In a magic space - perfect balance of fruit, secondary and terciary flavours. Nice complex blend of dark fruits, leather, hints of tea, truffle, sweet spices and cherry. Melted tannins. Long and lingering. What a surprise.
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Qui a parlé de bois ? Tout est complètement intégré, et aucune sucrosité n'est ici présente. Un vin plein, savoureux, fondu mais encore tonique et plein d'énergie. C'était ma dernière bouteille, mais elle pouvait attendre plusieurs années. Très bon vin.
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Après un léger carafage, le bois est encore présent, ainsi qu'une légère sucrosité typique des vins de ce producteur. le lendemain, c'est splendide, tout ceci a disparu au profit d'un grand vin tendu et sapide, formidable. Cela me laisse penser qu'il a encore du temps devant lui.
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Deep dark red center, red to pink rim with faint signs of age. Sweet, tarry nose, plummy syrah, olives, raspberries. Smooth, grapey red fruits, a touch of acid and tannin in the middle, slightly bubblegum, nice finish of herbs, dust and jammy fruit. A joy to drink now (much more closed in its youth). Will last 2 or 3 more years.
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I bought this at a great price largely based on critics' scores, and I'm sorry I did. Everything about this wine is just a shame. It's a shame I paid any money for it, and it's a shame that a wine that has good fruit and nice acidity needed to be sabotaged with so much oak that one may think there's a whole oak tree in the bottle. All I could taste was roast coffee flavors and burnt, scorched earth. The oak is so prevalent that it's just plain ridiculous. I don't think this can even be used for cooking. It's not often that I flat out hate a wine, but this one I do...it is truly vile. Stay away from it as far as you can. DNPIM.
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Popped and poured. Showed very well. Nice dark cool fruit, touch of white pepper, not huge, but a big juicy mid-palate. A pleasure to drink - just the right wood treatment, a little toasty note. Wish I bought more.
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After a holiday season of 'big' American wines, this really hit the spot. Consistent with previous notes -- showing lively fruit and minerals. Compared to the previous week's wines, the oak here was welcome.
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From 2nd 6 pack; ordered and shipped in months after last bottle. Still the same wine. Sorry, I love it; oak or no oak. To me this is balanced. Great fruit, spice, mineral and length.
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Translucent ruby red color. Smells overwhelmingly of oak. The palate is better with a good texture and some nice fruit, but I still taste mostly wood. Finish has good length, but this wine is a true oak monster. Very disappointing wine. Maybe it's just in a weird phase, but I wouldn't bet on it. Only $23 at release, so at least not a lot of money was wasted. I will decant overnight in the cellar and see where this is headed by tomorrow. Folks with high oak tolerance may like this wine a lot more than I.
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Very close to a WOW. Bright garnet color. Spectacular nose of red cherry, spice, a touch of white pepper, smoke and mineral. Palate was surprisingly light on its feet for having so much flavor. Finished with nice acidity and minerals. I was a little afraid that this was going to be a jammy fruit bomb with oak -- not even close. Must find more of this.
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12/20/2020 - thomaskeil Likes this wine: 92 Points
Similar to my note from 2009. No decline at all.
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2/3/2013 - sharonandroland Likes this wine: 93 Points
In a magic space - perfect balance of fruit, secondary and terciary flavours. Nice complex blend of dark fruits, leather, hints of tea, truffle, sweet spices and cherry. Melted tannins. Long and lingering. What a surprise.
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6/18/2012 - vinum bonum wrote:
Qui a parlé de bois ? Tout est complètement intégré, et aucune sucrosité n'est ici présente. Un vin plein, savoureux, fondu mais encore tonique et plein d'énergie. C'était ma dernière bouteille, mais elle pouvait attendre plusieurs années. Très bon vin.
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3/17/2012 - pdadams66 wrote: 86 Points
Oak is becoming dominant. Will this get better?
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7/25/2011 - pdadams66 wrote: 88 Points
Solid Crozes. Meaty syrah flavours, blackberry fruit, balanced with good acidity. Good now, but will last a few more years.
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7/18/2011 - vinum bonum wrote:
Un super vin, qui est loin d'avoir dit son dernier mot : gros jus, encore tonique. Attendre la dernière bouteille deux ou trois ans.
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3/18/2011 - rmodak wrote: 89 Points
Pleasant enough and ready to drink with blackberry, black pepper, and meaty notes on a trim frame with crisp finish. Went great with roast chicken.
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2/21/2011 - vinum bonum wrote:
Après un léger carafage, le bois est encore présent, ainsi qu'une légère sucrosité typique des vins de ce producteur. le lendemain, c'est splendide, tout ceci a disparu au profit d'un grand vin tendu et sapide, formidable. Cela me laisse penser qu'il a encore du temps devant lui.
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4/13/2010 - pdadams66 wrote: 88 Points
Deep dark red center, red to pink rim with faint signs of age.
Sweet, tarry nose, plummy syrah, olives, raspberries.
Smooth, grapey red fruits, a touch of acid and tannin in the middle, slightly bubblegum, nice finish of herbs, dust and jammy fruit.
A joy to drink now (much more closed in its youth). Will last 2 or 3 more years.
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12/24/2009 - vinum bonum wrote:
Désormais prêt à boire, le bois est complètement intégré dans une belle matière, qui s'est affinée. Excellent, à boire sur 5 ans.
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9/27/2009 - steffenpelz wrote:
I bought this at a great price largely based on critics' scores, and I'm sorry I did. Everything about this wine is just a shame. It's a shame I paid any money for it, and it's a shame that a wine that has good fruit and nice acidity needed to be sabotaged with so much oak that one may think there's a whole oak tree in the bottle. All I could taste was roast coffee flavors and burnt, scorched earth. The oak is so prevalent that it's just plain ridiculous. I don't think this can even be used for cooking. It's not often that I flat out hate a wine, but this one I do...it is truly vile. Stay away from it as far as you can. DNPIM.
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2/9/2009 - thomaskeil wrote: 91 Points
This is still going strong with fresh spicy cherries on the nose and palate. Seems to have less overt vanilla/oak and more mineral than before.
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5/25/2008 - David J Cooper wrote:
Very nice. 5th bottle of the night so no real note. Nice young, ready to drink Syrah.
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3/18/2008 - David J Cooper wrote:
Deep red. Smoky black pepper and lots of red fruit. Long dry finish. there is oak but well integrated with the fruit.
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1/17/2008 - gzim wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured. Showed very well. Nice dark cool fruit, touch of white pepper, not huge, but a big juicy mid-palate. A pleasure to drink - just the right wood treatment, a little toasty note. Wish I bought more.
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12/28/2007 - thomaskeil wrote: 91 Points
After a holiday season of 'big' American wines, this really hit the spot. Consistent with previous notes -- showing lively fruit and minerals. Compared to the previous week's wines, the oak here was welcome.
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5/8/2007 - thomaskeil wrote: 92 Points
From 2nd 6 pack; ordered and shipped in months after last bottle. Still the same wine. Sorry, I love it; oak or no oak. To me this is balanced. Great fruit, spice, mineral and length.
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3/6/2007 - steffenpelz wrote: 83 Points
Translucent ruby red color. Smells overwhelmingly of oak. The palate is better with a good texture and some nice fruit, but I still taste mostly wood. Finish has good length, but this wine is a true oak monster. Very disappointing wine. Maybe it's just in a weird phase, but I wouldn't bet on it. Only $23 at release, so at least not a lot of money was wasted. I will decant overnight in the cellar and see where this is headed by tomorrow. Folks with high oak tolerance may like this wine a lot more than I.
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2/3/2007 - thomaskeil wrote: 92 Points
Very close to a WOW. Bright garnet color. Spectacular nose of red cherry, spice, a touch of white pepper, smoke and mineral. Palate was surprisingly light on its feet for having so much flavor. Finished with nice acidity and minerals. I was a little afraid that this was going to be a jammy fruit bomb with oak -- not even close. Must find more of this.
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