This is really hitting its’ stride. Wonderful spice. After a couple hours open it really unwound and the red fruit exploded. Seamless across the palate, mouthwatering acidity begs another sip. A true joy to drink. California Syrah royalty.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with LOVELY, almost swtish frt DEFTLY offset by a tangy acidity which pretty much controls thing through the very LONG, impeccably balanced finish with the barest hints of very, VERY fine tannins to firm. SENSATIONAL, & should make its 25th without difficulty, though since it's drinking *perfectly* right now... ;) 14.5% ABV; My EXCEPTIONAL!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner with Mike Grammer (Pera, San Francisco): Lovely clean nose with smoke, red fruit, meaty/gamey notes; palate has clean red fruit, balanced acidity, medium-full bodied. I think this is ready to drink now but still young and will last a while if needed. Excellent. My last bottle. 93 Update: Held up well on day 2 and 3. This likely has more life left in it. Excellent wine!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cork broke while taking it out but good seal, no leaking. Deep color with only the slightest hint of bricking; nose initially had a woody funk but that blew off, now shows deep concentrated fruit with complex hints of smoke and grilled meat, even faint hints of floral or violet; palate has great density with supple mouthfeel, full bodied but with enough acidity throughout to keep it light, juicy blackberry and strawberry fruit with well integrated but still present tannins that provide just the right amount of structure, midpalate continues to show the juicy fruit, not the slightest hint of excess alcohol; finish has persistent fruit and great acidity that cleans the palate and gets you ready for the next sip or next bite of food. This is a fantastic well made syrah with a lovely balance of ripe fruit, balanced tannic and acidic structure, and faint hints to old-world aromas. 100% ready to drink now and the fruit may start to fade soon, but I may decide to wait on my last bottle for a year for experimental reasons to see if it develops any more tertiary characteristics. 93-94. A bit more explosiveness in the flavors would have earned it another 1-2 points. Next time: Decant for 15 minutes then serve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose shows a little wet earth and mushroom, palate is loaded with intense, lush boysenberry and raspberry fruit, with a tight acidity to bring it into focus on the lingering finish. Drinking very well now, seemingly in the middle of a long drinking plateau. No rush, but drinking perfectly now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Stunning. Supple, elegant, but with firm power backing it all up. The acidity was still quite bright, but not out of balance. Nice notes of tobacco, pure brambly fruit, wild shoe polish and Sharpie notes and a somewhat creamy finish. This is drinking extremely well now and is a current favorite wine for this very reason. Wow. 94pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped & poured. After an hour the wine opens up to a delicate nose of dark berries. Medium to full bodied, dark red fruits, some bacon and soft minerals on the palate. Still slightly tannic, a nice but almost tart finish. Good syrah, but not the best Dehlinger I've had.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really a nice wine. Consumed at a restaurant in undersized glasses, which muted the nose. Evolved wonderfully over an hour or so, and paired well with red meat. Underripe red fruit and blackberry with nuances of smoke and leather. Later a more prominent bing cherry flavor. Still feels young, and should age easily for several more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I found this bottle in the back of my cellar--what a happy surprise. After opening, this bottle evolved in a positive direction for at least an hour.
On the nose, there are minerals, blood/iron, and most predominantly (as Grinner says) roasted flavors of earth and herbs, and cassis. This wine is sweet on the palate, with rich and pure, CA-style dark berry fruit and cherries.
Pretty impressive overall and a great match for Labor day burgers; I need to get back on this mailing list!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still a nice color, w/ pepper, spice, and leather on the nose. A noticeable hit of etoh, but not a distraction w/ some black fruit mixed into the meaty/herbal flavors. Fun wine when you weren't looking for just another fruit bomb New World syrah. Plenty of time left.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
10/1/2021 - River Rat Likes this wine:
This is really hitting its’ stride. Wonderful spice. After a couple hours open it really unwound and the red fruit exploded. Seamless across the palate, mouthwatering acidity begs another sip. A true joy to drink. California Syrah royalty.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Friday Tasting Group; Syrahs/Shirazes (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): N: Fragrant, complex? [But can't parse]; Intensity lurking?
