Touch of animale, brett, cherry syrup, but bright and ripe, nice ripe aging involved; touch sweet, lots of glycerin, but with pretty good acidity, hi alc. and moderate + dry tannins. Not bad for a big boy syrah. Lots of character, and despite above, well-balanced. Unfined, unfiltered "a true vin du (sic) guarde" as stated on the label. OK, this isn't central coast, but it's the only CA syrah producer I possess. Roger's Central Coast Syrah tasting.
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Inky, dark purple, solid weight and structure. Tannins very present but smooth, notes of dark berries and violet flowers...perhaps the fruit has faded slightly? Excellent wine though....
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My only bottle of this beast and it was still very beastly. The tannic structure still very much in place. Unfortunately the fruit may be fading. Pnp and Drank with grilled pork loin chops. If I had more I would hold to see is the tannic structure calms down a bit.
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Six years ago, when we had our only other bottle of this wine, I was skeptical that what appeared to be a one-dimensional wine would ever get past that. It looks like I was wrong. While there are still tannins here that need resolution, this has matured into a more balanced wine with some interesting secondary notes. The raspberry and blackberry notes are now more equally matched with damp earth, forest notes, and a peppery finish. While I'm still not sure this ever gets to a point where aged aromatics and mid-palate depth present themselves, I'm kind of wishing I had another bottle to test that hypothesis in a few years...
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i picked one up at the benchmark sale as well and wish i had bought all of them. this is exceptionally glowing right now with an herbal and menthol play on the nose and finish that's so seductive. will need to try more from this producer.
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Lots of black olive and spice with this one. Quite enjoyable and youthful for a 9 year old wine. BTW....the cork on this wine looked brand new. Served with a leg of lamb.
Never quite came together. If this could achieve better harmony it could be a beauty. Seems younger than '06 in both color, and the fact that it seems to still be youthfully awkward (like it hasn't fully shed its dumb phase). The aromatics and palate are there, but the finish is hot/tart/bitter. Has plenty of red/black berry fruit and an herbal green element like evergreen forest or fresh pine needles. Mineral & acid too. It's a big wine, but not your standard issue Cali style. My sense (or hope) is that this will really come together in 3-5 years but I really don't know.
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Decanted 2:15 then rebottled for transport, followed by another hour with the cork pulled. similar to '06 Obsidian (i.e., closed) and after 90 minutes I decanted the remaining 1/3 of a bottle. While clearly possessing nice fruit and structure, it seemed more one-dimensional to me than the others by the end of the night, which I chalk up to still not being open. Hold.
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Opened and decanted right from the cellar. Bright raspberry notes upon opening with a core of blueberry. A bit of minerality with a faint touch of smoke. More fruit flavor earlier versus after decantation for over three hours. After loosing fruit, the wine became more one dimentional and not loved as would have hoped. The color was opaque purple and finished a bit over oxidized. Stay tuned. EG WineArchitect
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Decanted for two hours before service. In the glass, purplish-red at the rim, fading almost immediately to opaque black at the center. On the nose, crushed raspberries and blackberries, with a touch of damp wood. On the palate, blackberries, blackberries, and more blackberries, with secondary notes of minerals and damp earth, and a long, tannic, and somewhat bitter finish. One dimensional, and not clear that things will change much even when the tannins resolve, which is at least 2-3 years away.
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This bruiser still needs quite a bit of time. Dark and dense. Loaded with black raspberry fruit and pounds of chewy tannin. A lot of everything - fruit, acid, alcohol and tannin. Full bodied and ripe, but very tense where one might expect a sappy sweetness. Moderate finish with grip and subtle apricot notes. Enjoyably extreme, but even a multi hour decant failed to bring this together. I'd forget about this for awhile.
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I brought this wine to a Pinot tasting. I didn't know it was a pinot tasting - its just that everyone else brought domestic or Burg so it was tough to really consider a tasting note here. Everyone liked it.
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Huge mouthfeel from the sandy, grippy tannin. Black fruit, with meaty aromatics. Good acid to counter the outsized proportions. I like it as is, like a hard, rustic baby petite sirah. Probably needs time for most people though.
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6/21/2023 - WineWallGuy wrote:
MENDY 70th Birthday Present
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3/27/2023 - BigBoy_Sonoma Likes this wine: 94 Points
Big syrah with tannins, probably could age another 10 years.
Black and blue fruit, cassis, leather, tobacco, cedar, pepper, coffee, very herbal, hints of vanilla, finishes with some jammy currant and acorns. A
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11/17/2020 - ppandian wrote: 88 Points
Same notes as the previous bottle
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10/7/2020 - ppandian wrote: 90 Points
Enjoyed the wine...same notes as the first bottle.
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8/4/2020 - ppandian wrote: 90 Points
That was a fantastic bottle! Red fruit, strawberry, nice length, integrated and fine tannins.
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8/1/2020 - ppandian wrote: 88 Points
This bottle was slightly off...
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7/19/2020 - peternelson Likes this wine: 92 Points
Touch of animale, brett, cherry syrup, but bright and ripe, nice ripe aging involved; touch sweet, lots of glycerin, but with pretty good acidity, hi alc. and moderate + dry tannins. Not bad for a big boy syrah. Lots of character, and despite above, well-balanced. Unfined, unfiltered "a true vin du (sic) guarde" as stated on the label. OK, this isn't central coast, but it's the only CA syrah producer I possess. Roger's Central Coast Syrah tasting.
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7/2/2020 - ppandian wrote: 89 Points
Inky, dark purple, solid weight and structure. Tannins very present but smooth, notes of dark berries and violet flowers...perhaps the fruit has faded slightly? Excellent wine though....
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4/13/2020 - VINNICK Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice structure complexity and depth. Had this with cheese and appetizers to get warmed up for dinner. Really lovely Syrah. It’s a big wine.
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2/18/2019 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 89 Points
My only bottle of this beast and it was still very beastly. The tannic structure still very much in place. Unfortunately the fruit may be fading. Pnp and Drank with grilled pork loin chops. If I had more I would hold to see is the tannic structure calms down a bit.
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1/5/2019 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 91 Points
PnP with same observations.
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12/7/2018 - mike l. Likes this wine: 93 Points
second bottle. spectacular mineral driven syrah. still in love with this. it's definitely getting on in years though.
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6/16/2018 - jshufelt wrote: 91 Points
Six years ago, when we had our only other bottle of this wine, I was skeptical that what appeared to be a one-dimensional wine would ever get past that. It looks like I was wrong. While there are still tannins here that need resolution, this has matured into a more balanced wine with some interesting secondary notes. The raspberry and blackberry notes are now more equally matched with damp earth, forest notes, and a peppery finish. While I'm still not sure this ever gets to a point where aged aromatics and mid-palate depth present themselves, I'm kind of wishing I had another bottle to test that hypothesis in a few years...
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12/25/2017 - pjhr Likes this wine: 95 Points
Delicious blackberry and boysenberry on the nose and palate with whole cluster and savory spice notes on the long finish. Drinking beautifully!
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6/8/2017 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 91 Points
PnP. Carries its alcohol well, nice aromatics, still a bit of a monster. 15.9%
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11/19/2016 - GoBlue2002 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drank with Marianne, Diane, Ray.
This took awhile to open up, but afterwards this is drinking well now.
Smooth with a touch of complexity.
Ray loved it, Diane enjoyed it.
Me - 91, Wife - 90
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9/5/2016 - Knicksfan wrote: 92 Points
this has evolved quite nicely and is drinking very well.
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4/25/2016 - mike l. Likes this wine: 95 Points
i picked one up at the benchmark sale as well and wish i had bought all of them. this is exceptionally glowing right now with an herbal and menthol play on the nose and finish that's so seductive. will need to try more from this producer.
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4/21/2016 - dontime wrote:
Outstanding Syrah. Lots of black olive and Syrah funk. A steal from Benchmark at $25. If scoring 92-94.
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10/19/2015 - brian przyzycki wrote: 91 Points
Lots of black olive and spice with this one. Quite enjoyable and youthful for a 9 year old wine. BTW....the cork on this wine looked brand new. Served with a leg of lamb.
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4/25/2015 - millerarner wrote: 90 Points
Never quite came together. If this could achieve better harmony it could be a beauty. Seems younger than '06 in both color, and the fact that it seems to still be youthfully awkward (like it hasn't fully shed its dumb phase). The aromatics and palate are there, but the finish is hot/tart/bitter. Has plenty of red/black berry fruit and an herbal green element like evergreen forest or fresh pine needles. Mineral & acid too. It's a big wine, but not your standard issue Cali style. My sense (or hope) is that this will really come together in 3-5 years but I really don't know.
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4/17/2015 - MLD70 Likes this wine:
Decanted 2:15 then rebottled for transport, followed by another hour with the cork pulled. similar to '06 Obsidian (i.e., closed) and after 90 minutes I decanted the remaining 1/3 of a bottle. While clearly possessing nice fruit and structure, it seemed more one-dimensional to me than the others by the end of the night, which I chalk up to still not being open. Hold.
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11/23/2012 - MattB72 wrote: 94 Points
Great wine all around. One of the best Paxes I have had in a while.
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10/6/2012 - WineArchitect Likes this wine: 89 Points
Opened and decanted right from the cellar. Bright raspberry notes upon opening with a core of blueberry. A bit of minerality with a faint touch of smoke. More fruit flavor earlier versus after decantation for over three hours. After loosing fruit, the wine became more one dimentional and not loved as would have hoped. The color was opaque purple and finished a bit over oxidized. Stay tuned. EG WineArchitect
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6/3/2012 - jshufelt wrote: 87 Points
Decanted for two hours before service. In the glass, purplish-red at the rim, fading almost immediately to opaque black at the center. On the nose, crushed raspberries and blackberries, with a touch of damp wood. On the palate, blackberries, blackberries, and more blackberries, with secondary notes of minerals and damp earth, and a long, tannic, and somewhat bitter finish. One dimensional, and not clear that things will change much even when the tannins resolve, which is at least 2-3 years away.
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1/28/2012 - Reblin wrote: 90 Points
Nose of jam and dark fruit, full body and a little sweet. Delicious on its own and paired with lamb.
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1/1/2011 - hpwallace wrote:
Clearing out wines that were drunk earlier
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4/15/2010 - Jody Smith wrote:
This bruiser still needs quite a bit of time. Dark and dense. Loaded with black raspberry fruit and pounds of chewy tannin. A lot of everything - fruit, acid, alcohol and tannin. Full bodied and ripe, but very tense where one might expect a sappy sweetness. Moderate finish with grip and subtle apricot notes. Enjoyably extreme, but even a multi hour decant failed to bring this together. I'd forget about this for awhile.
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4/4/2010 - cmlee7 wrote:
concentrated. berries, flowers, vanilla.
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2/11/2010 - Knicksfan wrote: 91 Points
I brought this wine to a Pinot tasting. I didn't know it was a pinot tasting - its just that everyone else brought domestic or Burg so it was tough to really consider a tasting note here. Everyone liked it.
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11/5/2009 - Jody Smith wrote: 91 Points
Huge mouthfeel from the sandy, grippy tannin. Black fruit, with meaty aromatics. Good acid to counter the outsized proportions. I like it as is, like a hard, rustic baby petite sirah. Probably needs time for most people though.
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