Nice bottle of Syrah, fully mature, tannins resolved, earthy, woodsy, mildly spicy bouquet, medium to long finish. PNP at Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant, Hillcrest, San Diego, Ca. A short decant would probably be in order as the wine did improve in the glass. Not going over the hill anytime soon, showing no signs of age. This bottle enjoyed perfect storage so keep that in mind when assessing my rating. I have 1 more bottle...Maybe try it with a Steak or Italian soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Our last bottle and at or perhaps just past peak. Notes of plum with grapey dark fruit and a hint of white pepper. Develops a lovely rosemary-ish herbal note with air. Mixed blue and black fruit on the palate with a subtle spice note.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The bouquet is very meaty, with rosemary and pine needle aromas underneath. Dark fruit and roasted meats on the palate with a green/herbal undertone. The acid stands out a bit too much on the palate knocking it down a couple of points for me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still drinking young and exuberant. Full nose gives sweet blackberry, smoke, citrus and meat notes. Palate is medium-to-full bodied with smooth black fruit and a nice undercut of juicy acidity. Fresh and lively. Fruit and acid working together. This can age more, but drinking so well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is my last 2005 Rosella's and it's just a gem. When I reloaded this in 2009 to get some more bottles for the cellar, at 21 bucks on the secondary market I should have bought all of that was offered, yet I took only a couple at that time. Tonight, I opened this and tracked it over about 3 hours. I had it with dinner, paired with a real nice whole wheat bread that I dipped in olive oil and black pepper, along with an Israeli couscous sprinkled with grated parm. It paired just excellent. Shows pepper, smoke and cooked meat on the aromatic, then a palate of steak sauce, blueberry fruit, and classic Rosella's citrus that is still pungent and lively. Finishes with black pepper, citrus and some light chocolate. As I have often said about Rosella's, this is a vineyard that really exhibits terroir, one that for me is so distinctive and one Adam has always done so well. I'll close this note tomorrow to see if further ox'ing changes the wine but this is in a good place now.....an additional day doesn't change the wine all that much, other than the fruit comes out to the front of the stage a bit more and some garrigue in the aromatic. All in, this is really drinking well right now and there is still good acid here to carry the wine through 2014.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just a baby. Big nose of black fruit, floral notes and spice. Palate is rich and juicy. Meaty notes add to the fruit and floral aspects. Keeps opening up over time. Delicious. Well done.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The wine is a deep, dark, inky purple color. This has smoked meat, black pepper, blackberries, road tar, soy sauce, earthy underbrush, licorice, citrus zest, and a floral note on the deep, dark, brooding nose. This is medium to full bodies with solid, ripe tannins and very nice acidity. On the palate the wine shows the smoked meat component with nice spicy berries and some earthiness with a nice citrus element lurking in the background adding considerable interest. Nice lingering finish with the smoky, peppery berries slowly giving way to soft earthy, meaty notes. In a great drinking window now, but should hold for at least a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Smoky, Big leather and tobacco. Opened up towards the end but should have decanted the wine for maximum opening. Nice structure and balance once the smoky oak gave way a little bit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is the 6th time I have tasted this wine, spanning back almost 4 years. I waited nearly a year between bottles and so it's a good time to have another, as I had 2 left. It would seem this wine has softened up some more in the past year, that it's in a real good place to enjoy now. Maintains much of the same terroir signatures that I found last April 2010: pepper, smoky campfire and bacon fat on the nose, followed by a juicy and citrusy palate with a good dollop still of black fruit, pepper, jerky and soy. Really, it is classic Rosella's. The finish closes with some citrus zest, tangy acidity and cooked meat. I'd say this has finally entered a drink now place, as the acidity keeps it fresh, the gamey qualities give it nuance and edge and the fruit is right in there. Probably can age this another year I suppose but the freshness and optimum window is here. As a closing note, this wine and Adam's interpretation of Rosella's remains a reference point for my syrah drinking and the 2005 here, he captured what Rosella's is once again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow! This is a "serious" wine. Opened (not decanted) about an hour before drinking. Initially, it was pleasant, but closed. After another 30 to 60 minutes, it opened up and strutted its stuff. Dark color, blue and black fruit, bracing acidity and tannins. Big, but not over-the-top in-your-face big. Medium full body, and a rather luxurious finish. Will hold and possibly evolve for a long, long time. Absolutely terrific wine for the money.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
