Very good but with some development from last try.
Now it's very much beef blood / broth and pepper. Also a bit thinner and more acidic than last time. There are very sour red fruits tucked in there, but it's a savory show now, and trending to a lighter mouthfeel.
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More northern Rhone in style than we remember from prior vintages. Intense with dark fruit, some pepper. We'll let our next bottle sit for a while to see how it evolves
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Beautiful Syrah that I decanted for 1 hour while making dinner and enjoyed over the rest of the night. Very complex nose with velvety tannins. A pleasure to drink and I wish I had more bottles!
Aromas of blackberry, plum, blood (sanguine), olives, camphor, herbs, and black pepper on the nose. Tastes of blackberry, plum, olives, and black pepper on the palate. Full-bodied with velvety tannins. Long, olivey finish.
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Outstanding. My wine of the night and probably the best Syrah I’ve had this year. Extremely fragrant (Annora said Persian tea and I agree: black tea, dried rose, cardamom), smoked meat, clove, briny without being too vegetal, a new-at-each-sniff cornucopia of complexity, beautiful acid-fruit-tannin balance. A complete and very generous wine. Cool climate without feeling like it needs to prove it. 14.1%, $50.
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Consistent with prior note. A straight beam of whole cluster, cool climate Syrah. Decanted for an hour, open nose of mulberry, olive, violet and white pepper. Savory yet full and rich on the palate, stood up well to brisket. Tannins are well integrated, but there remains healthy structure that should give this great longevity.
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Dark purple. Nose is very fragrant and has blackberry and blueberry, roasted meat and bacon fat, and a floral component — maybe lavender. There is also a bit of tomato leaf or menthol. Silky but noticeable tannins, a touch of sweetness, and medium acidity brings good balance. It feels a bit lighter and is only 14% alcohol — low compared to many others in CA. The palate is consistent with the nose — heavy dose of the meat/bacon, dark fruit, and a touch of pepper. Smooth fruity and spicy finish.
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Not sure why I rated this so low last time. Had another coravin glass from the same bottle and loved it. I guess I just wasn't in the mood for a savory syrah last time. This is a great, very flavorful wine. Paired well with smoked trout.
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This wine is completely off the spectrum of wine flavors, as in I'm not sure how this was produced by grapes. Ruby color. Nose of intense saline, green olive, brine, salami, green peppercorn, a ham sandwich with mustard, cornichons. Palate: remarkably similar to nose, somehow. Slight red fruit up front, salty taste on the edges of my tongue, savory umami middle, herbal red fruit finish. Moderate/low acidity, light and smooth tannins.
This wine is an interesting experience, I've never had anything like it. I like it, but think it would be best suited as a unique pairing wine. Maybe mushroom risotto.
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This is a true stunner and an epic study. Extremely complex, with Red Vine licorice, fresh bramble berries, black pepper, beef blood, fresh Spring flowers, watermelon, fennel, green olive and dried shallots. So much sexiness and suave, cottony tannins. The finish flows, and there’s a Côte Rotie essence throughout. Youthful, yet very engaging. The best of this bottling yet - (note to self: don’t forget the scrumptious ‘14). Watch this age for many years, with all of the required backbone. Drink 2024 -.
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Aromas of white pepper, violet pastille, olive, and basil. Blueberry and blackberry attack, rounded, silky mid-palate, elegant, long finish showing complexity of dark fruit, whole cluster herbaceousness and floral inner aromas. Accessible structure, superbly balanced.
Drink or hold. Probably at least a decade in this, should integrate in several years, but structure is not an obstacle.
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8/20/2023 - scorbett Likes this wine:
Very good but with some development from last try.
Now it's very much beef blood / broth and pepper. Also a bit thinner and more acidic than last time. There are very sour red fruits tucked in there, but it's a savory show now, and trending to a lighter mouthfeel.
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1/3/2023 - Sonoma-W Likes this wine: 93 Points
More northern Rhone in style than we remember from prior vintages. Intense with dark fruit, some pepper. We'll let our next bottle sit for a while to see how it evolves
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7/2/2022 - Stephen Rash Likes this wine:
Beautiful Syrah that I decanted for 1 hour while making dinner and enjoyed over the rest of the night. Very complex nose with velvety tannins. A pleasure to drink and I wish I had more bottles!
Aromas of blackberry, plum, blood (sanguine), olives, camphor, herbs, and black pepper on the nose. Tastes of blackberry, plum, olives, and black pepper on the palate. Full-bodied with velvety tannins. Long, olivey finish.
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6/4/2022 - Benj wrote: 94 Points
Outstanding. My wine of the night and probably the best Syrah I’ve had this year. Extremely fragrant (Annora said Persian tea and I agree: black tea, dried rose, cardamom), smoked meat, clove, briny without being too vegetal, a new-at-each-sniff cornucopia of complexity, beautiful acid-fruit-tannin balance. A complete and very generous wine. Cool climate without feeling like it needs to prove it. 14.1%, $50.
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5/29/2022 - Cabfrancophile Likes this wine: 93 Points
Consistent with prior note. A straight beam of whole cluster, cool climate Syrah. Decanted for an hour, open nose of mulberry, olive, violet and white pepper. Savory yet full and rich on the palate, stood up well to brisket. Tannins are well integrated, but there remains healthy structure that should give this great longevity.
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4/5/2022 - scorbett Likes this wine:
Everything I want from a syrah.
Nose: tons of underbrush, blood iron, black olive tapenade, whiff of black pepper.
Palate: all of the nose plus a nice mineral-textured bite of dark fruit.
It's not cheap, but there are plenty of popular US syrahs that are more expensive and deliver much less. Melville gets syrah.
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12/22/2021 - Mignon Kim wrote:
선물로줌
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11/20/2021 - Adamb2 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Spicy. Stood up to an awesome steak with some coffee source rub. This is a solid Syrah.
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6/6/2021 - Tippsed wrote:
Top 100 wine. Amazing for the price point
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5/11/2021 - nicefish wrote: 89 Points
Probably be better in a year or so.
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4/20/2021 - IrvineCellar Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark purple. Nose is very fragrant and has blackberry and blueberry, roasted meat and bacon fat, and a floral component — maybe lavender. There is also a bit of tomato leaf or menthol. Silky but noticeable tannins, a touch of sweetness, and medium acidity brings good balance. It feels a bit lighter and is only 14% alcohol — low compared to many others in CA. The palate is consistent with the nose — heavy dose of the meat/bacon, dark fruit, and a touch of pepper. Smooth fruity and spicy finish.
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4/17/2021 - mneary Likes this wine: 94 Points
Gets better every time!
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1/27/2021 - Thek Likes this wine: 94 Points
Not sure why I rated this so low last time. Had another coravin glass from the same bottle and loved it. I guess I just wasn't in the mood for a savory syrah last time. This is a great, very flavorful wine. Paired well with smoked trout.
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1/12/2021 - Thek Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine is completely off the spectrum of wine flavors, as in I'm not sure how this was produced by grapes. Ruby color. Nose of intense saline, green olive, brine, salami, green peppercorn, a ham sandwich with mustard, cornichons. Palate: remarkably similar to nose, somehow. Slight red fruit up front, salty taste on the edges of my tongue, savory umami middle, herbal red fruit finish. Moderate/low acidity, light and smooth tannins.
This wine is an interesting experience, I've never had anything like it. I like it, but think it would be best suited as a unique pairing wine. Maybe mushroom risotto.
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12/29/2020 - Tippsed Likes this wine:
Absolutely case worthy
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11/20/2020 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 96 Points
This is a true stunner and an epic study. Extremely complex, with Red Vine licorice, fresh bramble berries, black pepper, beef blood, fresh Spring flowers, watermelon, fennel, green olive and dried shallots. So much sexiness and suave, cottony tannins. The finish flows, and there’s a Côte Rotie essence throughout. Youthful, yet very engaging. The best of this bottling yet - (note to self: don’t forget the scrumptious ‘14). Watch this age for many years, with all of the required backbone. Drink 2024 -.
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11/14/2020 - Cabfrancophile Likes this wine: 94 Points
Aromas of white pepper, violet pastille, olive, and basil. Blueberry and blackberry attack, rounded, silky mid-palate, elegant, long finish showing complexity of dark fruit, whole cluster herbaceousness and floral inner aromas. Accessible structure, superbly balanced.
Drink or hold. Probably at least a decade in this, should integrate in several years, but structure is not an obstacle.
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