Rusty magenta. Caramel, oak spice, and earth nose. Medium bodied, dirty cranberries, black cherries, fully integrated tannins, some smoke and heat, and more red fruit on the medium to long finish. I think it probably passing its peak.
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Eight years and in its prime. A testament to the potential of high-end Syncline wines. Age aside, this wine brings me to Gigondas with a new world opulence. A nose of basil and mint, toffee and blueberry, the Grenache shines on this with full-bodied richness up-front leading into a silky smooth finish of dark chocolate and cassis. This takes the best of each variety and makes something even better out of each.
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Excellent fruit and extraction. Plum and pepper are inviting another sip. A touch of heat on the nose and palate contribute to an overall sharpness but overall very good.
I think in a nice window but still on the young side, good for 2-5 years easily.
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Enjoyed this the first night, had with ribs while watching the Super Bowl. However, the fruit faded completely and I tossed the remainder after it sat in my cellar for 48 hours. 88 first night.
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Dark ruby with cherry and cedar nose. Dry tannins, fuller body and fruit, balanced toward the fruity side with nicely integrated tannins. Roast beef coming on strongly. Drinking very well now and should please those liking a bold red, not a fruit bomb, just a flavorful fruit driven wine with some acid and chewy tannins for complexity.
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Dark, sappy red. Nose: moderately aromatic. Dark fruit compote of blackberries, cherries, loganberries and raspberries. Black pepper and and crushed stone. Tobacco leaf. High tone of rose water. Palate: medium viscosity, lightweight but satiny tannins. Fruit is tarter on the palate than nose with a good amount of fresh, bright orange. Berry flavors of strawberry, raspberry and blackberry. Touch of white and black pepper. Lavender, thyme and oregano. Minerality isn't as strong on the palate, but there is some pencil lead/graphite. And a bit of greenness, just a touch. Finish: the greenness is stronger on the finish, but not in a bad way. Acidity stays bright and carries the orange. It also ups the tartness of the raspberry. At the end comes in some tar. Overall a very solid if uninspiring wine. Given how good a GSM you can get from Southern Rhone for less than half the cost of this bottle, it's a terrible value.
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This wine is really drinking well right now. Rosemary is prominent in the nose early on but is overpowered later on by a big whiff of fruitcake and sweet plum. The palate is rich and layered, sending waves of ripe fruit to finish with medium-grained tannins, strawberry and hints of anise. Tasted alongside a similarly-priced Chateauneuf-du-Pape from the same year, this was similar in many ways while showing more elegance and lively fruit. This is a lovely cuvee that shows the amazing potential of this regions for Rhone-style wines.
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Quick decant and drank over a few hours. Plum and rich fruit, not super balanced in my opinion. Probably need to sit more like others have suggested. Would buy again at $30.
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An undrinkable mess (for me, not for my wife) on night one, just vanilla cherry phosphate. Tiresome, flabby, vanillin and fermented grapes that could have come from anywhere. Sur maturite.
In the fridge for two nights (and served at 63F, not 68F), and we have an entirely different wine. One made for food, or cocktails, whatever. Still too much oak, but not so much that on night three the bright fruits can't zoom past it all. Potpourri, creamy red and black fruits, black licorice, grilled herbs and a lick of vanilla and toast. Dark ruby core, thick watery edge, and sensibly full-bodied (at 63F). I like this less and less as it warms up - the oak and EtOH take over and aren't very forgiving. Some minerals move in toward the end of the bottle, adding the only real piece of interest. With more time, this could move from good to very good, but it's got its work cut out for it if it wants to distinguish itself. As it is, the hot finish is not doing this any favors. Having said all that, I can't deny it's pretty tasty with a cheeseburger with the works. Give this another year or two. 14,8% abv, drink thru 2019
Herbal nose, dark fruit, plum flavors, full and smooth, nice mouthfeel, herbal notes on the end, reminds me of a Dom du Cayron. Very good wine, enjoying it except the finish is rather short so Im drinking it too fast.
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There is noticeable pepper over cherry in the nose and an extremely bright palate of raspberry and candied cherry finishing in a dry, herbal character that can only be described as garrigue. In the background is a touch of vanilla that accentuates the silky smooth mouthfeel and seems to last in the finish forever. More... http://aspectwine.tumblr.com/post/38444499649/2010-syncline-cuvee-elena
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Similar to 2007, Grenache makes up the largest part of this excellent blend. It needs some time to reach it's potential, but is already enjoyable. Pure fruit of strawberry and cherries with nice acidity, giving way to racy tanins with a solid backbone and finish of baking spices.
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8/28/2021 - merryberry Likes this wine: 88 Points
Rusty magenta. Caramel, oak spice, and earth nose. Medium bodied, dirty cranberries, black cherries, fully integrated tannins, some smoke and heat, and more red fruit on the medium to long finish. I think it probably passing its peak.
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12/24/2019 - MC2 Wines wrote:
Not the wine for me. Again I get the higher oak content and a bit more alcohol and overall just felt too overdone to me.
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10/14/2019 - djpo wrote: 89 Points
Full bodied, tasty though not unique.
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6/24/2019 - 1961Vintage Likes this wine: 92 Points
Notes consistent with previous. Wine continues to develop with a deep richness and improving balance. Nice pickup in 2013 at $21.
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9/8/2018 - Kevincrouch Likes this wine: 92 Points
Eight years and in its prime. A testament to the potential of high-end Syncline wines. Age aside, this wine brings me to Gigondas with a new world opulence. A nose of basil and mint, toffee and blueberry, the Grenache shines on this with full-bodied richness up-front leading into a silky smooth finish of dark chocolate and cassis. This takes the best of each variety and makes something even better out of each.
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12/5/2016 - Empirate wrote: 89 Points
Pop and pour, drank over 2+ hours.
Excellent fruit and extraction. Plum and pepper are inviting another sip. A touch of heat on the nose and palate contribute to an overall sharpness but overall very good.
I think in a nice window but still on the young side, good for 2-5 years easily.
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3/16/2016 - khmark7 wrote: 87 Points
Good extraction and body but also a little sour and unyielding. Should have paired this with grilled steak. Good, not great.
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2/9/2016 - skifree wrote: 86 Points
Enjoyed this the first night, had with ribs while watching the Super Bowl. However, the fruit faded completely and I tossed the remainder after it sat in my cellar for 48 hours. 88 first night.
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7/1/2015 - 1961Vintage Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wonderful richness at this $21 price point. Really enjoyed it.
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4/5/2015 - dsgris Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark ruby with cherry and cedar nose. Dry tannins, fuller body and fruit, balanced toward the fruity side with nicely integrated tannins. Roast beef coming on strongly. Drinking very well now and should please those liking a bold red, not a fruit bomb, just a flavorful fruit driven wine with some acid and chewy tannins for complexity.
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2/26/2015 - goodvitis.com wrote: 89 Points
Dark, sappy red. Nose: moderately aromatic. Dark fruit compote of blackberries, cherries, loganberries and raspberries. Black pepper and and crushed stone. Tobacco leaf. High tone of rose water. Palate: medium viscosity, lightweight but satiny tannins. Fruit is tarter on the palate than nose with a good amount of fresh, bright orange. Berry flavors of strawberry, raspberry and blackberry. Touch of white and black pepper. Lavender, thyme and oregano. Minerality isn't as strong on the palate, but there is some pencil lead/graphite. And a bit of greenness, just a touch. Finish: the greenness is stronger on the finish, but not in a bad way. Acidity stays bright and carries the orange. It also ups the tartness of the raspberry. At the end comes in some tar. Overall a very solid if uninspiring wine. Given how good a GSM you can get from Southern Rhone for less than half the cost of this bottle, it's a terrible value.
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12/29/2014 - Kevincrouch Likes this wine:
This wine is really drinking well right now. Rosemary is prominent in the nose early on but is overpowered later on by a big whiff of fruitcake and sweet plum. The palate is rich and layered, sending waves of ripe fruit to finish with medium-grained tannins, strawberry and hints of anise. Tasted alongside a similarly-priced Chateauneuf-du-Pape from the same year, this was similar in many ways while showing more elegance and lively fruit. This is a lovely cuvee that shows the amazing potential of this regions for Rhone-style wines.
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5/7/2014 - cpsmith33 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Quick decant and drank over a few hours. Plum and rich fruit, not super balanced in my opinion. Probably need to sit more like others have suggested. Would buy again at $30.
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1/25/2014 - Tim Heaton wrote:
An undrinkable mess (for me, not for my wife) on night one, just vanilla cherry phosphate. Tiresome, flabby, vanillin and fermented grapes that could have come from anywhere. Sur maturite.
In the fridge for two nights (and served at 63F, not 68F), and we have an entirely different wine. One made for food, or cocktails, whatever. Still too much oak, but not so much that on night three the bright fruits can't zoom past it all. Potpourri, creamy red and black fruits, black licorice, grilled herbs and a lick of vanilla and toast. Dark ruby core, thick watery edge, and sensibly full-bodied (at 63F). I like this less and less as it warms up - the oak and EtOH take over and aren't very forgiving. Some minerals move in toward the end of the bottle, adding the only real piece of interest. With more time, this could move from good to very good, but it's got its work cut out for it if it wants to distinguish itself. As it is, the hot finish is not doing this any favors. Having said all that, I can't deny it's pretty tasty with a cheeseburger with the works. Give this another year or two. 14,8% abv, drink thru 2019
57% Grenache, 32% Mourvedre, 5% Syrah, 5% Counoise, 1% Carignan
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12/23/2013 - J2K wrote:
Herbal nose, dark fruit, plum flavors, full and smooth, nice mouthfeel, herbal notes on the end, reminds me of a Dom du Cayron. Very good wine, enjoying it except the finish is rather short so Im drinking it too fast.
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3/6/2013 - Kevincrouch wrote:
There is noticeable pepper over cherry in the nose and an extremely bright palate of raspberry and candied cherry finishing in a dry, herbal character that can only be described as garrigue. In the background is a touch of vanilla that accentuates the silky smooth mouthfeel and seems to last in the finish forever. More...
http://aspectwine.tumblr.com/post/38444499649/2010-syncline-cuvee-elena
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9/6/2012 - Bluecollar wrote: 91 Points
Similar to 2007, Grenache makes up the largest part of this excellent blend. It needs some time to reach it's potential, but is already enjoyable. Pure fruit of strawberry and cherries with nice acidity, giving way to racy tanins with a solid backbone and finish of baking spices.
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