Dark aromas dominate the nose, tar, leather, black licorice, and black olives. The palate is rich and smooth with blackberries and licorice predominating. The tar and licorice follow on with rounded tannins to a long finish. It’s very bold, maybe too bold, and just a touch on the hot side. Decanted for two hours before serving.
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Got knocked down into rocks today by a wave in Big Sur cove. In the second or two of panic, time slowed a bit as they say. Or maybe the time-slowing is an artifact of reflection after survival. In either case I'll remember it this way. Hearing the rush and froth of water, feeling the cold and the somehow always-unexpected force of water, I considered my condition as my last moment - time slowed and I reflected: really it was good, my life of toil and frustration. Because the toil and frustration is interrupted occasionally, but enough, more than enough if I'm honest, by pure consumption of life's pleasures: great wine like this bottle of Shaffer from last night; a run through a forest of redwoods along a river; conversations frivolous, cancellable, dark, light, and drunk with a best friend. So if I was swept out to the cold and violent Pacific that moment, well, I had it pretty good.
Kleur: Diep ondoordringbaar donkerrood. Aroma / bouquet: Kaboom… Een explosie van donker fruit, kersen en vooral bramen en blauwe bessen. Daarnaast houtinvloed in de zin van een zoetig aroma van sigarenkistjes. Smaak / Afdronk: Mondvullende, verleidelijke wijn. Een beperkte fraicheur, mondvullend en geconcentreerd. Jong maar uiterst aangenaam. Aangename maar stevige tannines. Mooie win die in de toekomst alleen nog maar aan harmonie en complexiteit zal winnen. Algemeen / potentieel: 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 11 + Smaak / Afdronk: 17 + Algemeen / potentieel: 8 = 91/100
Colour: Deep impenetrable dark red. Aroma / bouquet: Kaboom… An explosion of dark fruit, cherries and especially blackberries and blueberries. In addition, wood influence in the sense of a sweet aroma of cigar boxes. Taste / Aftertaste: Mouth-filling, seductive wine. A limited freshness, mouth-filling and concentrated. Young but extremely pleasant. Pleasant but firm tannins. Nice win that will only gain in harmony and complexity in the future. General / potential: 50 + Color: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 11 + Taste / Aftertaste: 17 + General / potential: 8 = 91/100
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Super saturated purple. Heady nose, loaded with creosote, rich blackberry cobbler, toasted oak and vanilla. Thick-textured and very full bodied, this is loaded for bear. First time with the wine, so I wanted to try at release. I would recommend holding bottles for at least 2-3 years so the oak can integrate and the fruit can come to the fore, then drink over the following decade. 93+
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3/13/2024 - Olson’s Wine Room 2005 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Full bodied, dry round, plum and cherry, dark chocolate. Smooth from the first sip. Only needed 15 minutes to open up.
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1/12/2024 - Lion's Share Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark aromas dominate the nose, tar, leather, black licorice, and black olives. The palate is rich and smooth with blackberries and licorice predominating. The tar and licorice follow on with rounded tannins to a long finish. It’s very bold, maybe too bold, and just a touch on the hot side. Decanted for two hours before serving.
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1/1/2024 - Mathijs81 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Upon feedback, gave this two hours in decanter.
It immediately filled the kitchen with spicy aromatics.
A tad shy in nose, full on soft and velvet in mouth.
Even developed during the evening and survived 2nd day.
High alcohol, but it’s tempered by the smooth silky feeling in mouth.
Stunning wine … easy 98 for me !
Mathijs
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8/13/2023 - rhg Likes this wine: 94 Points
Well balanced tannins. Purple fruits. Blue fruit. Violets.
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5/5/2023 - chchchch__ Likes this wine: 94 Points
Got knocked down into rocks today by a wave in Big Sur cove. In the second or two of panic, time slowed a bit as they say. Or maybe the time-slowing is an artifact of reflection after survival. In either case I'll remember it this way. Hearing the rush and froth of water, feeling the cold and the somehow always-unexpected force of water, I considered my condition as my last moment - time slowed and I reflected: really it was good, my life of toil and frustration. Because the toil and frustration is interrupted occasionally, but enough, more than enough if I'm honest, by pure consumption of life's pleasures: great wine like this bottle of Shaffer from last night; a run through a forest of redwoods along a river; conversations frivolous, cancellable, dark, light, and drunk with a best friend. So if I was swept out to the cold and violent Pacific that moment, well, I had it pretty good.
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3/5/2023 - econnertx Likes this wine: 88 Points
not bad, just not my favorite taste profile. Had too much oak to it (which I don't recall from my last tasting)
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2/7/2023 - Francophile1 wrote: 83 Points
Not true to the Syrah varietal. Dominated by alcohol and lacking depth and personality. Dull and uninteresting.
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1/8/2023 - WildeMeeuw Likes this wine: 91 Points
Kleur: Diep ondoordringbaar donkerrood. Aroma / bouquet: Kaboom… Een explosie van donker fruit, kersen en vooral bramen en blauwe bessen. Daarnaast houtinvloed in de zin van een zoetig aroma van sigarenkistjes. Smaak / Afdronk: Mondvullende, verleidelijke wijn. Een beperkte fraicheur, mondvullend en geconcentreerd. Jong maar uiterst aangenaam. Aangename maar stevige tannines. Mooie win die in de toekomst alleen nog maar aan harmonie en complexiteit zal winnen. Algemeen / potentieel: 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 11 + Smaak / Afdronk: 17 + Algemeen / potentieel: 8 = 91/100
Colour: Deep impenetrable dark red. Aroma / bouquet: Kaboom… An explosion of dark fruit, cherries and especially blackberries and blueberries. In addition, wood influence in the sense of a sweet aroma of cigar boxes. Taste / Aftertaste: Mouth-filling, seductive wine. A limited freshness, mouth-filling and concentrated. Young but extremely pleasant. Pleasant but firm tannins. Nice win that will only gain in harmony and complexity in the future. General / potential: 50 + Color: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 11 + Taste / Aftertaste: 17 + General / potential: 8 = 91/100
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12/27/2022 - Thek Likes this wine: 94 Points
blue flower, blue fruit, subtle tar. Palate of restrained blue fruit, tar, elegant, chalky medium coarse tannins, mod acidity
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5/24/2022 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 93 Points
Full of vim and vigor. Obviously it’s youth shows thru but it’s still really good. I will hold off for a few years on the next one.
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4/19/2022 - WineGuyX wrote: 93 Points
Super saturated purple. Heady nose, loaded with creosote, rich blackberry cobbler, toasted oak and vanilla. Thick-textured and very full bodied, this is loaded for bear. First time with the wine, so I wanted to try at release. I would recommend holding bottles for at least 2-3 years so the oak can integrate and the fruit can come to the fore, then drink over the following decade. 93+
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