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with LOVELY, almost swtish frt DEFTLY offset by a tangy acidity which pretty much controls thing through the very LONG, impeccably balanced finish with the barest hints of very, VERY fine tannins to firm. SENSATIONAL, & should make its 25th without difficulty, though since it's drinking *perfectly* right now... ;) 14.5% ABV; My EXCEPTIONAL!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/29/2014 - johnpaladino55@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
opened and aereated about an hour before consuming. The wine paired very well with grilled lamb. Nice dark fruit, blackberry with an excellent finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2012 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 88 Points
WineBerserkers Offline with Mike Grammar (Pera Restaurant, San Francisco, California): Very dark red violet color; ripe black fruit, blackberry, roasted black fruit nose; a little disjointed, thinning, roasted black fruit palate; medium finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2012 - aagrawal wrote: 93 Points
Dinner with Mike Grammer (Pera, San Francisco): Lovely clean nose with smoke, red fruit, meaty/gamey notes; palate has clean red fruit, balanced acidity, medium-full bodied. I think this is ready to drink now but still young and will last a while if needed. Excellent. My last bottle. 93
Update: Held up well on day 2 and 3. This likely has more life left in it. Excellent wine!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2011 - aagrawal wrote: 93 Points
Cork broke while taking it out but good seal, no leaking. Deep color with only the slightest hint of bricking; nose initially had a woody funk but that blew off, now shows deep concentrated fruit with complex hints of smoke and grilled meat, even faint hints of floral or violet; palate has great density with supple mouthfeel, full bodied but with enough acidity throughout to keep it light, juicy blackberry and strawberry fruit with well integrated but still present tannins that provide just the right amount of structure, midpalate continues to show the juicy fruit, not the slightest hint of excess alcohol; finish has persistent fruit and great acidity that cleans the palate and gets you ready for the next sip or next bite of food. This is a fantastic well made syrah with a lovely balance of ripe fruit, balanced tannic and acidic structure, and faint hints to old-world aromas. 100% ready to drink now and the fruit may start to fade soon, but I may decide to wait on my last bottle for a year for experimental reasons to see if it develops any more tertiary characteristics. 93-94. A bit more explosiveness in the flavors would have earned it another 1-2 points.
Next time: Decant for 15 minutes then serve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2011 - alanr Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nose shows a little wet earth and mushroom, palate is loaded with intense, lush boysenberry and raspberry fruit, with a tight acidity to bring it into focus on the lingering finish. Drinking very well now, seemingly in the middle of a long drinking plateau. No rush, but drinking perfectly now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2008 - Pool Boy wrote: 94 Points
Stunning. Supple, elegant, but with firm power backing it all up. The acidity was still quite bright, but not out of balance. Nice notes of tobacco, pure brambly fruit, wild shoe polish and Sharpie notes and a somewhat creamy finish. This is drinking extremely well now and is a current favorite wine for this very reason. Wow. 94pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/7/2008 - drend wrote: 88 Points
Liked this one a lot
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2008 - davergny wrote: 91 Points
Better bottle than last time. Sweeter, tannins resolved, better finish. Soft, with low acidity, still lacks complexity though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2007 - davergny wrote: 88 Points
Popped & poured. After an hour the wine opens up to a delicate nose of dark berries. Medium to full bodied, dark red fruits, some bacon and soft minerals on the palate. Still slightly tannic, a nice but almost tart finish. Good syrah, but not the best Dehlinger I've had.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2007 - JDRFoster wrote: 92 Points
Really a nice wine. Consumed at a restaurant in undersized glasses, which muted the nose. Evolved wonderfully over an hour or so, and paired well with red meat. Underripe red fruit and blackberry with nuances of smoke and leather. Later a more prominent bing cherry flavor. Still feels young, and should age easily for several more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/3/2007 - vendange wrote: 90 Points
I found this bottle in the back of my cellar--what a happy surprise. After opening, this bottle evolved in a positive direction for at least an hour.
On the nose, there are minerals, blood/iron, and most predominantly (as Grinner says) roasted flavors of earth and herbs, and cassis. This wine is sweet on the palate, with rich and pure, CA-style dark berry fruit and cherries.
Pretty impressive overall and a great match for Labor day burgers; I need to get back on this mailing list!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/22/2006 - Grinner wrote: 89 Points
Still a nice color, w/ pepper, spice, and leather on the nose. A noticeable hit of etoh, but not a distraction w/ some black fruit mixed into the meaty/herbal flavors. Fun wine when you weren't looking for just another fruit bomb New World syrah. Plenty of time left.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/2/2006 - simba-mk@cox.net wrote: 94 Points
With grilled Prime filet mignon-decanted one hour, full nose of dark fruit, spice and leather, smooth body and finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2006 - Jack wrote: 91 Points
Muted and a little unpleasant at first. After an hour it opened up nicely. 2nd night not much going on.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2006 - Jack wrote: 89 Points
Better than the last bottle I had of this. Tart sour cherry. Best with food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2005 - Jack wrote: 87 Points
High acid and weak fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment