Wine with friends (at Lake Michigan) (Mike and Lori's (near Shelby MI)): Biased review. Just cause we could, I opened this late. Pop and pour, it is still tight and i would hold these or give them air. Mike finished it the next day and (politely?) said it showed well. Good black raspberry fruit with some depth. Just very tight. Still, fun to share with friends.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wine for Passover 2017; 4/15/2017-4/16/2017 (Our Seder at Home): I know this is not Kosher for Passover, but we really enjoy being able to share our wines on holidays especially with non-geeks and people who have never tried it before. We are comfortable with that but understand some might not be. Our apologies. I hadn't had a 2010 in quite some time. They were shut down hard last time. I popped the corks at 8:00 am and we drank at about 9:00 pm. Deep purple in color. The nose is open showing black raspberries, white pepper, slight smoke and roasted meats. On the palate, this is drinking well with this much air. Still young and not at peak though. Maybe a late teenager? Lots of juicy black raspberry fruit. Slight blueberries. Some earthiness. Nice finish. Honestly, it my biased opinion it seemed great but that was also after some disappointing Kosher wines. :-) Anyway, I would still hold these, drink the 11's and the 9's or maybe the 12's.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drinking really well now but by no means done in the cellar. Opaque purple, rich and dark; black fruit and pepper on the nose and full spice box in the mouth following the initial fruit. Complex favors and long. Medium-full body with good structure and mouth feel.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aromas of red and black fruit, primarily currant but also cherry and blackberry along with floral notes and a bit of earth & herbs. The palate matches with the fruit up front (mostly red cherry/raspberry) then a flower/herbal/raspberry midpalate followed by an earthy/blackberry/black cherry finish. A nice progression of the fruit from red to dark and the medium acidity/tannins are integrating. These notes are from day two and I would say it's drinking well now with a little air to open up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
SonkinCellars Partners Meeting- A Vertical 2009 thru 2013 (The Barn at Walden): The tightest of all the Persona vintages. This closed up shortly after release and is still hanging tough. Give it plenty of air if you want to drink it, but patience will be rewarded. The nose has black raspberries, slight violets and white pepper. Great juicy texture which makes me feel confident about the future. Beautiful purity of fruit (as the saying goes) on the palate. This will need another 3 years IMO, but then should start to open. I am curious but confident about this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
SonkinCellars Partners Meeting (The Barn): In a great place right now. Pnp, it did close up a bit for a time, then reopened. I don't believe this is quite at peak yet, another year or two. I would recommend a few hours of slow ox.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had the pleasure of meeting Loren and his lovely wife at a local tasting of his '10 and '11 Persona Syrahs. The nose on the 2010 was slightly muted but I picked up some dark fruits and a little spice. Classic Cali Syrah palate with savory meat and bacon fat. Also black cherry, blueberry/blackberry fruit, plus notes of mocha, nutmeg and loamy topsoil. Smooth, medium bodied wine with juicy mouthfeel, lightly oaked, medium+ acidity, mild tannins and medium+ finish. Although the wine is already approachable and well integrated, it will probably continue to improve over the next 2-3 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A Whole Lotta Syrahs (and more) at the Girl and the Fig; 3/4/2014-3/6/2014 (The Girl and the Fig): My favorite of the three on this evening. It still needs some air or time I think, but it is an opulent warm climate Syrah that, for my biased tastes, manages to hold the line on alcohol or fruit bombedness (is that a word?). Still, satisfying to me with a nice streak of acidity that worked with my excellent grilled cheese sandwich.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Awesome Dinner with Friends (Erasmus, SQN, Saxum, Pride, Dehlinger++) (Out and about): I know this is my wine, but it was out muscled in this flight. (that's ok with me, it is not in the same price range either). Not by a lot and it held its own. This got some air but still needed more. A few years from peak. The nose is showing some complexity. It is a meaty Syrah but not monster wine that the Saxum, Denner and Torrin are (that is by design).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Some great wine for the end of 2013 (Our home): In a nice place. Took a couple of hours to open and continued to open all night. Starting to develop some tertiary complexity. Held it own in a nice line-up.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted, this is drinking nicely now. I still think it is not quite at peak, but no reason not to try one if you like. It has a great nose, black raspberries, slight grilled bread note with some cracked black pepper. My favorite feature continues to be the mouth puckering acidity. Good fruit on the palate. Food friendly.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Colgin, SQN, SHS, Saxum, Bevan, DP ++++ (GHT): This is brighter than the 09. Not as seductive of a nose, but just as nice, with lots or black raspberries, some grilled meats and white pepper. On the palate, I really enjoy the acidity on this wine. It makes it very food friendly. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of fruit and this is not a shy wine, but there is a component that makes this mouth watering. Probably closer to peak than the 09, but both are a few years away right now IMO.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lots of wines at Tommy's Clambake (Tommy's): Obviously I am biased. The wine is developing nicely. Needs some air and a year or two away from maturity. Plenty of fruit. My favorite thing about this wine is the acidity. It makes it food friendly IMO. Thanks to George for opening it, but even more thanks to him for BUYING it. ;-)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Second of three bottles. Started out with a similar funky/bloody nose as the first, but quickly blew off (whew!). Good dark, syrah color, with a nice mix of red and black fruit to go with some earthiness on the nose. Mouthfeel was wonderful, a mix of silkiness and delicate. Rich, but nicely nuanced medium-length finish. Nice wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
My first bottle of this Syrah. I decanted it for 2 hours, nice nose of meat with cherries, nice mix of fruit and tannins in the mouth with a nice long finish. Continued to open up and change a bit over the next 3 hours with more fruit and less heat. Very nice California Syrah. Information from the label: This is 98% Syrah from the White Hawk Vineyard ( Santa Barbara County) and 2% Viognier from Catie's Corner Vineyard ( Sonoma County). 900 bottles produced.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Much better than my previous experience with this wine. Opened for about 7 hours before trying. Huge meaty nose with some pork, bacon and pepper along with black cherry, blackberry and plum. Mouth mirrors the nose with a little savory quality, nice big tannins, good acidity and a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Hmm. On the first night, there was nothing on the nose except oak (which is slightly weird for a wine with 1/3 new oak). Even after a few hours, nothing. On day 2, it opened up slightly, but mostly muddled black fruit. Not very good right now (or slightly corked). EDIT: Thanks for replacing this Loren, really appreciate it. Tried another bottle and much better. Lots of black fruit and meatiness. Very enjoyable.
Hmmmmm. Meaty, funky, maybe off. Waited two hours, still the same. An hour more. Still the same. I like earthy, bloody, meaty Syrahs as much as anyone. But, I don't know about this.
Thanks to Loren for bringing this tonight, as I'm planning to let mine sit for a while longer. This was opened 48 hours before tasting. The nose is dead on roast beef / the juiciest steak ever. Very savory, though not much fruit on the nose. The palate is very meaty, but the fruit is also there along with a hint of balsamic vinegar. Acidic which contributes to a long finish, and also medium+ tannins. For my palate right now this is above & beyond the 09 and I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes with age, although Loren said in the long run he thinks the 09 may be better.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Baby killin' Day one it was down right grapey. Day two the wine starts to strut its stuff. Great nose of coffee, chocolate covered cherries, and a hint of citrus zest. The palate has lots of red berries and very nice, smooth acid. The fruit needs to loosen up and fill out but all the components are there. Grippy tannins as expected. Left some for day three. Very promising. Amazing nose.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A beautiful Syrah in the making. Bright purple red in color. Fresh glazed fruit nose. Still muted but already powerful cassis and black cherry on the opening backed up by a pleasant raw, flint, pine, dusty, earthy sensation (bitter in nice way). This one needs to open up more to show its full potential.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
7/26/2020 - Backdoctor wrote: 93 Points
I forgot how good this wine is. Drinking great!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/5/2019 - David_T wrote:
Drinking well now with the structural components completely integrated. Flavors unchanged from my last note.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2017 - Loren Sonkin wrote:
Wine with friends (at Lake Michigan) (Mike and Lori's (near Shelby MI)): Biased review. Just cause we could, I opened this late. Pop and pour, it is still tight and i would hold these or give them air. Mike finished it the next day and (politely?) said it showed well. Good black raspberry fruit with some depth. Just very tight. Still, fun to share with friends.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2017 - Loren Sonkin wrote:
Wine for Passover 2017; 4/15/2017-4/16/2017 (Our Seder at Home): I know this is not Kosher for Passover, but we really enjoy being able to share our wines on holidays especially with non-geeks and people who have never tried it before. We are comfortable with that but understand some might not be. Our apologies. I hadn't had a 2010 in quite some time. They were shut down hard last time. I popped the corks at 8:00 am and we drank at about 9:00 pm. Deep purple in color. The nose is open showing black raspberries, white pepper, slight smoke and roasted meats. On the palate, this is drinking well with this much air. Still young and not at peak though. Maybe a late teenager? Lots of juicy black raspberry fruit. Slight blueberries. Some earthiness. Nice finish. Honestly, it my biased opinion it seemed great but that was also after some disappointing Kosher wines. :-) Anyway, I would still hold these, drink the 11's and the 9's or maybe the 12's.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2016 - WinthropT96 wrote: 91 Points
Drinking really well now but by no means done in the cellar. Opaque purple, rich and dark; black fruit and pepper on the nose and full spice box in the mouth following the initial fruit. Complex favors and long. Medium-full body with good structure and mouth feel.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2016 - David_T Likes this wine: 91 Points
Aromas of red and black fruit, primarily currant but also cherry and blackberry along with floral notes and a bit of earth & herbs. The palate matches with the fruit up front (mostly red cherry/raspberry) then a flower/herbal/raspberry midpalate followed by an earthy/blackberry/black cherry finish. A nice progression of the fruit from red to dark and the medium acidity/tannins are integrating. These notes are from day two and I would say it's drinking well now with a little air to open up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/26/2015 - Loren Sonkin wrote:
SonkinCellars Partners Meeting- A Vertical 2009 thru 2013 (The Barn at Walden): The tightest of all the Persona vintages. This closed up shortly after release and is still hanging tough. Give it plenty of air if you want to drink it, but patience will be rewarded. The nose has black raspberries, slight violets and white pepper. Great juicy texture which makes me feel confident about the future. Beautiful purity of fruit (as the saying goes) on the palate. This will need another 3 years IMO, but then should start to open. I am curious but confident about this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2015 - ksmith wrote: 91 Points
Dark purple. Nose of black fruits and spice. BlackBerry and spicy black cherry on the palate. This is drinking well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote:
SonkinCellars Partners Meeting (The Barn): In a great place right now. Pnp, it did close up a bit for a time, then reopened. I don't believe this is quite at peak yet, another year or two. I would recommend a few hours of slow ox.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2014 - ChipGreen wrote:
Had the pleasure of meeting Loren and his lovely wife at a local tasting of his '10 and '11 Persona Syrahs.
The nose on the 2010 was slightly muted but I picked up some dark fruits and a little spice. Classic Cali Syrah palate with savory meat and bacon fat. Also black cherry, blueberry/blackberry fruit, plus notes of mocha, nutmeg and loamy topsoil.
Smooth, medium bodied wine with juicy mouthfeel, lightly oaked, medium+ acidity, mild tannins and medium+ finish. Although the wine is already approachable and well integrated, it will probably continue to improve over the next 2-3 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/6/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote:
A Whole Lotta Syrahs (and more) at the Girl and the Fig; 3/4/2014-3/6/2014 (The Girl and the Fig): My favorite of the three on this evening. It still needs some air or time I think, but it is an opulent warm climate Syrah that, for my biased tastes, manages to hold the line on alcohol or fruit bombedness (is that a word?). Still, satisfying to me with a nice streak of acidity that worked with my excellent grilled cheese sandwich.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote:
Awesome Dinner with Friends (Erasmus, SQN, Saxum, Pride, Dehlinger++) (Out and about): I know this is my wine, but it was out muscled in this flight. (that's ok with me, it is not in the same price range either). Not by a lot and it held its own. This got some air but still needed more. A few years from peak. The nose is showing some complexity. It is a meaty Syrah but not monster wine that the Saxum, Denner and Torrin are (that is by design).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote:
Some great wine for the end of 2013 (Our home): In a nice place. Took a couple of hours to open and continued to open all night. Starting to develop some tertiary complexity. Held it own in a nice line-up.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2013 - Loren Sonkin wrote:
Decanted, this is drinking nicely now. I still think it is not quite at peak, but no reason not to try one if you like. It has a great nose, black raspberries, slight grilled bread note with some cracked black pepper. My favorite feature continues to be the mouth puckering acidity. Good fruit on the palate. Food friendly.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2013 - Loren Sonkin wrote:
Colgin, SQN, SHS, Saxum, Bevan, DP ++++ (GHT): This is brighter than the 09. Not as seductive of a nose, but just as nice, with lots or black raspberries, some grilled meats and white pepper. On the palate, I really enjoy the acidity on this wine. It makes it very food friendly. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of fruit and this is not a shy wine, but there is a component that makes this mouth watering. Probably closer to peak than the 09, but both are a few years away right now IMO.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/15/2013 - Loren Sonkin wrote:
Lots of wines at Tommy's Clambake (Tommy's): Obviously I am biased. The wine is developing nicely. Needs some air and a year or two away from maturity. Plenty of fruit. My favorite thing about this wine is the acidity. It makes it food friendly IMO. Thanks to George for opening it, but even more thanks to him for BUYING it. ;-)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2013 - Cow Town wrote: 91 Points
Second of three bottles. Started out with a similar funky/bloody nose as the first, but quickly blew off (whew!). Good dark, syrah color, with a nice mix of red and black fruit to go with some earthiness on the nose. Mouthfeel was wonderful, a mix of silkiness and delicate. Rich, but nicely nuanced medium-length finish. Nice wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2013 - GaryHOhio wrote: 92 Points
My first bottle of this Syrah. I decanted it for 2 hours, nice nose of meat with cherries, nice mix of fruit and tannins in the mouth with a nice long finish. Continued to open up and change a bit over the next 3 hours with more fruit and less heat.
Very nice California Syrah.
Information from the label: This is 98% Syrah from the White Hawk Vineyard ( Santa Barbara County) and 2% Viognier from Catie's Corner Vineyard ( Sonoma County). 900 bottles produced.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2013 - Wrmcbratney Likes this wine:
Much better than my previous experience with this wine. Opened for about 7 hours before trying. Huge meaty nose with some pork, bacon and pepper along with black cherry, blackberry and plum. Mouth mirrors the nose with a little savory quality, nice big tannins, good acidity and a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2013 - Wrmcbratney Does not like this wine:
Hmm. On the first night, there was nothing on the nose except oak (which is slightly weird for a wine with 1/3 new oak). Even after a few hours, nothing. On day 2, it opened up slightly, but mostly muddled black fruit. Not very good right now (or slightly corked).
EDIT: Thanks for replacing this Loren, really appreciate it. Tried another bottle and much better. Lots of black fruit and meatiness. Very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/22/2013 - Cow Town wrote:
Hmmmmm. Meaty, funky, maybe off. Waited two hours, still the same. An hour more. Still the same. I like earthy, bloody, meaty Syrahs as much as anyone. But, I don't know about this.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/15/2013 - Backdoctor wrote: 92 Points
had it open for 26 hrs before drinking. Was awesome.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2013 - mmatt wrote: 93 Points
93 The Rhone Report, 91 points Wine Spectator. Needs year or two bottle age and will have 8-10 years or moreof prime drinking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2012 - David_T wrote: 92 Points
Thanks to Loren for bringing this tonight, as I'm planning to let mine sit for a while longer. This was opened 48 hours before tasting. The nose is dead on roast beef / the juiciest steak ever. Very savory, though not much fruit on the nose. The palate is very meaty, but the fruit is also there along with a hint of balsamic vinegar. Acidic which contributes to a long finish, and also medium+ tannins. For my palate right now this is above & beyond the 09 and I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes with age, although Loren said in the long run he thinks the 09 may be better.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2012 - Uglypinga Likes this wine:
Baby killin'
Day one it was down right grapey.
Day two the wine starts to strut its stuff. Great nose of coffee, chocolate covered cherries, and a hint of citrus zest. The palate has lots of red berries and very nice, smooth acid. The fruit needs to loosen up and fill out but all the components are there. Grippy tannins as expected. Left some for day three. Very promising. Amazing nose.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/17/2012 - Jan Schultink wrote: 92 Points
A beautiful Syrah in the making. Bright purple red in color. Fresh glazed fruit nose. Still muted but already powerful cassis and black cherry on the opening backed up by a pleasant raw, flint, pine, dusty, earthy sensation (bitter in nice way). This one needs to open up more to show its full potential.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment