Collab review with expert taster Cliff…certified Somm and cicerone … well just the cicerone part Nose is black pepper , charcuterie meat red fruit Savory notes at first with raspberry , white pepper, Earth notes finishing Really excellent
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Rich, delicious round, smooth blackberry fruit with earth and mushrooms flavors, excellent structure, needs 1-2 hours to open up, ample finish, wished it had more depth and complexity
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Kept going back to this over the course of a week. Closed initially. Started to open up after 4-5 days, best on day #7. Needs a LOT of air or more time in the cellar. At its best, rich, gorgeous, very long finish. This is a great Washington Syrah.
Medium to full extraction, medium purple color. Nose of plums, grilled meat, and spice. The body is round, medium plus extraction, with moderate tannins that are partially resolved, good acidity to balance and a medium plus finish. A delicious wine in early maturity. Carried its 14.8 alcohol without effort.
P&P through an aerator. This is the stuff! Wow, amazingly luscious fruit, nicely structured, and an utter joy to drink. Blackberry compote, pipe tobacco, dark chocolate, espresso, hints of black pepper and barrel spice. Really enjoyable Syrah; very happy to have another bottle in the cellar. I have to say, Todd Alexander is doing AMAZING things with wine grapes in Washington. Seek out all you can from him. Drink now - 2032+.
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Hard to believe I was able to find another bottle of this beauty from this vintage. First enjoyed about 3 years ago, and in my tasting notes at the time I believe I said something to the effect of "it will be interesting to revisit this in 3+ years." Well, after nearly 3 years' time, this certainly did not disappoint. While I am certainly no expert on Syrah, I can honestly say that this wine--especially after a couple more years of bottle aging--is even better than I could imagine. It remains in a virtual tie with the first vintage of the K Vintners Royal City--as the greatest Syrah I've ever had. I just don't have the skills to detail all the wonderful smells and tastes of this phenomenal wine. However, what I said in my original tasting note is 100% appropriate here: this is sublime.
Purple in color. 14.8% ABV. Brooding nose of dark fruits, olive brine, espresso and pepper. Full bodied with tremendous acidity. Plush, silky and impeccably balanced. Black cherry liqueur, blueberry and barbecued meats on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. Awesome Syrah that is just going to get better in the years to come. I’ll check in on another bottle in 2025 or so.
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Better than the first bottle I had. Notes of tree bark, minerals, blackberry on the nose. Well structured on the palate. Has many years of life ahead of it, but drinking well with a couple hours in the decanter.
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I opened this and decanted somewhere between 3-4 hours. It was very muted day one. Back in the bottle overnight. Much more open day 2. Blue and black fruit but with very decent balance. Some smoke/brine but The savory characteristic S are toned down. Decent acid, fine tannins. I think at least 3 more years. It’s a quality bottle of wine and it was very tasty. If opening now expect more on day 2 and definitely decant.
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Opened on a Friday. Disjointed, muted and a little off compared to 2013 Kelly's Cuvee we had open so back went the cork into the bottle. Saturday tasting the FJ was disjointed and a muted mess, again. I was wondering if I had a bad bottle or just caught this wine in slumber. Back goes the cork. Sunday (day three) this wine was strutting it's stuff. Finally! Silky tannins and beautiful fruits I think early there was a drinking window and now it has closed. Wait till at least 2022 before opening the next bottle.
Monday update. Still structurally sound after three days. Wednesday update. Fading ever so slightly.
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Decanted a couple hours then back into the bottle. Easily ready to go from the start but 3-5 years more won’t hurt it. Ripe dark fruit, milk chocolate, coconut, smoked meat, game, earth and mineral. Personally might prefer this Red Mountain Syrah over the funk of The Rocks.
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This wine was utterly gargantuan - opening with a nose of blueberry pie, vanilla, smoked meat, charcoal, chocolate, and violet. Immensely powerful, my mouth could barely contain it, and a massive wall of tannin. 4-5 hours in the decanter proved necessary, but the full potential of this wine remained hidden the entire evening (and even into day 2). Dates, spice, and super dark fruits came to the fore with time, but right now this wine is about stature and power. In short, it's loaded with everything. We'll forget our other bottles in the cellar for 5-10 years at least. 94+
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Double decant. Left open for 3 hours. Super concentrated dark fruits. Very Long finish. A sexy wine! Probably even better on day two but this didn’t last long enough to find out.
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Decanted for almost 6 hours. Rich, full-bodied wine with a long finish. Great balance of mature fruits, earth, and wood. Will be even better in a few years.
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Decanted for 6 hours then consumed over the next three. So I started the week with the 2016 and finished the week with this 2017. Both beautiful wines, but where the '16 was highly fruit driven, this bottle showed a range of complexity that was, well, jaw dropping. And it is just a baby. More like a man-child. Precocious, already exhibiting polish and an easy grasp on all things palate related. This bottle may have a shot at perfection.
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Agree completely with all of the superlatives in the TN’s posted here. Though it’ll be even better in 3+ years, with 2 hours in the decanter, this is drinking superbly now.
Though not the same (obviously), drinking this reminds me of the first vintage of the K Vintners Royal City Syrah. Constantly evolving the more air it got, each glass different (and better) than the previous one, the wine revealing layers upon layers of the dozens of tastes/flavors that make a beyond-great Syrah.
First double decanted. A quick sip at this stage revealed an overly bright and acidic primary wine that wasn't pleasant. The nose was fantastic though, full of smoke, game meats, and black and blueberries. Whoah... yum! After letting it continue to air for 3 hours more in the open bottle it had mellowed out significantly and was more reminiscent of JD's high praise. The nose hadn't changed at all, but the acidity was crisp, but balanced, with great fruit flavors and silky-rich tannins. The wine was light, but powerful at the same time. I'm not sure I can see this being a 99-point wine, but there is definitely an upside here in the next couple decades. 94-97 point potential.
Two hours in a wide base decanter. Nose of ham and coke (not as weird as it sounds) amazing purity, dark red fruits, five spice roasted meats, white pepper, cinnamon, licorice and vanilla. Drinks very well right now but will last a decade.
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Previous reviews have nailed the TN's on this young Red Mountain Syrah. So happy with this purchase and going back to the well for the full allocation. Plenty of upside but not a crime to enjoy now.
95+
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Got another Andremily offer today, don't know if I'll buy or not, not like I need more wine. Sipping my 99 point,JB, Force Majeure. Very lite on the palate, like a good Burgundy singing Syrah. Totality different style than SQN or Andremily, goes down very easy,, killed a glass writing this note. Alice will love it.
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Took a while to open even with two hours of non-decanted air, but when it did it certainly displayed elegance. Deeper purple in color with a slightly opaque rim. On the nose dark black and blue fruit, sage, mineral, and herbs. Palate was very pleasant with a core of savory notes, more berries, medium tannins, and delicious peppery hints. Reminded me of a textbook northern Rhone. Good things coming from this site on Red Mt. This will certainly benefit from a few years in bottle and I can't wait for the next meeting.
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A great Red Mountain Syrah, no two ways about it. Firm and correct. Notes of smoke and savoriness. Poised and balanced. Improvement seems likely. 92-93.
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4/7/2024 - KJD45$ wrote: 94 Points
Collab review with expert taster Cliff…certified Somm
and cicerone … well just the cicerone part
Nose is black pepper , charcuterie meat red fruit
Savory notes at first with raspberry , white pepper,
Earth notes finishing
Really excellent
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11/29/2023 - Amerique wrote: 93 Points
Rich, delicious round, smooth blackberry fruit with earth and mushrooms flavors, excellent structure, needs 1-2 hours to open up, ample finish, wished it had more depth and complexity
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11/18/2023 - slabslovin Likes this wine: 97 Points
Kept going back to this over the course of a week. Closed initially. Started to open up after 4-5 days, best on day #7. Needs a LOT of air or more time in the cellar.
At its best, rich, gorgeous, very long finish. This is a great Washington Syrah.
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8/29/2023 - jaumealaska Likes this wine: 94 Points
Medium to full extraction, medium purple color. Nose of plums, grilled meat, and spice. The body is round, medium plus extraction, with moderate tannins that are partially resolved, good acidity to balance and a medium plus finish. A delicious wine in early maturity. Carried its 14.8 alcohol without effort.
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4/17/2023 - RPerro Likes this wine: 94 Points
P&P through an aerator. This is the stuff! Wow, amazingly luscious fruit, nicely structured, and an utter joy to drink. Blackberry compote, pipe tobacco, dark chocolate, espresso, hints of black pepper and barrel spice. Really enjoyable Syrah; very happy to have another bottle in the cellar. I have to say, Todd Alexander is doing AMAZING things with wine grapes in Washington. Seek out all you can from him. Drink now - 2032+.
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3/27/2023 - DuckfaninMT wrote: 97 Points
Hard to believe I was able to find another bottle of this beauty from this vintage. First enjoyed about 3 years ago, and in my tasting notes at the time I believe I said something to the effect of "it will be interesting to revisit this in 3+ years." Well, after nearly 3 years' time, this certainly did not disappoint. While I am certainly no expert on Syrah, I can honestly say that this wine--especially after a couple more years of bottle aging--is even better than I could imagine. It remains in a virtual tie with the first vintage of the K Vintners Royal City--as the greatest Syrah I've ever had. I just don't have the skills to detail all the wonderful smells and tastes of this phenomenal wine. However, what I said in my original tasting note is 100% appropriate here: this is sublime.
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2/6/2023 - Amerique wrote: 93 Points
Tight and closed blackberry fruit
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11/11/2022 - tomlee wrote: 94 Points
Purple in color. 14.8% ABV. Brooding nose of dark fruits, olive brine, espresso and pepper. Full bodied with tremendous acidity. Plush, silky and impeccably balanced. Black cherry liqueur, blueberry and barbecued meats on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. Awesome Syrah that is just going to get better in the years to come. I’ll check in on another bottle in 2025 or so.
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9/30/2022 - Jake112380 wrote:
Great Red Mountain Syrah. Tons of red fruit with lots of tobacco, leather, and oak. Big and bold. I love it.
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8/17/2022 - bubbachumps wrote: 94 Points
Better than the first bottle I had. Notes of tree bark, minerals, blackberry on the nose. Well structured on the palate. Has many years of life ahead of it, but drinking well with a couple hours in the decanter.
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1/19/2022 - Rywyine Likes this wine:
I opened this and decanted somewhere between 3-4 hours. It was very muted day one. Back in the bottle overnight. Much more open day 2. Blue and black fruit but with very decent balance. Some smoke/brine but The savory characteristic
S are toned down. Decent acid, fine tannins. I think at least 3 more years. It’s a quality bottle of wine and it was very tasty. If opening now expect more on day 2 and definitely decant.
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2/28/2021 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened on a Friday. Disjointed, muted and a little off compared to 2013 Kelly's Cuvee we had open so back went the cork into the bottle. Saturday tasting the FJ was disjointed and a muted mess, again. I was wondering if I had a bad bottle or just caught this wine in slumber. Back goes the cork. Sunday (day three) this wine was strutting it's stuff. Finally! Silky tannins and beautiful fruits I think early there was a drinking window and now it has closed. Wait till at least 2022 before opening the next bottle.
Monday update. Still structurally sound after three days.
Wednesday update. Fading ever so slightly.
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2/24/2021 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 93 Points
Decanted a couple hours then back into the bottle. Easily ready to go from the start but 3-5 years more won’t hurt it. Ripe dark fruit, milk chocolate, coconut, smoked meat, game, earth and mineral. Personally might prefer this Red Mountain Syrah over the funk of The Rocks.
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1/17/2021 - Apollo5710 wrote: 94 Points
This wine was utterly gargantuan - opening with a nose of blueberry pie, vanilla, smoked meat, charcoal, chocolate, and violet. Immensely powerful, my mouth could barely contain it, and a massive wall of tannin. 4-5 hours in the decanter proved necessary, but the full potential of this wine remained hidden the entire evening (and even into day 2). Dates, spice, and super dark fruits came to the fore with time, but right now this wine is about stature and power. In short, it's loaded with everything. We'll forget our other bottles in the cellar for 5-10 years at least. 94+
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12/21/2020 - Clark W Griswold Likes this wine: 93 Points
Double decant. Left open for 3 hours. Super concentrated dark fruits. Very Long finish. A sexy wine! Probably even better on day two but this didn’t last long enough to find out.
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11/28/2020 - tmvedelago Likes this wine: 96 Points
Decanted for almost 6 hours. Rich, full-bodied wine with a long finish. Great balance of mature fruits, earth, and wood. Will be even better in a few years.
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10/18/2020 - Harborhounds wrote: 94 Points
Great wine..served with brisket. Decanted for about 2 hrs...assuming it will only get better with more time in the bottle.
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9/3/2020 - pakabear wrote: 96 Points
Consistent to previous bottles, this is very good now as a PnP, not sure how much better it will get, but it’s certainly not about to decline.
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8/2/2020 - jeagle wrote: 96 Points
Decanted for 6 hours then consumed over the next three. So I started the week with the 2016 and finished the week with this 2017. Both beautiful wines, but where the '16 was highly fruit driven, this bottle showed a range of complexity that was, well, jaw dropping. And it is just a baby. More like a man-child. Precocious, already exhibiting polish and an easy grasp on all things palate related. This bottle may have a shot at perfection.
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7/7/2020 - pakabear Likes this wine:
Similar to my previous two bottles, really love this wine.
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6/11/2020 - DuckfaninMT Likes this wine: 95 Points
Agree completely with all of the superlatives in the TN’s posted here. Though it’ll be even better in 3+ years, with 2 hours in the decanter, this is drinking superbly now.
Though not the same (obviously), drinking this reminds me of the first vintage of the K Vintners Royal City Syrah. Constantly evolving the more air it got, each glass different (and better) than the previous one, the wine revealing layers upon layers of the dozens of tastes/flavors that make a beyond-great Syrah.
This is sublime.
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5/4/2020 - Winning_Wines Likes this wine: 95 Points
First double decanted. A quick sip at this stage revealed an overly bright and acidic primary wine that wasn't pleasant. The nose was fantastic though, full of smoke, game meats, and black and blueberries. Whoah... yum! After letting it continue to air for 3 hours more in the open bottle it had mellowed out significantly and was more reminiscent of JD's high praise. The nose hadn't changed at all, but the acidity was crisp, but balanced, with great fruit flavors and silky-rich tannins. The wine was light, but powerful at the same time. I'm not sure I can see this being a 99-point wine, but there is definitely an upside here in the next couple decades. 94-97 point potential.
That nose though!
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5/3/2020 - pakabear Likes this wine: 96 Points
Two hours in a wide base decanter. Nose of ham and coke (not as weird as it sounds) amazing purity, dark red fruits, five spice roasted meats, white pepper, cinnamon, licorice and vanilla. Drinks very well right now but will last a decade.
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5/2/2020 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine: 95 Points
Previous reviews have nailed the TN's on this young Red Mountain Syrah. So happy with this purchase and going back to the well for the full allocation. Plenty of upside but not a crime to enjoy now.
95+
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5/1/2020 - shadow wrote: 97 Points
Got another Andremily offer today, don't know if I'll buy or not, not like I need more wine.
Sipping my 99 point,JB, Force Majeure.
Very lite on the palate, like a good Burgundy singing Syrah.
Totality different style than SQN or Andremily, goes down very easy,, killed a glass writing this note.
Alice will love it.
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3/28/2020 - Scotty56 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Took a while to open even with two hours of non-decanted air, but when it did it certainly displayed elegance. Deeper purple in color with a slightly opaque rim. On the nose dark black and blue fruit, sage, mineral, and herbs. Palate was very pleasant with a core of savory notes, more berries, medium tannins, and delicious peppery hints. Reminded me of a textbook northern Rhone. Good things coming from this site on Red Mt. This will certainly benefit from a few years in bottle and I can't wait for the next meeting.
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1/12/2020 - Motz wrote: 92 Points
A great Red Mountain Syrah, no two ways about it. Firm and correct. Notes of smoke and savoriness. Poised and balanced. Improvement seems likely. 92-93.
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