14.1% alcohol. Dark red-purple color. Brooding nose of grapefruit, smoke, pepper, and black fruit. In the mouth, powerful, with smokey and spicy notes to the black and blue fruits. The grapefruit note comes alive on the acidic backbone. Strongly tannic finish. Still very young. A-
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted through a Decanthus for each glass. Big, beautiful Syrah with deep, rich nose showing a touch of funk initially that changed to an earthy, meaty, beef jerky component with a touch of smokiness. Palate shows depth but with a livelyness that keeps it from being a monster.Great dark fruits with blueberry all through the palate along with some very nice spice and acidity. Excellent wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep, dark, inky purple color. Smoked meat, blackberry, blueberry, earthy, and a touch of licorice on the nose. Medium to full body with solid, ripe tannins and very nice acidity. The nose is dominated by the smoked meat, but the palate is full of spicy, peppery berries. Nice lingering finish with a zip of citrusy acidity. The citrus on the finish was a touch jolting at first, but after a few sips, I like it. No real hurry drinking this one, it could actually use some additional cellar time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Inky color. Blue and black fruit on the nose, along with a brambly characteristic. Same notes on the palate, plus a hint of black pepper, grilled meat, and maybe a trace of citrus. Medium body that became richer and fuller after about an hour and a long, spicy finish. Drinking very well now. Amazing richness and complexity at this price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
About a year since the last bottle so thought I would check in on its development course. Pretty true Rosella's, with smoke and pepper on the nose, with some flowers and bacon fat. Aromatically, this is a wine that would be a good study for someone new to syrah to help them key on the core signatures of what SLH fruit can do, what syrah can show. Palate wise, pretty full bodied, with the usual teriyaki and pepper, beef jerky and dark fruit. Has some citrus in there too but the wine is really softened up in the past year, and I offer this TN with only a 90 min pop and pour. I'll wrap up a TN on this wine tomorrow but given the impression now, in a perfect place and drinking true.....at 24 hours and nearly finished, as the bottle sat out overnight with only the cork as a closure, the wine stays pretty true to my notes from y/day and the wine leaned up some, not as fleshy and retaining the lively citrus finish. Listed alcohol is 14.1% and it drinks true to that, as well. Drink window would be now through 2012, although I think the wine can go another year before it peaks and drinks well for a couple years after.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP (2 nights). First '05 for me. Nose of blue fruits, smoke, pepper, meat/blood and a bare hint of grapefruit. Fruit was far from monolithic and quite expressive in terms of flavor notes. While well balanced in terms of 'proper' acidity/tannins, it lacks any sense of finesse and the texture is bit flat, leaning towards soft. Still this is a lovely cali syrah that expresses it fruit very distinctively and really captures its vineyard location.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I liked this best shortly after opening, and while still closer to cellar temperature, as it featured a dense, cool berry fruit to it. With time and warmth, it featured the beef jerky, teriyaki, blood and grapefruit flavors that others described, plus a moderate cheese/barnyard funk. Interesting wine, probably more suited to the wine enthusiast than the everyday person.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A very distinctive syrah. Like ink on the bottom of the cork, a finger staining, rich syrah. Yet an acidity that lifts it on the palate with a lightness and elegance, finishing with a earthy grapefruit aftertaste. Lots of fruit, some smokiness, an initial barnyard on the nose that blows off. Is this a big wine? Yes and no. Is this a lighter, leaner syrah? Yes and no. The abundance of natural acidity keeps this wine light and refreshing in feel yet the denseness and concentration of fruit make this a rich wine. After a night of mass-produced reds at a country club banquet last night, this was a real treat. Some may find the grapefruit acidity a bit much. I didn't. I could see improvement with additional stem inclusion as it could gain in depth and become simply a more complex syrah. My last note on this was a year ago was very similar as I noted the strong acidity--it was picked out blind out of a lineup of 18 CA syrahs
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
At first opening, lots of smoke, pepper and jerky. These qualities fade some overnight but there is still a pepper and teriyaki element that remains overnight, along with the grapefruit signature. All of these traits for me say Rosella's. I can on the flip see how this wine is a little larger boned, perhaps some ripe stuffing but since I value that weight versus a leaner edge, it works fine for me. The blueberry backing is rich and it counters against the grapefruit. In the end, pretty textbook Rosella's. Give this another year for the parts to melt into each other but I still think a lot of this wine at this stage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very dark purple/black, opaque. Blue fruit and floral nose. Full bodied, big rich, ripe bluefruit, long rich finish. Huge, very rich, ripe, almost overwhelming.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened and poured about 90 minutes before serving. Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of cocoa, currant and melted licorice. Straightforward flavors of berries and cherries. Light acidity, light to medium tannins, light to medium body. Drink over the short term.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened this at my Moms 87th birthday dinner. Slightly tannic on opening, and warm going down. The wine is a deep red color, and full-bodied. After 45 minutes, you could taste some sweetness. My 21 year old swirled the glass and proclaimed the Novy 'good'. Even my Mom said that she liked this wine. I'll let my other bottle rest for maximum performance. Purchased this at the winery 8/2008.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had a glass with friends on Valentine's Day. This is showing great with loads of richness, floral tones and spice. Full aromatic nose. Palate has concentrated black fruits that glide easily across the palate. More floral notes with citrus and smoked meat. Delicious and so easy to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured. Gamy nose, barnyard. Rich, thick and viscous in the mouth, dark fruits. Light on its feet, midpalate and finish gives the classic grapefruit taste of Rosellas. Nice acidity. Great food wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Enjoyed with x-mas dinner. This is in an excellent place. Full, effusive nose has rich black fruit and just a ton of game, pepper with a hint of citrus zest. Palate is medium to full bodied. A great combination of rich black fruit and mouth-watering juicy acidity. Long, pure and fresh finish shows some herbs and stemmy notes. A totally enjoyable drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wonderful blackberry and spice nose with ripe blackberry flavors with well integrated sweet chocolate, tobacco and pepper spice notes. Finishes with the wonderful hint of grapefruit and soft tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
OC Wine Dinner (Nesai - Newport Beach, CA): I kept joking throughout the evening that this smelled like Rosella's buttcrack, but with apologies and deference to Gary Franscioni, I should make it clear that I have NEVER EVER smelled Rosella's buttcrack before. Once the musky fecundity subsided I was able to pick up notes of Asian pickled plums, mixed peppercorns, and loamy earth. Smooth and polished on the palate with an aftertaste that slightly resembles oyster shells. 87-88 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very funky rubber nose that dominates its depth and barely allows some pepper through. Juicy and tart boysenberries on a short palate. Disappointing as it didn't show the depth and richness I remember from this one. Don't know what Frank was drinking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
9/6/08 OC Wine Dinner (Nesai In Newport Beach, CA): Man, in the last six months, this wine has really evolved. The nose still shows the classic Rosella's of pepper, smoke and some stink. But where the wine has evolved is the palate, which is generous with pure dark berry, silk, coffee and dark chocolate. If this wine gets any better, well then, it will be stunning as good as I found it to be last night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 30 mins to let nose blow off. Deep purple color and nose of dark fruit and a little gamey character. Dark fruit, bacon and some spice on the palate. Great mouth feel and balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Honeymoon Visit at Siduri / Novy: Inky purple color, with aromas of rosemary, bacon and fresh herbs. Well balanced, despite its size, with chewy dark fruit and tannin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Initial plastic and skunk aroma upon opening. Blew away after about 1 hour. This is an earthy wine; Leather and some black raspberries. After a day of being opened, this improved and the earthy notes were not s over-powering and the wine better balanced with the rapsberry elements. Some people say there is a pink grapefurit elemnt to the wine. I didin't find it here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice deep purple color. I get berries and game on the nose with a hint of spice. Upon tasting there was raspberry, blackberry, and smooth. Pepper and figs. The finish is meaty and long. I really started to pick up the flavors on the finish after about an hour of air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark violet color with a viscous texture and an earthy nose with hints of violet and dark berries; rich, spicy wine with dark, sweet fruit and hints of black pepper. Mmmm.