Do not even think about drinking this wine without an extensive decant. I would even suggest 24 hours. We tried this after a few days of cabs and pinot noirs--needless to say this was quite different!! Upon popping the cork, the nose was rather off-putting. After a few hours the typical big petite sirah characteristics began to show through. Big black ink, spice, anise, minerals, etc. If you are a fan of big fruit, this isn't your wine--it is unique and has tons of savory and tertiary characteristics. I actually think this would age for several more years.
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Popped and poured, consumed over 1 hour. Nose: Muted sense of dark fruit and flowers, not very giving at the moment. Palate: Full bodied, black fruit, licorice, and earthiness which linger through a 20-30 second finish. This seemed closed down and not very giving. It was served at a dinner party and only lasted an hour, given another hour or two to breath it may have opened up a bit.
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Seems too one dimensional at this stage. Yes big fruit and very well rounded, but very little on the complexity front for a wine at this price point. Perhaps the reason why the auction pricing is 50% less than retail.
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Popped and poured. Petite Syrah makes up most of this wine and it shows. Fruit still very primary, decently balanced. Suggest holding a few more years.
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Coming along nicely, but I don't think it's going to evolve much further. Wine maker is saying drink now. Not as powerful as other vintages, good fruit but doesn't feel that structured. I should have decanted, for along time, but unfortunately I took it to a dinner.
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Though I have been a fan of Sumos past, this 2011 was incredibly disjointed for me at the moment. The floral and lemon citrus components of the Viognier almost completely overshadowed any other notes; offering only slivers of blue/black fruits. Distractingly high-toned and clipped.
A total of two hours in the decanter helped some, but not much. Like eating violet pedals and pulverized granite with pomegranate juice. I had the 2011 6+ months ago and the experience was similar, which is concerning. Will hold remaining bottles until 2017+ in hopes a better bottle-integrated Sumo emerges.
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Certainly the best Keplinger from 2011. Whereas I would drink their other 2011 offerings soon, I think this is still on the way to its apogee. Enjoyable today with a 60-120 minute decant.
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This one surprised me. I was not as enamored with these 2011's on release. I have not had one in a while, but this one really showed well. Black raspberries, blueberries, some mint and some charcoal on the nose. Nice silky but full bodied texture. Juicy acidity. Nothing under ripe here nor is it raisined. Lots of black raspberries on the palate. Pop and pour, this took only a bit to get started and then drank great.
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Backwards as all heck but not brooding or closed, this was better on day 1, when the subtle notes of lavender, charcoal, eucalyptus, and white chocolate had a chance to compete with the wall of dark blue fruit, which has less of the smooth glycerin lift than previous vintages but still carries its weight better than most Petites. Powdery tannins show up at the end and got more bite as the bottle was open. While delicious and drinkable, this should get lost in the cellar for a decade or so.
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Keplinger Tasting (Domaine Wine Storage - Chicago, IL): Very young and a total brute. I liked this more than the 2007 since there was at least more going on than just the alcohol's heat. Still, not my style of wine at all...amped up flavors with zero elegance.
Drank at the WFFT auction mtg. Felt very young, needing 2-3 more years to integrate. Strong red berry flavors as well as earthy notes are there, but not aligned.
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Decanted for 2 hours. Nose is completely closed. Just barely detectable blackberry. Barely. Mouthfeel is medium weight. Finish is extremely subtle blackberry and lemon essence with an astringent finish. My first Keplinger, I was hoping for more pronounced flavor. I would almost peg this as a French wine in the 13% alcohol range.
-- Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
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2/28/2021 - phishky Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is singing beautifully now. Lovely mouthfeel and silky tannins.
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12/29/2018 - papabluez wrote: 91 Points
Do not even think about drinking this wine without an extensive decant. I would even suggest 24 hours. We tried this after a few days of cabs and pinot noirs--needless to say this was quite different!! Upon popping the cork, the nose was rather off-putting. After a few hours the typical big petite sirah characteristics began to show through. Big black ink, spice, anise, minerals, etc. If you are a fan of big fruit, this isn't your wine--it is unique and has tons of savory and tertiary characteristics. I actually think this would age for several more years.
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4/15/2018 - prasm Likes this wine: 89 Points
Popped and poured, consumed over 1 hour. Nose: Muted sense of dark fruit and flowers, not very giving at the moment. Palate: Full bodied, black fruit, licorice, and earthiness which linger through a 20-30 second finish. This seemed closed down and not very giving. It was served at a dinner party and only lasted an hour, given another hour or two to breath it may have opened up a bit.
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12/24/2017 - 1961Vintage Likes this wine: 94 Points
Superb. Best Keplinger I have enjoyed to date. Bright bing cherry and several other layers of flavor profile. Still overpriced.
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2/20/2017 - 1961Vintage wrote: 88 Points
Seems too one dimensional at this stage. Yes big fruit and very well rounded, but very little on the complexity front for a wine at this price point. Perhaps the reason why the auction pricing is 50% less than retail.
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10/4/2016 - BigTex22 wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured. Petite Syrah makes up most of this wine and it shows. Fruit still very primary, decently balanced. Suggest holding a few more years.
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11/30/2015 - DavidDay Likes this wine: 90 Points
This wine is drinking well right now, tannin has pretty resolved itself, I think it has about a 3-5 year drinking window starting now.
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11/7/2015 - Tyler C Likes this wine: 90 Points
Coming along nicely, but I don't think it's going to evolve much further. Wine maker is saying drink now. Not as powerful as other vintages, good fruit but doesn't feel that structured. I should have decanted, for along time, but unfortunately I took it to a dinner.
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8/12/2015 - csimm wrote: 87 Points
Though I have been a fan of Sumos past, this 2011 was incredibly disjointed for me at the moment. The floral and lemon citrus components of the Viognier almost completely overshadowed any other notes; offering only slivers of blue/black fruits. Distractingly high-toned and clipped.
A total of two hours in the decanter helped some, but not much. Like eating violet pedals and pulverized granite with pomegranate juice. I had the 2011 6+ months ago and the experience was similar, which is concerning. Will hold remaining bottles until 2017+ in hopes a better bottle-integrated Sumo emerges.
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8/4/2015 - StageOneRacing Likes this wine: 91 Points
Juicy dark fruit and plum with a big long tannic finish.
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6/28/2015 - Ilikadajuice wrote: 91 Points
Better on day 2
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6/27/2015 - fournet Likes this wine: 90 Points
Certainly the best Keplinger from 2011. Whereas I would drink their other 2011 offerings soon, I think this is still on the way to its apogee. Enjoyable today with a 60-120 minute decant.
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6/22/2015 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 92 Points
This one surprised me. I was not as enamored with these 2011's on release. I have not had one in a while, but this one really showed well. Black raspberries, blueberries, some mint and some charcoal on the nose. Nice silky but full bodied texture. Juicy acidity. Nothing under ripe here nor is it raisined. Lots of black raspberries on the palate. Pop and pour, this took only a bit to get started and then drank great.
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3/21/2015 - silton Likes this wine: 90 Points
Backwards as all heck but not brooding or closed, this was better on day 1, when the subtle notes of lavender, charcoal, eucalyptus, and white chocolate had a chance to compete with the wall of dark blue fruit, which has less of the smooth glycerin lift than previous vintages but still carries its weight better than most Petites. Powdery tannins show up at the end and got more bite as the bottle was open. While delicious and drinkable, this should get lost in the cellar for a decade or so.
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2/14/2015 - Castle Peak wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured. Tasty and fruit forward. Rich, smoky and toasty oak notes. While 2011 was a challenging vintage, this is quite enjoyable.
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9/12/2014 - fournet wrote:
Needs more time, but I think there is potential here. If you have now, decant a couple hours.
Some nice acidity, but it is overpowered by a tannic, dry finish.
Petite Sirah definitely the primary grape here, and as the tannins settle and the fruit becomes more evident, I think the PS will shine through.
I suspect this will improve for a decade or more.
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3/5/2014 - tooch wrote: 76 Points
Keplinger Tasting (Domaine Wine Storage - Chicago, IL): Very young and a total brute. I liked this more than the 2007 since there was at least more going on than just the alcohol's heat. Still, not my style of wine at all...amped up flavors with zero elegance.
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11/21/2013 - danielbleier wrote:
Drank at the WFFT auction mtg. Felt very young, needing 2-3 more years to integrate. Strong red berry flavors as well as earthy notes are there, but not aligned.
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11/16/2013 - Gestalted wrote: 87 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Nose is completely closed. Just barely detectable blackberry. Barely. Mouthfeel is medium weight. Finish is extremely subtle blackberry and lemon essence with an astringent finish. My first Keplinger, I was hoping for more pronounced flavor. I would almost peg this as a French wine in the 13% alcohol range.
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Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
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