It's a Petite Sirah, so it should last for many more years without a dramatic decline, but I think it peaked in 2019-2021 when its structure had relaxed from its youth, but still had all that rich purple fruit. It's still plenty fruity, along with cocoa and herbs, teeth staining to be sure but not as good as some other Sumos. More fussy on day 2. There was a lot of fine grained sediment that required patience as cheese cloth wouldn't do and the metal strainer drained slowly and needed to be rinsed after every 6-7oz pour.
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I don’t like wines like this much anymore as my palate has shifted to more old world style wines. This is definitely new world. Decanted briefly. Dark purple with a sweet bouquet of charred rustic oak and blueberry compote. On the palate, bursting with smoked blueberry with a silky finish and fine tannins. This wine is BIG and it’s well made. Finish is long, and it appears to have many years ahead of it given the powerful fruit and still integrating oak. If you’re into these wines, you’ll be well rewarded. Nice as a cocktail wine...not sure what I’d pair this with (a stew?).
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4 hour decant. Dark inky color. Black fruits and pencil lead flavors give way to blue and black fruits with a long soft grip. Wow. This wine is why I joined the Keplinger list 6 years ago.
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A nice sumo. I really like the lower use of Viognier. But the 2013 is by far the best Sumo of all time, in my opinion. As with all Sumo's needs lots of air time. Decanted for 2 hours and still continued to open up and fruits really started to come out at the end of the dinner.
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1 hour decant. immensely improved after four. dense, inky purple. tar, gravel, dry brush, licorice, meat, and black fruit nose. some licorice. VA. full, gravelly tannin. alcohol. huge. blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, iron, and black soil palate with a long finish. general impression is austere but royal. a stalwart.
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This is fabulous. Layers and layers of persistent rich ripe flavors, spices and textures. In near perfect balance. Maybe the best wine I have tasted in 2017.
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Deep, dark and concentrated. Very tannic yet. Benefits from a 2-3 hr decant. No sediment. Very good, try to hold onto for a few more years before drinking.
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A vibrant magenta color, with a bit of a muted nose; some alcohol on the first whiff, with not much fruit/berry aromas detected.
PnP with initial notes of boysenberry, blueberry, raspberry liqueur, violets, and pumice. A strong chalky grip on the initial finish.
An hour in the decanter fattened this wine up nicely (not completely, but "nicely"), especially in terms of texturally. A velvety and smooth finish. The chalkiness faded significantly, leaving a soft and voluptuous coating on the palate.
I would say this is one of the best Sumos I've had, with good, fresh berry fruit flavors and a dark, solid core without being heavy at all. The Viognier component (which has been very distracting in other vintages) barely shows its presence (thankfully), but just enough to add a little lift to the often-thick PS and Syrah flavors. A very balanced and seemingly seamless wine.
Should be better in a year. If drinking now, decant for an hour+.
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Delicious rocket fuel. All power yet controlled just enough - at least for my palate. If you like 'em big, try one now. Otherwise wait. Long life ahead.
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Upon opening, nose was bright and full. First taste wine was tight and a little one dimensional. Continued drinking for a good three hours and by then wine opened up to this graceful yet big bold wine showing great fruit and just the right amount of spice note. Ideally, lay down for a few more years.
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"Amador, 68% Petite Sirah, 11% Syrah, 3% Viognier Also from Shake Ridge Vineyard, this wine shows crazy intensity from Ann’s impeccable viticulture. The two petite Sirah blocks were harvested in two picks and cofermented with Viognier, then blended with Syrah. It is such a fun wine – intense and concentrated, brooding and dark but with high notes of star gazer lily, white flowers, ginger, and black peppercorn. It is an immense wine, but always finishes light on its feet. The art of Sumo."
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2/9/2024 - mdvillaverde Likes this wine: 94 Points
68% Petite Sirah, 11% Syrah, 3% Viognier. A dense, inky, chewy wine. I gave it 2 hours out of the bottle.
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2/20/2023 - silton Likes this wine: 92 Points
It's a Petite Sirah, so it should last for many more years without a dramatic decline, but I think it peaked in 2019-2021 when its structure had relaxed from its youth, but still had all that rich purple fruit. It's still plenty fruity, along with cocoa and herbs, teeth staining to be sure but not as good as some other Sumos. More fussy on day 2. There was a lot of fine grained sediment that required patience as cheese cloth wouldn't do and the metal strainer drained slowly and needed to be rinsed after every 6-7oz pour.
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6/7/2019 - BigTex22 Likes this wine: 93 Points
I don’t like wines like this much anymore as my palate has shifted to more old world style wines. This is definitely new world. Decanted briefly. Dark purple with a sweet bouquet of charred rustic oak and blueberry compote. On the palate, bursting with smoked blueberry with a silky finish and fine tannins. This wine is BIG and it’s well made. Finish is long, and it appears to have many years ahead of it given the powerful fruit and still integrating oak. If you’re into these wines, you’ll be well rewarded. Nice as a cocktail wine...not sure what I’d pair this with (a stew?).
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4/16/2019 - PasoWallaWill Likes this wine: 93 Points
4 hour decant. Dark inky color. Black fruits and pencil lead flavors give way to blue and black fruits with a long soft grip. Wow. This wine is why I joined the Keplinger list 6 years ago.
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3/14/2018 - Tyler C Likes this wine: 91 Points
A nice sumo. I really like the lower use of Viognier. But the 2013 is by far the best Sumo of all time, in my opinion. As with all Sumo's needs lots of air time. Decanted for 2 hours and still continued to open up and fruits really started to come out at the end of the dinner.
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3/11/2018 - respieth@gmail.com wrote: 87 Points
Too jammy for my taste.
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12/3/2017 - bps2266 wrote: 91 Points
1 hour decant. immensely improved after four. dense, inky purple. tar, gravel, dry brush, licorice, meat, and black fruit nose. some licorice. VA. full, gravelly tannin. alcohol. huge. blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, iron, and black soil palate with a long finish. general impression is austere but royal. a stalwart.
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8/29/2017 - Castle Peak wrote: 95 Points
This is fabulous. Layers and layers of persistent rich ripe flavors, spices and textures. In near perfect balance. Maybe the best wine I have tasted in 2017.
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1/14/2017 - Eguielebron Likes this wine: 87 Points
Taninos muy rusticos, buena fruta. Muy mineral y monolítico.
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7/28/2016 - silton Likes this wine:
Has tightened up since bottle #1 but drinkable. Hold.
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1/26/2016 - McWing11 wrote: 92 Points
Deep, dark and concentrated. Very tannic yet. Benefits from a 2-3 hr decant. No sediment. Very good, try to hold onto for a few more years before drinking.
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1/7/2016 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
A vibrant magenta color, with a bit of a muted nose; some alcohol on the first whiff, with not much fruit/berry aromas detected.
PnP with initial notes of boysenberry, blueberry, raspberry liqueur, violets, and pumice. A strong chalky grip on the initial finish.
An hour in the decanter fattened this wine up nicely (not completely, but "nicely"), especially in terms of texturally. A velvety and smooth finish. The chalkiness faded significantly, leaving a soft and voluptuous coating on the palate.
I would say this is one of the best Sumos I've had, with good, fresh berry fruit flavors and a dark, solid core without being heavy at all. The Viognier component (which has been very distracting in other vintages) barely shows its presence (thankfully), but just enough to add a little lift to the often-thick PS and Syrah flavors. A very balanced and seemingly seamless wine.
Should be better in a year. If drinking now, decant for an hour+.
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11/7/2015 - grayfont Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious rocket fuel. All power yet controlled just enough - at least for my palate. If you like 'em big, try one now. Otherwise wait. Long life ahead.
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8/1/2015 - Silveradoup wrote: 96 Points
Holy crap. Outstanding!
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7/11/2015 - rylanreynolds wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful petite Syrah dominant wine
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3/28/2015 - Hi.its.Don.4.Wine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Upon opening, nose was bright and full. First taste wine was tight and a little one dimensional. Continued drinking for a good three hours and by then wine opened up to this graceful yet big bold wine showing great fruit and just the right amount of spice note. Ideally, lay down for a few more years.
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1/31/2015 - silton Likes this wine: 93 Points
Glossy purple/black fruit bomb with aromatic lift and plenty of class.
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8/19/2014 - DarinC wrote:
Winery tasting note
"Amador, 68% Petite Sirah, 11% Syrah, 3% Viognier
Also from Shake Ridge Vineyard, this wine shows crazy intensity from Ann’s impeccable viticulture. The two petite Sirah blocks were harvested in two picks and cofermented with Viognier, then blended with Syrah. It is such a fun wine – intense and concentrated, brooding and dark but with high notes of star gazer lily, white flowers, ginger, and black peppercorn. It is an immense wine, but always finishes light on its feet. The art of Sumo."
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