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I've said for several months now that I thought the 2005 SLH syrahs were uniformly amazing wines, with big color, depth and layers. So, having not tasted this particular wine since just before it was bottled, took to dinner last night, finishing tonight. More dark color again, no surprise--you'll find this across Lucia, Roar and Novy. Interesting nose--more pepper and game last night, which is typical, but tonight I'm getting a note that I don't normally get, kind of graphite. I rarely use this descriptor but it's showing that way tonight. Texturally, has some decent weight with a backbone of ink and pink grapefruit, along with blackberry. You'll find the acidity and pepper carry the finish, typical to the terroir, adding the distinctive feel that's nowhere else like Rosella's. Good year after year, again this time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark purple and what a nose...earthy, gamey, pungent ripe fruit and just short of showing brett. Enjoyed this over a few days as it really needs time. Firm texture and grip with pleasing abundant fruit that did have a bit of a twang on the finish. A lot going on that really needs some time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very interesting wine. Had a very earthy funky nose that seemed to overpower the fruit in an offputting way, yet on the palate I tasted wonderful raspberry, cherry, and some dark fruits that seemed like classic syrah. Tastings note reflects that it was served out of a plastic cup and was popped and poured. Undoubtedly, this wine would have shown much differently with a few hours of decanting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for four hours. The colour is incredible. Dark, dark garnet. Nose full of black cherry, fruit, cola. Light, subtle tannins, enough acid for structure. Good fruit, very ripe plums, black cherry, long finish. Had with pot roast and the fixing, excellent pairing. Emailing the winery right now to see if I can get more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
OC Virtual Rosella's Syrah Tasting (OC and Virtual For Parker BB): Another one of my wines of the night here. We head back to red fruit again. Gamy, chocolate covered cherries with the wood accenting some dark flavor, yet no doubt about this being a red fruited wine for me. At 2 hours open, pepper comes forward now, with oak tannin and some licorice. Very nice. Dig it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine was one of 18 wines tasted during our March 17 OL event. Wine was opened for two hours and then evolved over the remainder of the evening. Great wine. Inky purple in color. Funky aromas of mushroom on the nose. Spice, pepper … and now that it is pointed out to me – pink grapefruit – on the finish. Big fan of this vineyard and what Adam is doing with his pinot and syrah. I will be seeking this one out, for sure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1/6/2022 - ken@ampy.com Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice bottle of Syrah, fully mature, tannins resolved, earthy, woodsy, mildly spicy bouquet, medium to long finish. PNP at Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant, Hillcrest, San Diego, Ca. A short decant would probably be in order as the wine did improve in the glass. Not going over the hill anytime soon, showing no signs of age. This bottle enjoyed perfect storage so keep that in mind when assessing my rating. I have 1 more bottle...Maybe try it with a Steak or Italian soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2017 - AllRed wrote: 91 Points
Our last bottle and at or perhaps just past peak. Notes of plum with grapey dark fruit and a hint of white pepper. Develops a lovely rosemary-ish herbal note with air. Mixed blue and black fruit on the palate with a subtle spice note.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2016 - blgros wrote: flawed
Thin, possibly corked, probably a bit too old.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2014 - jwolfsthal wrote:
Wondeful wine in its prime. Pith has subsided and now full of fruit and balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2014 - AllRed wrote: 88 Points
The bouquet is very meaty, with rosemary and pine needle aromas underneath. Dark fruit and roasted meats on the palate with a green/herbal undertone. The acid stands out a bit too much on the palate knocking it down a couple of points for me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2014 - matthewmallon wrote:
Wine was definitely on the downward slope. Fruit was limited and there was not much of a finish left on this wine. Definitely time to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/15/2013 - Nanda wrote: 92 Points
Still drinking young and exuberant. Full nose gives sweet blackberry, smoke, citrus and meat notes. Palate is medium-to-full bodied with smooth black fruit and a nice undercut of juicy acidity. Fresh and lively. Fruit and acid working together. This can age more, but drinking so well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2012 - Frank Murray III Likes this wine:
