Nose reveals ripe, slightly stewed & baked; dark cherries, blackberries, mixture fresh of our fruits as well as blue fruits with hints of faint poached strawberries. Sweet tarriness, black licorice, black pepper, dark steeped fruit tea, expresso roast, bay leaf, dry crushed rocks, barrel shavings, dark, rich earthiness with dry leaves, mid dark spice, limestone minerals, dry top soil, underbrush with fresh & withering; dark, red, purple, blue florals framed in heavy lavender and soft violets.
The palate is, ripe, rich, elegant, round and lush. After roughly 15 years in bottle, she shows, rounded, dusty, chewy/meaty, dry tannins. The structure, tension, balance & length are just the other side of its peak. The fruits like the nose are slightly stewed & baked; dark cherries, blackberries, mixture fresh of our fruits as well as blue fruits with hints of faint poached strawberries. Sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, cinnamon, vanilla, black pepper, smoked meats, dark steeped fruit tea, expresso roast, bay leaf, dry crushed rocks, old tobacco, barrel shavings, dark, rich earthiness with dry leaves, mid dark spice, limestone minerals, dry top soil, very dry underbrush, some tree bark/sap with brilliant, fresh & withering; dark, red, purple, blue florals framed in heavy lavender and soft violets. The acidity is really nice...like a cool mountain stream. The long finish is delicious and persist endlessly into dry, dark spice on the long set.
Still has another 3-5 years of good drinking ahead of it depending on your storage and the age you like your wine to show.
Photos of; Previous Owner-Jim Paras (left) with Winemaker Douglas Danielak, Paras Vineyard Syrah clusters ready for harvest and their Paras Vineyard.
Producer notes, San Francisco Lawyer Jim Paras started the winery in 1984. At the time, he produced about 8,000 cases a year of Syrah, Merlot, Mourvhdre and Viognier. In 1994, Chalone began distributing his wines and eventually bought the winery in 2000.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I picked this up (along with four other bottles of the same) at an estate sale for $5/bottle. Storage was sketchy, but what the heck. Well, I really scored. I pretty darned good wine. Very nice ruby color--no bricking. Very shy nose. Red fruit on the tip of the tongue--tending towards candied, but not bad. Some mid-palate mineral flavors. Acid and tannin are, pretty much, resolved. Some "roughness" on the rear palate that lingers through a lengthy finish, but that makes me think I'm drinking a real wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great wine, my last bottle, wine has everything, great color, good fruit, complex,balanced, good acid, wine has age but tastes vibrant, would drink again but won't find it, drank with ribs, wine has flavor to stand up to barbecue.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured. Deep, dark purple with some fine but obvious sediment. Rich aromas of grilled kefta and ripe brambles are intoxicating and I can't get enough of it. Brambles and leather on the palate. Tangy berries and espresso on the finish give it a nice zip. Great with Cincinnati chili. Outstanding. Wish I had more. Tasted alongside the 2004 Paras Vineyard and dominated it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Love this wine but it is reaching the end. Balanced with flavor and complexity, nice nose, great mouthfeel and while a big wine, you don't notice the alcohol. Drank with grilled pork chops. I have 2 more bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Third and last bottle. This one was in the worst shape of all three. It was fairly good in the beginning, but the different notes faded quickly and the alcohol took center stage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
As others have noted, this wine has started to decline a bit. Noticeable spice and meat and respectable traces of its former complexity, but the mid-palate has started to fade and the alcohol has become more prominent. While it is still a good wine, I will be quick to drink what I have left of it before it is too late.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still drinking good possibly fading slightly. Nice nose, good balance of fruit and acid with good spiciness. A mature wine that is great with barbecue of chinese food.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I know that as bottles approach the end of their drinking window, quality can vary; but this one was OUTSTANDING! Smooth, rich fruit, zero defects, an absolutely delicious mouthful. I should be so lucky with the remaining three from this Last Bottle shipment...
This wine may be getting over the hill. The bottle was good but not up to previous bottles. Have had this wine alot. Great spice and balance. Usually love this wine.
Popped and poured; consumed over 24 hours. Cork was perfect. Deep, dark purple in color. Lovely aromas of dark fruit and smoked meat. Quite a bit of fine sediment that predominately clings to the inside of the bottle forming a sort of crust. First sip nearly dropped me to the floor with an uppercut bringing huge fruit, bacon and tannins. Not a whole lot of acid but good enough to drink well with smoked pork ribs. The alcohol was noticeable but kept in check with the rest of the material. The second day was not as colorful of a showing. The alcohol took more of a prominent role and the fruit became a little tired. It was still enjoyable but not as fun as the first few hours. I have one remaining bottle and I will probably drink in the next year or two to make the most of it. I would recommend a short decant now and consumption in one sitting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
What a wine! I double-decanted this and left sitting for an hour and it still took another hour or so to fully open up. Amazingly deep and beautiful color. The nose was spicy with some fruit and herbs. The way this coats your mouth is incredible - cocoa-covered big tannins, but they have had time to integrate and are now soft and smooth. This wine, while not otherworldly experience, is remarkable and drinks very well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Gave 3 hours in the decanter. Deep amber ruby red in the glass. Nose of soft funk, slight raisin, meatiness, steeping herbs, dark chocolate and tarry rich dark berries. The palate flows with a fatty richness, more cocoa, elegant tannin, and dark tobacco, graphite-ish tones. The mouth feel has an impeccable balance. Finish is broad, and long. So fine. Thrilled to have another bottle. Will plan to share with friends in the perfect setting. PJG: 92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Black/ red coloring. Cocoa, pepper, berry nose. Tart blacks, tar, licorice, cocoa and pepper. Tight at p n p, evolving over about an hour. Big pepper emerges with time. A little thin, watery mouth feel, but that is my only nit. Good stuff.
Day 2 of this wine is something special.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
VG wine. Nice bouquet, good finish,I have had many bottles of this wine and it is drinking great. spicy with good fruit. The wine stands up to food and goes great with spicy grilled food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
9/6/2020 - Somm David T Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose reveals ripe, slightly stewed & baked; dark cherries, blackberries, mixture fresh of our fruits as well as blue fruits with hints of faint poached strawberries. Sweet tarriness, black licorice, black pepper, dark steeped fruit tea, expresso roast, bay leaf, dry crushed rocks, barrel shavings, dark, rich earthiness with dry leaves, mid dark spice, limestone minerals, dry top soil, underbrush with fresh & withering; dark, red, purple, blue florals framed in heavy lavender and soft violets.
The palate is, ripe, rich, elegant, round and lush. After roughly 15 years in bottle, she shows, rounded, dusty, chewy/meaty, dry tannins. The structure, tension, balance & length are just the other side of its peak. The fruits like the nose are slightly stewed & baked; dark cherries, blackberries, mixture fresh of our fruits as well as blue fruits with hints of faint poached strawberries. Sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, cinnamon, vanilla, black pepper, smoked meats, dark steeped fruit tea, expresso roast, bay leaf, dry crushed rocks, old tobacco, barrel shavings, dark, rich earthiness with dry leaves, mid dark spice, limestone minerals, dry top soil, very dry underbrush, some tree bark/sap with brilliant, fresh & withering; dark, red, purple, blue florals framed in heavy lavender and soft violets. The acidity is really nice...like a cool mountain stream. The long finish is delicious and persist endlessly into dry, dark spice on the long set.
Still has another 3-5 years of good drinking ahead of it depending on your storage and the age you like your wine to show.
Photos of; Previous Owner-Jim Paras (left) with Winemaker Douglas Danielak, Paras Vineyard Syrah clusters ready for harvest and their Paras Vineyard.
Producer notes, San Francisco Lawyer Jim Paras started the winery in 1984. At the time, he produced about 8,000 cases a year of Syrah, Merlot, Mourvhdre and Viognier. In 1994, Chalone began distributing his wines and eventually bought the winery in 2000.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2019 - EMark Likes this wine:
I picked this up (along with four other bottles of the same) at an estate sale for $5/bottle. Storage was sketchy, but what the heck. Well, I really scored. I pretty darned good wine. Very nice ruby color--no bricking. Very shy nose. Red fruit on the tip of the tongue--tending towards candied, but not bad. Some mid-palate mineral flavors. Acid and tannin are, pretty much, resolved. Some "roughness" on the rear palate that lingers through a lengthy finish, but that makes me think I'm drinking a real wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2016 - mwneil Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great wine, my last bottle, wine has everything, great color, good fruit, complex,balanced, good acid, wine has age but tastes vibrant, would drink again but won't find it, drank with ribs, wine has flavor to stand up to barbecue.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/28/2015 - mwneil Likes this wine: 93 Points
One of my all time favs, a great Syrah, medium bodied, spicy with good fruit but not grapey, have 1 more bottle, drank with barbecued ribs.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2014 - thesternowl Likes this wine: 94 Points
Popped and poured. Deep, dark purple with some fine but obvious sediment. Rich aromas of grilled kefta and ripe brambles are intoxicating and I can't get enough of it. Brambles and leather on the palate. Tangy berries and espresso on the finish give it a nice zip. Great with Cincinnati chili. Outstanding. Wish I had more. Tasted alongside the 2004 Paras Vineyard and dominated it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/13/2014 - mwneil Likes this wine: 92 Points
Love this wine but it is reaching the end. Balanced with flavor and complexity, nice nose, great mouthfeel and while a big wine, you don't notice the alcohol. Drank with grilled pork chops. I have 2 more bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2014 - mr21cbs Likes this wine: 90 Points
Maybe losing some fruit. Still very good but the aroma is fading. Time to drink it up!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2013 - ininov wrote:
Third and last bottle. This one was in the worst shape of all three. It was fairly good in the beginning, but the different notes faded quickly and the alcohol took center stage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/21/2013 - ininov wrote:
As others have noted, this wine has started to decline a bit. Noticeable spice and meat and respectable traces of its former complexity, but the mid-palate has started to fade and the alcohol has become more prominent. While it is still a good wine, I will be quick to drink what I have left of it before it is too late.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/7/2013 - mwneil Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still drinking good possibly fading slightly. Nice nose, good balance of fruit and acid with good spiciness. A mature wine that is great with barbecue of chinese food.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2013 - fbrack Likes this wine: 92 Points
I know that as bottles approach the end of their drinking window, quality can vary; but this one was OUTSTANDING! Smooth, rich fruit, zero defects, an absolutely delicious mouthful. I should be so lucky with the remaining three from this Last Bottle shipment...
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
2/7/2013 - mwneil Likes this wine: 88 Points
This wine may be getting over the hill. The bottle was good but not up to previous bottles. Have had this wine alot. Great spice and balance. Usually love this wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
12/31/2012 - thesternowl Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popped and poured; consumed over 24 hours. Cork was perfect. Deep, dark purple in color. Lovely aromas of dark fruit and smoked meat. Quite a bit of fine sediment that predominately clings to the inside of the bottle forming a sort of crust. First sip nearly dropped me to the floor with an uppercut bringing huge fruit, bacon and tannins. Not a whole lot of acid but good enough to drink well with smoked pork ribs. The alcohol was noticeable but kept in check with the rest of the material. The second day was not as colorful of a showing. The alcohol took more of a prominent role and the fruit became a little tired. It was still enjoyable but not as fun as the first few hours. I have one remaining bottle and I will probably drink in the next year or two to make the most of it. I would recommend a short decant now and consumption in one sitting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2012 - ininov wrote:
What a wine! I double-decanted this and left sitting for an hour and it still took another hour or so to fully open up. Amazingly deep and beautiful color. The nose was spicy with some fruit and herbs. The way this coats your mouth is incredible - cocoa-covered big tannins, but they have had time to integrate and are now soft and smooth. This wine, while not otherworldly experience, is remarkable and drinks very well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2012 - RobertTassi Likes this wine:
Had a real chocolate/caramel note to it with good depth. Not mind-blowing, but as a replacement from Last Bottle I was really happy with it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2012 - noahbw Likes this wine: 92 Points
Gave 3 hours in the decanter. Deep amber ruby red in the glass. Nose of soft funk, slight raisin, meatiness, steeping herbs, dark chocolate and tarry rich dark berries. The palate flows with a fatty richness, more cocoa, elegant tannin, and dark tobacco, graphite-ish tones. The mouth feel has an impeccable balance. Finish is broad, and long. So fine. Thrilled to have another bottle. Will plan to share with friends in the perfect setting. PJG: 92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2012 - Lessthanzero wrote: 88 Points
falling apart and shows signs of being bottled overripe.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/4/2012 - Sugarb wrote: 91 Points
Drinking very nicely now. Had an interesting smoky tinge.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/16/2012 - Mootsie wrote: 94 Points
Black/ red coloring. Cocoa, pepper, berry nose. Tart blacks, tar, licorice, cocoa and pepper. Tight at p n p, evolving over about an hour. Big pepper emerges with time. A little thin, watery mouth feel, but that is my only nit. Good stuff.
Day 2 of this wine is something special.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/23/2012 - mwneil wrote: 95 Points
Perfection. Fruit, balance, spice, structure. It is at it's peak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2012 - mwneil wrote: 92 Points
Excellent syrah at a good age. Nice bouquet; complex, balance fruit and tannin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2012 - mwneil wrote: 93 Points
Great bottle. Still drinking fine. Fruit, spiciness and complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2012 - quincow2 wrote: 90 Points
bright berries, very smooth and deep flavors, berries on the nose
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2011 - mwneil wrote: 93 Points
VG wine. Nice bouquet, good finish,I have had many bottles of this wine and it is drinking great. spicy with good fruit. The wine stands up to food and goes great with spicy grilled food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment