Side by side with '09 Rasa Principia. 4.5+8.5+4*+8.5+9+4.5+4.5=93+ This started a bit more slowly, but with obvious leaning to the smoked meat sauvage spectrum of Syrahs. Aromatics were very muted for the first hour and then opened. Very nice wine that is not fully resolved yet with respect to tannins and acidity but very close. I would guess a year or two away from its peak. Overall a great contrast to the Rasa Principia. Both great and well worth owning and cellaring. Day 3 (pumped): This has smoothed slightly but that was not really a weakness before. More impressive is that this is very much the same wine as when first opened: rock solid, well-made and attributes as noted above. In fairness, ditto with the Rasa.
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Phenomenal syrah from a fantastic winemaker. If you like northern rhone flavors in a new world style, this is a fantastic choice. Drank over 2 days. Delicious.
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PnP, consumed over two nights. Open and ready to go on initial pour, but held steady through night two. No signs of fading, but not sure if it’s going to get better from here.
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Still composed and powerful. Darkly complected fruits and spices. Generous and plush mouthfeel with a relatively persistent finish. In a great window for drinking at this time. Drink now or hold for further development.
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Rich and concentrated wine. Shows a hint of alcohol on the nose and palate, but there’s generally enough fruit to cover. Smooth and integrated at this point, mild tannins, with mild pepper notes sprinkled in. It’s a good Syrah, but I think I preferred this vintage younger when it has similar depth but a bit more freshness.
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Decanted 1 hour. Big wine, quite hedonistic. Oak showing on the nose with lots of black fruit. Big black fruit, licorice, oak, and vanilla flavors. This got even better through the evening. Drink now - 2024.
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Single-blind Syrah from Anywhere (Virtual): Single blind served covid style, so a 1/4 bottle in a glass jar that had been poured and sealed an hour previous. This wine is dense, with luscious berries, meat, dusty chocolate, roasted meats and tar. This seems a bit hedonistic. Very dense but not jammy.
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Single Blind Tasting, with the following wines: - 1998 M. Chapoutier Côte-Rôtie La Mordorée 1999 P. Jaboulet Aine Hermitage La Chapelle 2009 Lillian Winery Syrah Blue Label 2010 Two Hands Shiraz Bellas Garden 2017 Boom Boom Syrah - The wines were poured in separate sealed glasses at 5:00 pm and consumed between 6:30 and 8:00 pm. The old world and new world wines were easy enough to figure out, this was due to the different styles of the wines and aided by the fact that the two old world wines were 10 years older. Likewise, the Boom Boom was easy to pick out due to its youthfulness and simplicity. The Bella's Garden was also relatively easy to identify due to its style and (as one taster mentioned) a hint of eucalyptus in the flavor profile. That made the Lillian easy to identify too (as the only new world wine remaining. It was more difficult discerning the between the two old world wines (in fact, I had them backwards, as did others). That is not to say they were similar (not even close), but both wines were older and definitely old world.
2009 Lillian Syrah Blue Label - This wine likely has the most upside of all the wines we tasted in this line-up. It was drinking well now, but still shows plenty of stuffing to improve with more bottle age. The wine was deep purple with a nose of tar, graphite, leather and lilacs, followed by black and blue berries, with a hint of sweet oak. The aromas were there but required a little coaxing to flush out. Perhaps the future will bring a more forward nose, which alone would raise the score on this wine. The palate started slightly restrained, but then gave way to red and black fruit, saddle leather, granite and lead, with a slight oakiness lurking in the background. The finish was medium-long and very enjoyable. The wine improved as the night went on. This was my second favorite wine, but with a couple years of additional age, it could move to number 1. Score: 92+ with 94-95 potential.
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Pop and pour, consumed over 4 hours. Nose: Medium-plus intensity, blueberry, blackberry, pencil lead, and Asian spice and showing a bit of smokiness with a good swirl. Palate: Full bodied, perfectly ripe red-cranberry/blue-blueberry and plum/black fruit-blackberry attack, spicy mid-palate lift, resolves into mostly blue fruit and spice in the back-end with black olive and saddle leather notes. It's a big wine that holds its weight pretty well, but its still noticeably heavy.
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Plenty of life left in this and much better than the last time I opened one. Purple and inky but opened up with about 30-45 minutes of air... Definitely more fruit forward to me but not overly so...really nice.
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I opened this at our 3/2/19 card night. It had a powerful, awesome nose of floral, smoked meat, blackberry, plum, leather and spice aromas. The palate was rich, dense, complex and dry with flavors of blackberry, blueberry, plum, leather, licorice, pepper and spice.
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Agree with Nutty08. I rate this higher than most, as I have tasted many 92 rated wines that don't even come close to this wonderful expression of Syrah. Kudos to Maggie.
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Dark red. Full bodied with ripe plum and blackberry fruit. A hint of savory game and bacon notes. Definitely balanced much more towards the fruity aspect of Syrah than the savory. More of a cocktail style of wine.
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I opened this at our neighbor's 2018 Christmas eve party. It had deep, rich and truly fabulous nose of smoked meat, blackberry, blueberry, plum, olive, mocha, cocoa, licorice and spice aromas. The palate was rich, complex and dry with flavors that followed the nose.
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High Low Blind Tasting Part II - Can you taste the difference NOW? (Amy and Scott's house): Decanted 2 hours and served blind alongside the 2013 Carlisle Syrah Sonoma Coast. This wine seems well-integrated, silky and friendly. Towards that end, it comes across as being simple. I really wasn't sure about this matchup, and am not entirely shocked that only 6 out of 15 people preferred this to the 2013 Carlisle Sonoma Coast.
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Still nearly opaque purple. Nice grilled meat, blueberry aromas This has lost all of its baby fat fruit charm, now with more serious tart berry flavors, but with noticeable alcohol. Did we miss the window? I hope not and have hope. There’s still a lot going on and maybe this will meld together better, but at nine years this seems to be in an unflattering stage and I had higher hopes. Don’t get me wrong, this is quite good, just expecting higher at this time
This had a rich, powerful and elegant bouquet of smoked meat, blackberry, blueberry, olive, burnt toast, pepper, licorice and spice aromas. The palate was rich, ripe, powerful and elegant with flavors of blackberry, blueberry, olive, char, pepper, licorice and spice.
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This bottle didn't show well although it went through flashes of brilliance. There was a ton of white pepper and it seemed confused. Perhaps more cellar time will improve things.
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Wow. Great showing for this wine. I know these are a bit pricey but to me, they compete with the top Syrahs out of California. Inky purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, roasted meats, leather, slight black pepper and slight floral. On the palate, this is delicious. Pop and pour it got better for the hour or two until it was drained. Complex and deep. Tight layers of black raspberries, earth, and leather. Long finish. This was just so delicious and easy to drink, it was hard not gulp it. Loved it.
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Started out with inviting blueberry nose, delicious extraction and lots of primary fruit. After an hour went into a bit of a confused phase. Finished it the second day, when it was really singing. Great juice.
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This bottle was drank at home using the Coravin system. The wine was very slightly cloudy and a mid level purple in colour. The nose was quite strong with bacon and smoke alongside some dark berries. These same dark berries were the predominant flavour when tasting in the glass but were joined by a heavy amount of pepper. The acidity was fairly heavy and the tannins were at a nice medium level and overall this was a pleasantly tasting wine tonight.
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Tasted blind, sweet red fruits, some five spice and sweet oak on the finish. It's body was smooth, but lacking some more structure in the mid-palate. Really nice wine, but I thought it was missing a little something. Drinks well now, I don't see it lasting too many more years.
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I was really looking forward to trying this given all the rave reviews and yes it was really opaque and jammy but it lacked anything more for me. It just seemed one-dimensional. It was still enjoyable don't get me wrong but my expectations were way higher than reality on this bottle.
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No score. Decanted for 90 minutes then consumed over next 3 hours and just barely started to open. Very dark color. Seemed balanced, but struggled to get fruit profiles due to extreme shut down. Hold for awhile.
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This was drank without decanting at a friend's house. The wine was clear and a deep mix of red and purple in colour. This wine had a strong nose and flavours of chocolate and ripe cherries. The spice levels were certainly there but not overly strong. Both the acidity and tannins were also quite present which leads me to believe that this wine has years ahead of it. This bottle was very enjoyable tonight.
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I'm starting to think I like here better on release than after a few years as they seem fresher(maybe they just shut down and need longer). Typical of the Lillian style, with lush concentrated fruit but a lovely pepper spice nuance to the nose and palate.
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This was drank with friends without decanting. This clear wine is still very young and was a mid level purple in colour with a nose of blueberries and assorted spices. On the palette I tasted candied cherries and some tobacco. The spices were quite light and both the acidity and tannins were not overly strong. This was a good bottle but I was hoping for just a bit more from it.
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Pure bliss in a glass. Fabulous. Midsummers night - dark but not black in the glass. Buried blue fruit that digs its' way out. Grand finish. Damn fine.
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9.2+ This is prob the most accessible Lillian Syrah I've had. The nose hits a nice balance between berry liqueur and dried berries, licorice, herbs and smoke. The mouth is more black-fruit driven, which I enjoy, and then the finish picks up the structure again. It's tannic but velvety. I suspect it would go well with heavier foods, esp fatty ones. Is this 100% Syrah? It just has that pungent berry top-note that reminds me of ripe Grenache. Maybe they threw some in there.
Good stuff. Ready to go out of the bottle and gets a little better with about an hour decant. Drink from 2015 - 2020+.
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Mark's Duck House for birthday lunch. From magnum. Dark, really big at first, 30 minutes later in the glass, really softened and the fruit stepped forward, went down like silk. Always a great syrah that is drinkable young.
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Purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of aspirin, black berries, a hint of smoke plus some plums and black pepper. Flavors of blueberries, raspberries and black cherries. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannin, full bodied. Drink with air or hold.
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The color is inky, dense, and opaque and magenta coloring at the rim. The smells are sweet dark fruit, blueberry, blackberry, stone, tar, vanillin, and sweet peppery spices. The tastes are blueberries, flowers, vanilla, vine stems, and sweet spice. The finish is fruity and the tannins are also fruity and the texture is like sheer satin.
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Decanted early ready set go, what a show, from the forst sip, wow, the nose reminds everyone of freshly ironed shirts. Reminds me of wet leather, and first sip, more wet leather. Pleasant and fruity, this is what it should taste like.
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Deep dark vapors pour out of the glass, first sip, The leather and rubber you just inhaled are replaced by warm spice and dry fruit, very elegant, smooth, clean finish
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Again, I'm struck by the elegance of this wine. It is massive on one hand, delivering concentrated blueberry, with some blackberry fruit, baking spices, and brown sugar. Yet, it remains finely balanced showing high acid, and super fine tannins on the long cedar finish. Still, too tightly wound right now, even after a long afternoon slow open of 6+ hours. Too early for this wine to strut its stuff...it would seem like there is more to come for those who wait.
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Chris brought this to our dinner at Osteria Ottima. First blue label experience. Wow, this was fantastic Syrah. One of the best as of late. Dark black cherries, tons of smoke and thick roasted meat - fatty, bloody. Dark rock, violets, really really nice. The palate confirms more dark fruit but massive amounts of smoke, game and rustic damp forest. Long finish, absolutely super young, and a touch hot, but this will cellar off in a couple years. Right in line with the SQN and now Lillian style. Highly recommended.
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I expected this to be better, given how good the regular '09 is. It has great texture and overall flavor profile, just lacking a bit of complexity and length. Oaks starts to push through the fruit a bit, but certainly not in any way off-putting.
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Syrah and Grenache at Blackstone Steakhouse (Blackstone Steakhouse Norwalk CT.): Was at the tail end of an impressive tasting of syrah and grenaches that included SQN, Colgin and Araujo but this had a nice showing. Got a nose of raspberry, blackberry, earth and flowers. This was pretty balanced and along the lines of the SQN but not as concentrated. The palate revealed some nice flavors of blueberry, cherry, raspberry and smoke. The flavors led to a pleasant 30 second finish. I would not say they are in the class of SQN but the delivery similar quality for more affordable prices.
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4/21/2024 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Monthly Tasting Group: California: Anything but Napa (BLVD Kitchen & Bar, Wayzata, MN): Small taste, late. No notes, but I liked it a lot. Nice Syrah character, in good shape. Glad I've got a couple of these. 92-93pts.
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4/4/2024 - learningandenjoying Likes this wine: 93 Points
Side by side with '09 Rasa Principia. 4.5+8.5+4*+8.5+9+4.5+4.5=93+ This started a bit more slowly, but with obvious leaning to the smoked meat sauvage spectrum of Syrahs. Aromatics were very muted for the first hour and then opened. Very nice wine that is not fully resolved yet with respect to tannins and acidity but very close. I would guess a year or two away from its peak. Overall a great contrast to the Rasa Principia. Both great and well worth owning and cellaring. Day 3 (pumped): This has smoothed slightly but that was not really a weakness before. More impressive is that this is very much the same wine as when first opened: rock solid, well-made and attributes as noted above. In fairness, ditto with the Rasa.
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3/22/2024 - Chrisinroch Likes this wine: 95 Points
Phenomenal syrah from a fantastic winemaker. If you like northern rhone flavors in a new world style, this is a fantastic choice. Drank over 2 days. Delicious.
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7/2/2023 - Eric wrote: 92 Points
Dark, brooding, gamey, rather intense but not at all heavy. Quite young, still deeply primary, less weight than a SQN or other such ilk, really pure.
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3/12/2023 - Fugu Me Likes this wine:
PnP, consumed over two nights. Open and ready to go on initial pour, but held steady through night two. No signs of fading, but not sure if it’s going to get better from here.
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12/28/2022 - PDX-S wrote:
Still composed and powerful. Darkly complected fruits and spices. Generous and plush mouthfeel with a relatively persistent finish.
In a great window for drinking at this time.
Drink now or hold for further development.
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5/17/2021 - tcarter Likes this wine: 97 Points
WOW! In a fantastic window. Just great. Wow. Been drinking a lot of Lillian syrah recently but this one shines.
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3/20/2021 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Rich and concentrated wine. Shows a hint of alcohol on the nose and palate, but there’s generally enough fruit to cover. Smooth and integrated at this point, mild tannins, with mild pepper notes sprinkled in. It’s a good Syrah, but I think I preferred this vintage younger when it has similar depth but a bit more freshness.
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10/30/2020 - RPerro Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 1 hour. Big wine, quite hedonistic. Oak showing on the nose with lots of black fruit. Big black fruit, licorice, oak, and vanilla flavors. This got even better through the evening. Drink now - 2024.
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5/9/2020 - galewskj wrote: 93 Points
Single-blind Syrah from Anywhere (Virtual): Single blind served covid style, so a 1/4 bottle in a glass jar that had been poured and sealed an hour previous. This wine is dense, with luscious berries, meat, dusty chocolate, roasted meats and tar. This seems a bit hedonistic. Very dense but not jammy.
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5/8/2020 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Single Blind Tasting, with the following wines:
-
1998 M. Chapoutier Côte-Rôtie La Mordorée
1999 P. Jaboulet Aine Hermitage La Chapelle
2009 Lillian Winery Syrah Blue Label
2010 Two Hands Shiraz Bellas Garden
2017 Boom Boom Syrah
-
The wines were poured in separate sealed glasses at 5:00 pm and consumed between 6:30 and 8:00 pm. The old world and new world wines were easy enough to figure out, this was due to the different styles of the wines and aided by the fact that the two old world wines were 10 years older. Likewise, the Boom Boom was easy to pick out due to its youthfulness and simplicity. The Bella's Garden was also relatively easy to identify due to its style and (as one taster mentioned) a hint of eucalyptus in the flavor profile. That made the Lillian easy to identify too (as the only new world wine remaining. It was more difficult discerning the between the two old world wines (in fact, I had them backwards, as did others). That is not to say they were similar (not even close), but both wines were older and definitely old world.
2009 Lillian Syrah Blue Label - This wine likely has the most upside of all the wines we tasted in this line-up. It was drinking well now, but still shows plenty of stuffing to improve with more bottle age. The wine was deep purple with a nose of tar, graphite, leather and lilacs, followed by black and blue berries, with a hint of sweet oak. The aromas were there but required a little coaxing to flush out. Perhaps the future will bring a more forward nose, which alone would raise the score on this wine. The palate started slightly restrained, but then gave way to red and black fruit, saddle leather, granite and lead, with a slight oakiness lurking in the background. The finish was medium-long and very enjoyable. The wine improved as the night went on. This was my second favorite wine, but with a couple years of additional age, it could move to number 1. Score: 92+ with 94-95 potential.
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3/7/2020 - prasm wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour, consumed over 4 hours. Nose: Medium-plus intensity, blueberry, blackberry, pencil lead, and Asian spice and showing a bit of smokiness with a good swirl. Palate: Full bodied, perfectly ripe red-cranberry/blue-blueberry and plum/black fruit-blackberry attack, spicy mid-palate lift, resolves into mostly blue fruit and spice in the back-end with black olive and saddle leather notes. It's a big wine that holds its weight pretty well, but its still noticeably heavy.
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10/4/2019 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank over two days. At first silky and feminine but toward the end of day 2 it really fleshed out with palate-filling black fruit and licorice.
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3/12/2019 - Jbird73 wrote: 92 Points
Plenty of life left in this and much better than the last time I opened one. Purple and inky but opened up with about 30-45 minutes of air... Definitely more fruit forward to me but not overly so...really nice.
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3/2/2019 - garambler Likes this wine: 94 Points
I opened this at our 3/2/19 card night. It had a powerful, awesome nose of floral, smoked meat, blackberry, plum, leather and spice aromas. The palate was rich, dense, complex and dry with flavors of blackberry, blueberry, plum, leather, licorice, pepper and spice.
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2/9/2019 - Elkcims wrote: 94 Points
Agree with Nutty08. I rate this higher than most, as I have tasted many 92 rated wines that don't even come close to this wonderful expression of Syrah. Kudos to Maggie.
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12/25/2018 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 90 Points
Dark red. Full bodied with ripe plum and blackberry fruit. A hint of savory game and bacon notes. Definitely balanced much more towards the fruity aspect of Syrah than the savory. More of a cocktail style of wine.
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12/24/2018 - garambler Likes this wine: 94 Points
I opened this at our neighbor's 2018 Christmas eve party. It had deep, rich and truly fabulous nose of smoked meat, blackberry, blueberry, plum, olive, mocha, cocoa, licorice and spice aromas. The palate was rich, complex and dry with flavors that followed the nose.
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10/14/2018 - Nutty08 wrote: 92 Points
Very smooth and integrated. Big concentrated style with a hint of heat. Mild pepper and meat character. Seems to be well integrated. Drinking well.
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8/5/2018 - galewskj wrote: 90 Points
High Low Blind Tasting Part II - Can you taste the difference NOW? (Amy and Scott's house): Decanted 2 hours and served blind alongside the 2013 Carlisle Syrah Sonoma Coast. This wine seems well-integrated, silky and friendly. Towards that end, it comes across as being simple. I really wasn't sure about this matchup, and am not entirely shocked that only 6 out of 15 people preferred this to the 2013 Carlisle Sonoma Coast.
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8/2/2018 - cos65 wrote:
Still nearly opaque purple.
Nice grilled meat, blueberry aromas
This has lost all of its baby fat fruit charm,
now with more serious tart berry flavors, but with noticeable alcohol.
Did we miss the window?
I hope not and have hope. There’s still a lot going on and maybe this will meld together better, but at nine years this seems to be in an unflattering stage and I had higher hopes. Don’t get me wrong, this is quite good, just expecting higher at this time
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4/14/2018 - garambler Likes this wine: 94 Points
This had a rich, powerful and elegant bouquet of smoked meat, blackberry, blueberry, olive, burnt toast, pepper, licorice and spice aromas. The palate was rich, ripe, powerful and elegant with flavors of blackberry, blueberry, olive, char, pepper, licorice and spice.
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12/20/2017 - Lateva wrote: 94 Points
Pop and pour. Really intriguing iron and blueberry and saline notes. Nice suprise as I wasn’t expecting much. Great wine.
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8/20/2017 - Quiet Lion wrote:
This bottle didn't show well although it went through flashes of brilliance. There was a ton of white pepper and it seemed confused. Perhaps more cellar time will improve things.
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5/22/2017 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 95 Points
Wow. Great showing for this wine. I know these are a bit pricey but to me, they compete with the top Syrahs out of California. Inky purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, roasted meats, leather, slight black pepper and slight floral. On the palate, this is delicious. Pop and pour it got better for the hour or two until it was drained. Complex and deep. Tight layers of black raspberries, earth, and leather. Long finish. This was just so delicious and easy to drink, it was hard not gulp it. Loved it.
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11/9/2016 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 95 Points
Started out with inviting blueberry nose, delicious extraction and lots of primary fruit. After an hour went into a bit of a confused phase. Finished it the second day, when it was really singing. Great juice.
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7/30/2016 - hanasowner wrote: 88 Points
Decent nose, but short finish.
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6/6/2016 - Rosengoo wrote: 90 Points
This bottle was drank at home using the Coravin system. The wine was very slightly cloudy and a mid level purple in colour. The nose was quite strong with bacon and smoke alongside some dark berries. These same dark berries were the predominant flavour when tasting in the glass but were joined by a heavy amount of pepper. The acidity was fairly heavy and the tannins were at a nice medium level and overall this was a pleasantly tasting wine tonight.
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4/2/2016 - pakabear Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tasted blind, sweet red fruits, some five spice and sweet oak on the finish. It's body was smooth, but lacking some more structure in the mid-palate. Really nice wine, but I thought it was missing a little something. Drinks well now, I don't see it lasting too many more years.
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1/3/2016 - Jbird73 wrote: 90 Points
I was really looking forward to trying this given all the rave reviews and yes it was really opaque and jammy but it lacked anything more for me. It just seemed one-dimensional. It was still enjoyable don't get me wrong but my expectations were way higher than reality on this bottle.
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12/24/2015 - JR512 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Wow! Great nose and lots of dark jammy fruit. Glad I have more to enjoy! Maggie knows how to create awesome wine.. True artist!
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10/20/2015 - rwilk_2000 wrote:
No score. Decanted for 90 minutes then consumed over next 3 hours and just barely started to open. Very dark color. Seemed balanced, but struggled to get fruit profiles due to extreme shut down. Hold for awhile.
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10/17/2015 - sbfireman wrote: 96 Points
Make this your + one wine. Just a beautiful melody. Lovely depth of fruit. Elegant finish. Oh how I wish I had more....
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10/10/2015 - Rosengoo wrote: 93 Points
This was drank without decanting at a friend's house. The wine was clear and a deep mix of red and purple in colour. This wine had a strong nose and flavours of chocolate and ripe cherries. The spice levels were certainly there but not overly strong. Both the acidity and tannins were also quite present which leads me to believe that this wine has years ahead of it. This bottle was very enjoyable tonight.
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9/4/2015 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 94 Points
I'm starting to think I like here better on release than after a few years as they seem fresher(maybe they just shut down and need longer). Typical of the Lillian style, with lush concentrated fruit but a lovely pepper spice nuance to the nose and palate.
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6/18/2015 - Rosengoo wrote: 91 Points
This was drank with friends without decanting. This clear wine is still very young and was a mid level purple in colour with a nose of blueberries and assorted spices. On the palette I tasted candied cherries and some tobacco. The spices were quite light and both the acidity and tannins were not overly strong. This was a good bottle but I was hoping for just a bit more from it.
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6/17/2015 - sbfireman wrote: 95 Points
Pure bliss in a glass. Fabulous. Midsummers night - dark but not black in the glass. Buried blue fruit that digs its' way out. Grand finish. Damn fine.
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5/1/2015 - tp096255 Likes this wine: 92 Points
9.2+
This is prob the most accessible Lillian Syrah I've had. The nose hits a nice balance between berry liqueur and dried berries, licorice, herbs and smoke. The mouth is more black-fruit driven, which I enjoy, and then the finish picks up the structure again. It's tannic but velvety. I suspect it would go well with heavier foods, esp fatty ones. Is this 100% Syrah? It just has that pungent berry top-note that reminds me of ripe Grenache. Maybe they threw some in there.
Good stuff. Ready to go out of the bottle and gets a little better with about an hour decant. Drink from 2015 - 2020+.
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3/18/2015 - pakabear Likes this wine: 92 Points
Not nearly as good as other blue labels, but still very good.
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2/22/2015 - BinVA Likes this wine: 95 Points
Mark's Duck House for birthday lunch.
From magnum. Dark, really big at first, 30 minutes later in the glass, really softened and the fruit stepped forward, went down like silk. Always a great syrah that is drinkable young.
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2/15/2015 - bonedocnine wrote: 95 Points
Brilliant. Stunning. Lovely. This has become my goto wine to impress people. Great conversation wine as well....
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11/30/2014 - bonedocnine Likes this wine: 95 Points
stunningly good
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10/4/2014 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
WIML92
Tasted non blind.
Purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of aspirin, black berries, a hint of smoke plus some plums and black pepper. Flavors of blueberries, raspberries and black cherries. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannin, full bodied. Drink with air or hold.
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9/3/2014 - hackey37 wrote: 94 Points
The color is inky, dense, and opaque and magenta coloring at the rim. The smells are sweet dark fruit, blueberry, blackberry, stone, tar, vanillin, and sweet peppery spices. The tastes are blueberries, flowers, vanilla, vine stems, and sweet spice. The finish is fruity and the tannins are also fruity and the texture is like sheer satin.
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8/30/2014 - shadow wrote: 96 Points
Decanted early ready set go, what a show, from the forst sip, wow, the nose reminds everyone of freshly ironed shirts.
Reminds me of wet leather, and first sip, more wet leather.
Pleasant and fruity, this is what it should taste like.
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5/24/2014 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Still tannic. Red fruit. Oak. Long finish. Spice. Modern. Light on its feet, gorgeous. Needs years and years
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3/14/2014 - shadow wrote: 96 Points
Deep dark vapors pour out of the glass, first sip, The leather and rubber you just inhaled are replaced by warm spice and dry fruit, very elegant, smooth, clean finish
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2/15/2014 - PDX-S wrote:
Again, I'm struck by the elegance of this wine. It is massive on one hand, delivering concentrated blueberry, with some blackberry fruit, baking spices, and brown sugar. Yet, it remains finely balanced showing high acid, and super fine tannins on the long cedar finish. Still, too tightly wound right now, even after a long afternoon slow open of 6+ hours. Too early for this wine to strut its stuff...it would seem like there is more to come for those who wait.
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1/22/2014 - beezer6 wrote: 95 Points
Chris brought this to our dinner at Osteria Ottima.
First blue label experience.
Wow, this was fantastic Syrah. One of the best as of late. Dark black cherries, tons of smoke and thick roasted meat - fatty, bloody.
Dark rock, violets, really really nice. The palate confirms more dark fruit but massive amounts of smoke, game and rustic damp forest.
Long finish, absolutely super young, and a touch hot, but this will cellar off in a couple years. Right in line with the SQN and now Lillian style.
Highly recommended.
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12/30/2013 - jaxpaj wrote: 95 Points
A great Syrah! I need to do a blind between this and Reva.
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12/14/2013 - ClubTerry Likes this wine: 95 Points
First Lillian wine and I was not disappointed.
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11/24/2013 - pakabear Likes this wine: 92 Points
I expected this to be better, given how good the regular '09 is. It has great texture and overall flavor profile, just lacking a bit of complexity and length. Oaks starts to push through the fruit a bit, but certainly not in any way off-putting.
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10/26/2013 - slywka7 wrote: 95 Points
Syrah and Grenache at Blackstone Steakhouse (Blackstone Steakhouse Norwalk CT.): Was at the tail end of an impressive tasting of syrah and grenaches that included SQN, Colgin and Araujo but this had a nice showing. Got a nose of raspberry, blackberry, earth and flowers. This was pretty balanced and along the lines of the SQN but not as concentrated. The palate revealed some nice flavors of blueberry, cherry, raspberry and smoke. The flavors led to a pleasant 30 second finish. I would not say they are in the class of SQN but the delivery similar quality for more affordable prices.
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1/1/2013 - bonedocnine wrote: 92 Points
Very extracted but still pretty with lovely fruit flavors.
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