This is my last 2005 Rosella's and it's just a gem. When I reloaded this in 2009 to get some more bottles for the cellar, at 21 bucks on the secondary market I should have bought all of that was offered, yet I took only a couple at that time. Tonight, I opened this and tracked it over about 3 hours. I had it with dinner, paired with a real nice whole wheat bread that I dipped in olive oil and black pepper, along with an Israeli couscous sprinkled with grated parm. It paired just excellent. Shows pepper, smoke and cooked meat on the aromatic, then a palate of steak sauce, blueberry fruit, and classic Rosella's citrus that is still pungent and lively. Finishes with black pepper, citrus and some light chocolate. As I have often said about Rosella's, this is a vineyard that really exhibits terroir, one that for me is so distinctive and one Adam has always done so well. I'll close this note tomorrow to see if further ox'ing changes the wine but this is in a good place now.....an additional day doesn't change the wine all that much, other than the fruit comes out to the front of the stage a bit more and some garrigue in the aromatic. All in, this is really drinking well right now and there is still good acid here to carry the wine through 2014.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2012 - Nanda wrote: 91 Points
Just a baby. Big nose of black fruit, floral notes and spice. Palate is rich and juicy. Meaty notes add to the fruit and floral aspects. Keeps opening up over time. Delicious. Well done.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/14/2012 - cbbrown3 wrote: 93 Points
The wine is a deep, dark, inky purple color. This has smoked meat, black pepper, blackberries, road tar, soy sauce, earthy underbrush, licorice, citrus zest, and a floral note on the deep, dark, brooding nose. This is medium to full bodies with solid, ripe tannins and very nice acidity. On the palate the wine shows the smoked meat component with nice spicy berries and some earthiness with a nice citrus element lurking in the background adding considerable interest. Nice lingering finish with the smoky, peppery berries slowly giving way to soft earthy, meaty notes. In a great drinking window now, but should hold for at least a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/24/2011 - fmarcoux wrote: 90 Points
Smoky, Big leather and tobacco. Opened up towards the end but should have decanted the wine for maximum opening. Nice structure and balance once the smoky oak gave way a little bit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2011 - Frank Murray III wrote:
This is the 6th time I have tasted this wine, spanning back almost 4 years. I waited nearly a year between bottles and so it's a good time to have another, as I had 2 left. It would seem this wine has softened up some more in the past year, that it's in a real good place to enjoy now. Maintains much of the same terroir signatures that I found last April 2010: pepper, smoky campfire and bacon fat on the nose, followed by a juicy and citrusy palate with a good dollop still of black fruit, pepper, jerky and soy. Really, it is classic Rosella's. The finish closes with some citrus zest, tangy acidity and cooked meat. I'd say this has finally entered a drink now place, as the acidity keeps it fresh, the gamey qualities give it nuance and edge and the fruit is right in there. Probably can age this another year I suppose but the freshness and optimum window is here. As a closing note, this wine and Adam's interpretation of Rosella's remains a reference point for my syrah drinking and the 2005 here, he captured what Rosella's is once again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/15/2011 - Night Train wrote: 92 Points
Wow! This is a "serious" wine. Opened (not decanted) about an hour before drinking. Initially, it was pleasant, but closed. After another 30 to 60 minutes, it opened up and strutted its stuff. Dark color, blue and black fruit, bracing acidity and tannins. Big, but not over-the-top in-your-face big. Medium full body, and a rather luxurious finish. Will hold and possibly evolve for a long, long time. Absolutely terrific wine for the money.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2010 - gutt22 wrote:
14.1% alcohol. Dark red-purple color. Brooding nose of grapefruit, smoke, pepper, and black fruit. In the mouth, powerful, with smokey and spicy notes to the black and blue fruits. The grapefruit note comes alive on the acidic backbone. Strongly tannic finish. Still very young. A-
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2010 - D.Callahan wrote: 94 Points
Decanted through a Decanthus for each glass. Big, beautiful Syrah with deep, rich nose showing a touch of funk initially that changed to an earthy, meaty, beef jerky component with a touch of smokiness. Palate shows depth but with a livelyness that keeps it from being a monster.Great dark fruits with blueberry all through the palate along with some very nice spice and acidity. Excellent wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2010 - cbbrown3 wrote: 92 Points
Deep, dark, inky purple color. Smoked meat, blackberry, blueberry, earthy, and a touch of licorice on the nose. Medium to full body with solid, ripe tannins and very nice acidity. The nose is dominated by the smoked meat, but the palate is full of spicy, peppery berries. Nice lingering finish with a zip of citrusy acidity. The citrus on the finish was a touch jolting at first, but after a few sips, I like it. No real hurry drinking this one, it could actually use some additional cellar time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/21/2010 - Night Train wrote: 92 Points
