I brought this to a Syrah vs. Cabernet tasting at a NY Steakhouse. It was opened but not decanted for over 45 minutes before serving. This was a big hit with everyone. Full bodied, with more peppery notes than the Napa Syrah that also part of the tasting. My final bottle of this vintage, and I enjoyed them all.
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I'm getting some good licorice, pencil lead and dark fruits on the palate. Not a big syrah fan, especially after being subjected to syrah submersion living in Brisvegas (Brisbane, QLD, AU) for a spell. It would be better if it had a little more perfume on the nose. There's not much there, but a little meaty note. Hopefully will be good with the pork loin cooked in thyme, honey, balsamic, garlic, soy sauce all mixed up and slathered with Tunisian olive oil. I did not pay much for it, so it's a good value at a ~USD28 price point.
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Significant improvement from four years ago, when it seemed like a boring, over-extracted new world syrah. Now notable complexity and structure. None of the excess i noticed before.
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WOTN for my wine group. It was enjoyed by everyone. Opened, but not decanted for about an hour before we drank it. A medium-long finish. Nice peppery notes, some vanilla and some fennel notes, along with the fruit notes on the palate. Good bang for the buck!
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Popped 'n poured at a Turkish restaurant. It was the last wine of the night and maybe that is why I didn't enjoy this bottle as much as previous bottles. But most of the group loved it. It just seemed a touch muted to me, costing it a few points over my previous bottle of this wine.
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Purple, full-bodied, little bit of acid but no edges. Extracted and a little sweet and grapey. More complexity in the finish. Tasted blind, I would've guessed California. Not that interesting, particularly at the price.
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At a dinner for my wine group, we had the following (in order), 2013 Domaine Bzikot Bourgogne Blanc, 2012 Evening Land Pinot Noir – Seven Springs Vineyard, 2010 Martinelli Bondi Home Ranch Pinot Noir, 2012 The Farm Winery "Touchy Feely", 2012 Calder Syrah Truchard Vineyard Napa and the 2011 Paul Jaboulet Aine Cornas Domaine de Saint Pierre. All the wines were opened at least 45 minutes before we poured the first one, they were all capped with measured pourers.
More subtle than the Calder, I liked this one better.
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Had this as part of a Northern Rhone vs. Châteauneuf-du-Pape night. 4 CdP's and 3 Northerns. The wines were popped n' poured. An extended breathing time or a decant would have helped, as the wine continued to evolve in a positive way all through the dinner (which lasted about 2 1/2 hours). A little more fruit than the other Northern Rhones. A group favorite, and for the price, the QPR winner.
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Popped an poured, and had it next to a 2009 of the same wine that was decanted. Much more approachable than the 2009. While it evolved over the course of the meal, it was drinkable right away. Notes of raspberry, licorice, and cola. This was very enjoyable. The 2009 is better, and I'm not sure of the aging potential, but right now, its a very good wine.
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12/2/2022 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 93 Points
I brought this to a Syrah vs. Cabernet tasting at a NY Steakhouse. It was opened but not decanted for over 45 minutes before serving. This was a big hit with everyone. Full bodied, with more peppery notes than the Napa Syrah that also part of the tasting. My final bottle of this vintage, and I enjoyed them all.
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10/29/2021 - Þórr Þunraz Likes this wine: 92 Points
I'm getting some good licorice, pencil lead and dark fruits on the palate. Not a big syrah fan, especially after being subjected to syrah submersion living in Brisvegas (Brisbane, QLD, AU) for a spell. It would be better if it had a little more perfume on the nose. There's not much there, but a little meaty note. Hopefully will be good with the pork loin cooked in thyme, honey, balsamic, garlic, soy sauce all mixed up and slathered with Tunisian olive oil. I did not pay much for it, so it's a good value at a ~USD28 price point.
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12/25/2020 - kronfeld wrote:
Significant improvement from four years ago, when it seemed like a boring, over-extracted new world syrah. Now notable complexity and structure. None of the excess i noticed before.
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4/16/2019 - Burgundy Al wrote: 89 Points
Découvertes en Vallée du Rhône; 4/15/2019-4/16/2019 (Ampuis, Mauves and Tain-l'Hermitage): Walk around tasting talking with the producers, brief note. From 3 plots near each at high elevation. Black fruit with subtle spice hints in a charming, elegant style. Good+ balance. Good now through the next decade.
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6/4/2018 - IvanKrazy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking excellent right now!
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9/17/2017 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 93 Points
WOTN for my wine group. It was enjoyed by everyone. Opened, but not decanted for about an hour before we drank it. A medium-long finish. Nice peppery notes, some vanilla and some fennel notes, along with the fruit notes on the palate. Good bang for the buck!
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4/18/2017 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 91 Points
Popped 'n poured at a Turkish restaurant. It was the last wine of the night and maybe that is why I didn't enjoy this bottle as much as previous bottles. But most of the group loved it. It just seemed a touch muted to me, costing it a few points over my previous bottle of this wine.
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12/20/2016 - cos65 Likes this wine:
Wait
Served blind and immediately upon opening, this was very disappointing; I guessed generic supermarket Bordeaux from 2011, thin and hollow.
An hour later this is rich and showing rich, but bone dry fruit, tobacco.
Wait...
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10/3/2016 - kronfeld wrote: 88 Points
Purple, full-bodied, little bit of acid but no edges. Extracted and a little sweet and grapey. More complexity in the finish. Tasted blind, I would've guessed California. Not that interesting, particularly at the price.
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9/20/2016 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 93 Points
At a dinner for my wine group, we had the following (in order), 2013 Domaine Bzikot Bourgogne Blanc, 2012 Evening Land Pinot Noir – Seven Springs Vineyard,
2010 Martinelli Bondi Home Ranch Pinot Noir, 2012 The Farm Winery "Touchy Feely", 2012 Calder Syrah Truchard Vineyard Napa and the 2011 Paul Jaboulet Aine Cornas Domaine de Saint Pierre. All the wines were opened at least 45 minutes before we poured the first one, they were all capped with measured pourers.
More subtle than the Calder, I liked this one better.
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7/18/2016 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had this as part of a Northern Rhone vs. Châteauneuf-du-Pape night. 4 CdP's and 3 Northerns. The wines were popped n' poured. An extended breathing time or a decant would have helped, as the wine continued to evolve in a positive way all through the dinner (which lasted about 2 1/2 hours). A little more fruit than the other Northern Rhones. A group favorite, and for the price, the QPR winner.
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12/9/2015 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 92 Points
Popped an poured, and had it next to a 2009 of the same wine that was decanted. Much more approachable than the 2009. While it evolved over the course of the meal, it was drinkable right away. Notes of raspberry, licorice, and cola. This was very enjoyable. The 2009 is better, and I'm not sure of the aging potential, but right now, its a very good wine.
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