realize was the first to bottle Syrah in CA, in 1974.
A well balanced Syrah, with elegance, body, and weight. While I lean towards cool climate, lean Syrah's, I was very pleased with this representation of one of my favorite Rhone varietals.
The color is inky black purple. The nose exhibits notes of mocha, black fruit, smoked meat. On the palate it delivers soft tannins integrated with black fruit, Black berry, vanilla, spice, with a lingering finish.
Pair with lamb, filet wrapped with bacon, game birds, duck, and more.
Bravo, look forward to more.
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8/26/2020 - Pour Boy Likes this wine: 91 Points
I think this is still a bit on the young side. Not too much longer, though. It was noticeably fruitier than the 2010 Gigondas thet preceded it.
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10/5/2018 - Ecoenophile wrote: 91 Points
PNP. Smooth drifting to back. Red fruits and a little earthiness. Well integrated tannins carry softly through a medium finish. Very good, though not remarkable.
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8/3/2018 - jebewines Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice. Stored in our cellar since purchased from the winery. Will drink well for several years to come, if properly stored.
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3/12/2018 - zoeldar Likes this wine: 93 Points
Superb bottle of an intricate Carneros Syrah...very mellow on entry, silky and supple, opening open on the back palate to an array of spice, white pepper...in its prime nie
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4/12/2017 - kcp Likes this wine: 92 Points
Med body, tannins largely resolved, lovely deep fruit.
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2/14/2017 - dlcass Likes this wine: 96 Points
I really enjoyed this bottle. Delicious wine. Expressive and well balanced. Some "funk" on the nose. Dark fruit, tobacco, smoked brisket. Can wait several more years on the other bottle I have.
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11/8/2016 - Tommy Pacu wrote:
Lovely.
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8/8/2015 - JJN Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fabulous! Deep, rich color and flavor. Velvety texture.
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6/10/2015 - Wink Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nothing to add to my 4/27/15 note. Excellent Syrah with a lot of varietal character and nuance.
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4/27/2015 - Wink Likes this wine: 91 Points
Much better than the last bottle I opened 2 1/2 years ago. Dark purple with reddish tint. Nose of blueberry, leather, smoke, and vanilla. Ripe palate of dark fruit, hoisin, blueberry, and licorice. Mild oak. Very good length. Young tannins.
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1/10/2015 - ddingley Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rich with dark berry and touch of pepper, very silky mouthfeel, still just a touch hot that goes away with air--rating is +1 hour after opening.
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12/15/2014 - MoCellar wrote: 92 Points
Excellent Syrah
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5/11/2013 - tann0008 wrote: 93 Points
Dark chocolate and bing cherry with soft tannin. Blackberry nose. Earthy finish.
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5/5/2013 - Winekrupt wrote: 87 Points
Some overbearing sweet oak on the nose. Beneath the barrel work there is certainly some nice blueberry and dark fruit, but the overall sweetness or sensation of sweetness of the wine undermine some of the more serious elements. Perhaps the oak will integrate with time, but until then this sells as just another, interchangeable, technically sound, hot climate, syrah from the new world.
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4/23/2013 - IGN WINESNOB Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popped and Poured. Nice. Simple and smooth. Cab guy myself, but this was a treat.
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3/30/2013 - cab blends Likes this wine: 94 Points
Blind home wine tasting with MOT Scoring sheet (at Home): This was far better than I expected and was very enjoyable. The nose is very similar (although a little softer) to the Mollydooker Velvet Glove. Caramel - dark purple and very tannic but rich and tasty. Long finish and I imagine the acidity will soften over the next 2 or 3 years. If it does this is an even better wine than it is now. Great Wow factor and not sure what WS and WA did not see in this one?
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11/4/2012 - Wink wrote: 88 Points
Six of these arrived from the winery last week. I opened one to check them out. Dark, opaque purple. Nose of plum, fig, leather, dust, licorice, and vanilla. Ripe palate of blackberry, blueberry, fig, and licorice. OK length. Pleasant acidity. A little bitterness on the finish. Youthful tannins. Good, not great. May get better with a year or three in the cellar.
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7/27/2012 - SonomaWilliam wrote: 91 Points
A wonderful Syrah, available in winery only, from Joseph Phelps. Whom, many don't realize was the first to bottle Syrah in CA, in 1974.
A well balanced Syrah, with elegance, body, and weight. While I lean towards cool climate, lean Syrah's, I was very pleased
with this representation of one of my favorite Rhone varietals.
The color is inky black purple.
The nose exhibits notes of mocha, black fruit, smoked meat.
On the palate it delivers soft tannins integrated with black fruit, Black berry, vanilla, spice, with a lingering finish.
Pair with lamb, filet wrapped with bacon, game birds, duck, and more.
Bravo, look forward to more.
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