Inky color. Blue and black fruit on the nose, along with a brambly characteristic. Same notes on the palate, plus a hint of black pepper, grilled meat, and maybe a trace of citrus. Medium body that became richer and fuller after about an hour and a long, spicy finish. Drinking very well now. Amazing richness and complexity at this price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2010 - dhammer53 wrote:
This was so much better the second time around.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2010 - bnord81 wrote: 91 Points
Mothers day, nice not real complex syrah. I say drink up next year or so
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2010 - Frank Murray III wrote:
About a year since the last bottle so thought I would check in on its development course. Pretty true Rosella's, with smoke and pepper on the nose, with some flowers and bacon fat. Aromatically, this is a wine that would be a good study for someone new to syrah to help them key on the core signatures of what SLH fruit can do, what syrah can show. Palate wise, pretty full bodied, with the usual teriyaki and pepper, beef jerky and dark fruit. Has some citrus in there too but the wine is really softened up in the past year, and I offer this TN with only a 90 min pop and pour. I'll wrap up a TN on this wine tomorrow but given the impression now, in a perfect place and drinking true.....at 24 hours and nearly finished, as the bottle sat out overnight with only the cork as a closure, the wine stays pretty true to my notes from y/day and the wine leaned up some, not as fleshy and retaining the lively citrus finish. Listed alcohol is 14.1% and it drinks true to that, as well. Drink window would be now through 2012, although I think the wine can go another year before it peaks and drinks well for a couple years after.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2010 - thomaskeil wrote: 89 Points
PnP (2 nights). First '05 for me. Nose of blue fruits, smoke, pepper, meat/blood and a bare hint of grapefruit. Fruit was far from monolithic and quite expressive in terms of flavor notes. While well balanced in terms of 'proper' acidity/tannins, it lacks any sense of finesse and the texture is bit flat, leaning towards soft. Still this is a lovely cali syrah that expresses it fruit very distinctively and really captures its vineyard location.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2010 - Counselor Chris wrote: 91 Points
I liked this best shortly after opening, and while still closer to cellar temperature, as it featured a dense, cool berry fruit to it. With time and warmth, it featured the beef jerky, teriyaki, blood and grapefruit flavors that others described, plus a moderate cheese/barnyard funk. Interesting wine, probably more suited to the wine enthusiast than the everyday person.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2009 - dmatley wrote: 91 Points
A very distinctive syrah. Like ink on the bottom of the cork, a finger staining, rich syrah. Yet an acidity that lifts it on the palate with a lightness and elegance, finishing with a earthy grapefruit aftertaste. Lots of fruit, some smokiness, an initial barnyard on the nose that blows off. Is this a big wine? Yes and no. Is this a lighter, leaner syrah? Yes and no. The abundance of natural acidity keeps this wine light and refreshing in feel yet the denseness and concentration of fruit make this a rich wine. After a night of mass-produced reds at a country club banquet last night, this was a real treat. Some may find the grapefruit acidity a bit much. I didn't. I could see improvement with additional stem inclusion as it could gain in depth and become simply a more complex syrah. My last note on this was a year ago was very similar as I noted the strong acidity--it was picked out blind out of a lineup of 18 CA syrahs
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2009 - Frank Murray III wrote:
At first opening, lots of smoke, pepper and jerky. These qualities fade some overnight but there is still a pepper and teriyaki element that remains overnight, along with the grapefruit signature. All of these traits for me say Rosella's. I can on the flip see how this wine is a little larger boned, perhaps some ripe stuffing but since I value that weight versus a leaner edge, it works fine for me. The blueberry backing is rich and it counters against the grapefruit. In the end, pretty textbook Rosella's. Give this another year for the parts to melt into each other but I still think a lot of this wine at this stage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2009 - gdbarton1@gmail.com wrote:
Very dark purple/black, opaque. Blue fruit and floral nose. Full bodied, big rich, ripe bluefruit, long rich finish. Huge, very rich, ripe, almost overwhelming.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2009 - crimedog wrote: 89 Points
DAWGS - March (McKinney, TX): Dark ruby. Spicy, perfume, red fruit. Good balance for the body, not particularly complex but well made.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/21/2009 - wineismylife wrote: 89 Points
DAWGS March 2009 - Rhone Varietals (WineWave's house in McKinney, TX): WIML89+
Tasted March 21, 2009 at an offline.
Opened and poured about 90 minutes before serving. Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of cocoa, currant and melted licorice. Straightforward flavors of berries and cherries. Light acidity, light to medium tannins, light to medium body. Drink over the short term.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2009 - dhammer53 wrote: 90 Points
Opened this at my Moms 87th birthday dinner. Slightly tannic on opening, and warm going down. The wine is a deep red color, and full-bodied. After 45 minutes, you could taste some sweetness. My 21 year old swirled the glass and proclaimed the Novy 'good'. Even my Mom said that she liked this wine. I'll let my other bottle rest for maximum performance. Purchased this at the winery 8/2008.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2009 - Nanda wrote: 92 Points
Had a glass with friends on Valentine's Day. This is showing great with loads of richness, floral tones and spice. Full aromatic nose. Palate has concentrated black fruits that glide easily across the palate. More floral notes with citrus and smoked meat. Delicious and so easy to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/7/2009 - blondon wrote:
Popped and poured. Gamy nose, barnyard. Rich, thick and viscous in the mouth, dark fruits. Light on its feet, midpalate and finish gives the classic grapefruit taste of Rosellas. Nice acidity. Great food wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2008 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points
Enjoyed with x-mas dinner. This is in an excellent place. Full, effusive nose has rich black fruit and just a ton of game, pepper with a hint of citrus zest. Palate is medium to full bodied. A great combination of rich black fruit and mouth-watering juicy acidity. Long, pure and fresh finish shows some herbs and stemmy notes. A totally enjoyable drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/30/2008 - curtispomeroy wrote: 90 Points
Excellent syrah. Very distinctive nose which to me smelled like smoke (in a pleasant way). Very silky and smooth to taste.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2008 - DRA wrote: 91 Points
Delicious CA Syrah. Smooth, but with the body of a Napa Syrah.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2008 - pjhr wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful blackberry and spice nose with ripe blackberry flavors with well integrated sweet chocolate, tobacco and pepper spice notes.
Finishes with the wonderful hint of grapefruit and soft tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/6/2008 - Paul Lin wrote: 87 Points
OC Wine Dinner (Nesai - Newport Beach, CA): I kept joking throughout the evening that this smelled like Rosella's buttcrack, but with apologies and deference to Gary Franscioni, I should make it clear that I have NEVER EVER smelled Rosella's buttcrack before. Once the musky fecundity subsided I was able to pick up notes of Asian pickled plums, mixed peppercorns, and loamy earth. Smooth and polished on the palate with an aftertaste that slightly resembles oyster shells. 87-88 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/6/2008 - WetRock wrote:
Very funky rubber nose that dominates its depth and barely allows some pepper through. Juicy and tart boysenberries on a short palate. Disappointing as it didn't show the depth and richness I remember from this one. Don't know what Frank was drinking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/6/2008 - Frank Murray III wrote:
9/6/08 OC Wine Dinner (Nesai In Newport Beach, CA): Man, in the last six months, this wine has really evolved. The nose still shows the classic Rosella's of pepper, smoke and some stink. But where the wine has evolved is the palate, which is generous with pure dark berry, silk, coffee and dark chocolate. If this wine gets any better, well then, it will be stunning as good as I found it to be last night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/22/2008 - shaneajohnson wrote: 90 Points
Drinking really well right now. No formal notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/2/2008 - T.J.Burn wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 30 mins to let nose blow off. Deep purple color and nose of dark fruit and a little gamey character. Dark fruit, bacon and some spice on the palate. Great mouth feel and balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2008 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
Honeymoon Visit at Siduri / Novy: Inky purple color, with aromas of rosemary, bacon and fresh herbs. Well balanced, despite its size, with chewy dark fruit and tannin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2008 - t_moderne wrote: 87 Points
Initial plastic and skunk aroma upon opening. Blew away after about 1 hour. This is an earthy wine; Leather and some black raspberries. After a day of being opened, this improved and the earthy notes were not s over-powering and the wine better balanced with the rapsberry elements. Some people say there is a pink grapefurit elemnt to the wine. I didin't find it here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2008 - SPK wrote:
Nice deep purple color. I get berries and game on the nose with a hint of spice. Upon tasting there was raspberry, blackberry, and smooth. Pepper and figs. The finish is meaty and long. I really started to pick up the flavors on the finish after about an hour of air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2008 - sdatl wrote: 92 Points
Dark violet color with a viscous texture and an earthy nose with hints of violet and dark berries; rich, spicy wine with dark, sweet fruit and hints of black pepper. Mmmm.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2008 - Frank Murray III wrote:
I've said for several months now that I thought the 2005 SLH syrahs were uniformly amazing wines, with big color, depth and layers. So, having not tasted this particular wine since just before it was bottled, took to dinner last night, finishing tonight. More dark color again, no surprise--you'll find this across Lucia, Roar and Novy. Interesting nose--more pepper and game last night, which is typical, but tonight I'm getting a note that I don't normally get, kind of graphite. I rarely use this descriptor but it's showing that way tonight. Texturally, has some decent weight with a backbone of ink and pink grapefruit, along with blackberry. You'll find the acidity and pepper carry the finish, typical to the terroir, adding the distinctive feel that's nowhere else like Rosella's. Good year after year, again this time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2007 - Tejano wrote:
Dark purple and what a nose...earthy, gamey, pungent ripe fruit and just short of showing brett. Enjoyed this over a few days as it really needs time. Firm texture and grip with pleasing abundant fruit that did have a bit of a twang on the finish. A lot going on that really needs some time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2007 - Hoya Vinophile wrote: 87 Points
Very interesting wine. Had a very earthy funky nose that seemed to overpower the fruit in an offputting way, yet on the palate I tasted wonderful raspberry, cherry, and some dark fruits that seemed like classic syrah. Tastings note reflects that it was served out of a plastic cup and was popped and poured. Undoubtedly, this wine would have shown much differently with a few hours of decanting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2007 - Chilicat wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for four hours. The colour is incredible. Dark, dark garnet. Nose full of black cherry, fruit, cola. Light, subtle tannins, enough acid for structure. Good fruit, very ripe plums, black cherry, long finish. Had with pot roast and the fixing, excellent pairing. Emailing the winery right now to see if I can get more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2007 - Frank Murray III wrote:
OC Virtual Rosella's Syrah Tasting (OC and Virtual For Parker BB): Another one of my wines of the night here. We head back to red fruit again. Gamy, chocolate covered cherries with the wood accenting some dark flavor, yet no doubt about this being a red fruited wine for me. At 2 hours open, pepper comes forward now, with oak tannin and some licorice. Very nice. Dig it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2007 - scofer wrote: 92 Points
This wine was one of 18 wines tasted during our March 17 OL event. Wine was opened for two hours and then evolved over the remainder of the evening. Great wine. Inky purple in color. Funky aromas of mushroom on the nose. Spice, pepper … and now that it is pointed out to me – pink grapefruit – on the finish. Big fan of this vineyard and what Adam is doing with his pinot and syrah. I will be seeking this one out, for sure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment