Opened yesterday, kept under the open cork overnight and using the last few ounces remaining for my note. I have owned this bottle since release back in 2007, so it's a relic from my cellar that I have been attached to. Decided to open last night and serve blind as part of small virtual event we did. It's starting to brown around the edges, showing some age there. There is a maple note, along with some savory qualities from the whole cluster that was used in the wine (100% inclusion). Still tangy, moderately herbal with some softening dark fruit in the core. Tangy plum, tar and rosemary in the finish. Overall, I'd call this ready to drink, to manage the balance of the fruit, the savory and the onset of the aging process. Farewell old friend!
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This is smokin' good. Plenty of freshness and fruit with texture and savor. I'll see how it holds up in the bottle on day 2. I suspect it will do well.
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Medium garnet red color with a pink rim. After a little air, the nose displayed ample boysenberry, plum, and lavender notes. The perfectly ripe fruit coated my palate with boysenberry, plum, lavender, and smoked meat. Structurally, this wine had balanced acidity and well as fully integrated tannins. Overall, this remains my favorite vintage of Sandler’s syrah because it has ripe, full fruit as well as a refined, rounded mouthfeel that only a balanced, well-aged wine can provide. Outstanding.
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Dark garnet color. The nose was classic syrah - roasted meat, pepper, floral notes, and plum. On the palate, the flavors echo the nose with the addition of a mineral note. It is plush in the mouth with integrated tannin and balanced acidity. Overall, this has been a great wine every time I have taste it, and it remains my favorite vintage of Sandler Syrah
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Had with dinner, slight plum/prune notes upon opening had me a bit concerned but faded as the back end pepper and spice took over. The fruit turned leaner and red with more time open, and there was a just the right amount of grip on the finish.
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Glad I have another of these. This was a very nice syrah - and I am not a huge syrah lover. This showed some great blue/dark fruits, earth and spice. Tannins have softened but were still present. Long finish. At a great spot right now.
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A lovely whole cluster syrah! Floral & blueberry aromas and flavors on the palate with layered herbal & earthy notes extending to a tasty finish. Nicely structured wine with chewy tannins and delectable acidity.
Very raspberry and blueberry forward. Almost effervescent. Midpalateand finish bring about one great smoky/coffee finish. Front end is new world- back is old.
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Decanted 1 hour - Wow what a beauty - well integrated with blackberry and blueberry that transitions seamlessly into peppery mid-palate before finally rounding into the meat/smokey elements that remind me of burnt ends from smoked brisket. Definitely going back for more.
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Open the better part of 3 days, damn near four, this note providing the material for my last glass. Like with Wind Gap, and some of the 05 and 06 Copains, this is where fruit meets stem. The aromatics lean on the edge of syrah, the firnges where you can find smoke, rosemary, then a sweet gamy essence. Medium + weight, with a teriyaki/steak sauce element, along with soy, cooked meat and dark fruit. The palate is nearly fleshed out, and not sure if that's due to the aeration I allowed this to see or the fact it's 6 vintages in time, maybe both. Finishes with the same rosemary quality, along with the fresh dark fruit, which shows some rich edges. What's here is savory and yet flashy, together. I have one bottle left, will drink it in the next year but as a serving advice, I'd serve this to someone who will have context for stem inclusion and what that imparts. That context is key here I believe in order for this wine to be appreciated, one I do very much like.
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A lovely syrah! Floral & blueberry aromas and flavors on the palate with layered herbal & earthy notes extending to a tasty finish. Nicely structured wine with chewy tannins and delectable acidity.
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Decanted ~1.5 hours. First impression - wow, what a nose. Lots of green olives, black pepper, herbs, dark fruits and some raw meat aromas. On the palate its just as complex as the nose. Blackberry and blueberry (the nice tart ones) flavors mix with fresh cracked black pepper and subltle dried herbs and spices along with some meaty flavors and bacon fat. Rich, but light on its feet at the same time, with a long finish and cleansing acidity. The wine improved considerably over 3 hours, adding an incredible floral element to the nose. I just had to keep smelling this wine multiple times before every sip. Incredibly well done, and wish I had more, as this has plenty of life, and it could be argued I open this too early.
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This wine needs time. Initially just a big smack in the face - but on day two it was more balanced and showing a very interesting profile of flowers, spices, smoke and meat.
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Did not like this out of the bottle...Nose of black fruits and pepper...blueberry, boysenberry, bacon, grapefruit (what I associate with the spice...can't get over it) and cracked black pepper. Good weight in the mouth and excellent balance. Thought maybe 89 points. Days later...half a bottle left in the decanter after two days smelled like a brilliant Hermitage. Do not touch these for 5 years or more and you will be rewarded.
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Had a glass of this after it had been open two days. Very floral - lilacs, a little hint of bacon fat, blue/blackberry fruit and a bit of underbrush. It's got plenty of heft but is light enough to make you want to return for more...terrific Syrah from Eddie K.
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Sweet fancy moses! Blackberry, pepper and bacon on the nose. Screaming nose dances all over the place. Palate is loaded, just slammed wall to wall with dark fruit, pepper, meat and an ass-kicking wallop of acidity that just pops. Terrific balance of sappy dark fruit, meaty notes and acidity. No shit, great wine here. I'm a fan of Ed's wines, but I waited until now to pop the '06 Syrah. Flout out killer. Bravo.
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My favorite Sandler wine. Blackberry and lavender immediately wafts out of the glass, and one knows this is a special wine. This is an incredibly focused wine with dark fruit, lavender, blackberry, and pepper. The balance is there, and the mouthfeel is velvety smooth. Combine those attributes with a long finish, and all of the components are there for a top flight wine. Overall, one of the best wines I have had this year.
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Dark purple color. An everchanging nose of blackberry, violets, roasted meats, and soy. What an enjoyable flavor profile! This is very Cote Rotie - blackberry, olives, roasted meat, soy, and minerals. Ripe but not at all jammy, which is a pleasant change from most CA Syrah. There is a firm acidic spine the gives real lift to this wine, and all elements are balanced. The mineral-laden finish is long and pure. Overall, Ed Kurtzman did an excellent job with this cool climate fruit, and I will definitely make this an every year buy.
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The aromatics on this were wonderful right out of the bottle. I was taking it to a friends and Ed recommended some airtime so I gave a brief decant … but I had to smell and sneak a taste. Two things grabbed me. The added aromatics from the 100% whole cluster, that I love and fantastic texture. Nice tannic structure but the squeaky clean fruit makes it perfect for drinking now. At this stage, the wine is Un-jammy! Now on to 3 hours later. This wine is so precise. The texture is so smooth and clean. A great balance of sweet tannin, whole cluster vegetables and spice, and perfectly ripe fruit. I think I am going to open another very soon just to see if I am plain crazy or if this is indeed a Great Cali syrah. My guess is that there is a window of pure pleasure for this wine right now but it could start close up a bit as the primary fruit begins to subside. Once that starts, I think the wine will transition just fine and have a nice complex life.
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11/5/2020 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Opened yesterday, kept under the open cork overnight and using the last few ounces remaining for my note. I have owned this bottle since release back in 2007, so it's a relic from my cellar that I have been attached to. Decided to open last night and serve blind as part of small virtual event we did. It's starting to brown around the edges, showing some age there. There is a maple note, along with some savory qualities from the whole cluster that was used in the wine (100% inclusion). Still tangy, moderately herbal with some softening dark fruit in the core. Tangy plum, tar and rosemary in the finish. Overall, I'd call this ready to drink, to manage the balance of the fruit, the savory and the onset of the aging process. Farewell old friend!
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6/18/2018 - DollarMenunaire wrote:
This is smokin' good. Plenty of freshness and fruit with texture and savor. I'll see how it holds up in the bottle on day 2. I suspect it will do well.
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12/10/2017 - Meerlust wrote: 92 Points
Medium garnet red color with a pink rim. After a little air, the nose displayed ample boysenberry, plum, and lavender notes. The perfectly ripe fruit coated my palate with boysenberry, plum, lavender, and smoked meat. Structurally, this wine had balanced acidity and well as fully integrated tannins. Overall, this remains my favorite vintage of Sandler’s syrah because it has ripe, full fruit as well as a refined, rounded mouthfeel that only a balanced, well-aged wine can provide. Outstanding.
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11/18/2015 - Meerlust wrote: 92 Points
Dark garnet color. The nose was classic syrah - roasted meat, pepper, floral notes, and plum. On the palate, the flavors echo the nose with the addition of a mineral note. It is plush in the mouth with integrated tannin and balanced acidity. Overall, this has been a great wine every time I have taste it, and it remains my favorite vintage of Sandler Syrah
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11/7/2015 - Bushwood wrote: 92 Points
Had with dinner, slight plum/prune notes upon opening had me a bit concerned but faded as the back end pepper and spice took over. The fruit turned leaner and red with more time open, and there was a just the right amount of grip on the finish.
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5/28/2013 - tederf wrote: 91 Points
Glad I have another of these. This was a very nice syrah - and I am not a huge syrah lover. This showed some great blue/dark fruits, earth and spice. Tannins have softened but were still present. Long finish. At a great spot right now.
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1/10/2013 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
A lovely whole cluster syrah! Floral & blueberry aromas and flavors on the palate with layered herbal & earthy notes extending to a tasty finish. Nicely structured wine with chewy tannins and delectable acidity.
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12/24/2012 - pilot360 wrote: 92 Points
Very raspberry and blueberry forward. Almost effervescent. Midpalateand finish bring about one great smoky/coffee finish.
Front end is new world- back is old.
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5/19/2012 - jingram wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 1 hour - Wow what a beauty - well integrated with blackberry and blueberry that transitions seamlessly into peppery mid-palate before finally rounding into the meat/smokey elements that remind me of burnt ends from smoked brisket. Definitely going back for more.
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3/5/2012 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Open the better part of 3 days, damn near four, this note providing the material for my last glass. Like with Wind Gap, and some of the 05 and 06 Copains, this is where fruit meets stem. The aromatics lean on the edge of syrah, the firnges where you can find smoke, rosemary, then a sweet gamy essence. Medium + weight, with a teriyaki/steak sauce element, along with soy, cooked meat and dark fruit. The palate is nearly fleshed out, and not sure if that's due to the aeration I allowed this to see or the fact it's 6 vintages in time, maybe both. Finishes with the same rosemary quality, along with the fresh dark fruit, which shows some rich edges. What's here is savory and yet flashy, together. I have one bottle left, will drink it in the next year but as a serving advice, I'd serve this to someone who will have context for stem inclusion and what that imparts. That context is key here I believe in order for this wine to be appreciated, one I do very much like.
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1/20/2012 - pjhr wrote: 93 Points
Delicious whole cluster syrah at a killer price! Now down to my last bottle.
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5/4/2011 - pjhr wrote: 93 Points
As delicious as the previous bottle.
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12/10/2010 - pjhr wrote: 94 Points
A lovely syrah! Floral & blueberry aromas and flavors on the palate with layered herbal & earthy notes extending to a tasty finish. Nicely structured wine with chewy tannins and delectable acidity.
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10/10/2010 - Grape_ape wrote: 93 Points
Decanted ~1.5 hours. First impression - wow, what a nose. Lots of green olives, black pepper, herbs, dark fruits and some raw meat aromas. On the palate its just as complex as the nose. Blackberry and blueberry (the nice tart ones) flavors mix with fresh cracked black pepper and subltle dried herbs and spices along with some meaty flavors and bacon fat. Rich, but light on its feet at the same time, with a long finish and cleansing acidity. The wine improved considerably over 3 hours, adding an incredible floral element to the nose. I just had to keep smelling this wine multiple times before every sip. Incredibly well done, and wish I had more, as this has plenty of life, and it could be argued I open this too early.
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9/22/2009 - kpak wrote:
This wine needs time. Initially just a big smack in the face - but on day two it was more balanced and showing a very interesting profile of flowers, spices, smoke and meat.
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9/1/2009 - ginfizz wrote: 92 Points
Did not like this out of the bottle...Nose of black fruits and pepper...blueberry, boysenberry, bacon, grapefruit (what I associate with the spice...can't get over it) and cracked black pepper. Good weight in the mouth and excellent balance. Thought maybe 89 points. Days later...half a bottle left in the decanter after two days smelled like a brilliant Hermitage. Do not touch these for 5 years or more and you will be rewarded.
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12/14/2008 - tonyvelebil wrote: 92 Points
Had a glass of this after it had been open two days. Very floral - lilacs, a little hint of bacon fat, blue/blackberry fruit and a bit of underbrush. It's got plenty of heft but is light enough to make you want to return for more...terrific Syrah from Eddie K.
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12/13/2008 - decaturwinedude wrote: 93 Points
Sweet fancy moses! Blackberry, pepper and bacon on the nose. Screaming nose dances all over the place. Palate is loaded, just slammed wall to wall with dark fruit, pepper, meat and an ass-kicking wallop of acidity that just pops. Terrific balance of sappy dark fruit, meaty notes and acidity.
No shit, great wine here. I'm a fan of Ed's wines, but I waited until now to pop the '06 Syrah. Flout out killer. Bravo.
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11/30/2008 - Meerlust wrote: 93 Points
My favorite Sandler wine. Blackberry and lavender immediately wafts out of the glass, and one knows this is a special wine. This is an incredibly focused wine with dark fruit, lavender, blackberry, and pepper. The balance is there, and the mouthfeel is velvety smooth. Combine those attributes with a long finish, and all of the components are there for a top flight wine. Overall, one of the best wines I have had this year.
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2/2/2008 - jasonh wrote:
Couldn't keep my hands off this. Second bottle down. Will hold off for 4 or 5 years on my last 2.
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2/1/2008 - Meerlust wrote: 94 Points
Dark purple color. An everchanging nose of blackberry, violets, roasted meats, and soy. What an enjoyable flavor profile! This is very Cote Rotie - blackberry, olives, roasted meat, soy, and minerals. Ripe but not at all jammy, which is a pleasant change from most CA Syrah. There is a firm acidic spine the gives real lift to this wine, and all elements are balanced. The mineral-laden finish is long and pure. Overall, Ed Kurtzman did an excellent job with this cool climate fruit, and I will definitely make this an every year buy.
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1/11/2008 - jasonh wrote: 93 Points
The aromatics on this were wonderful right out of the bottle. I was taking it to a friends and Ed recommended some airtime so I gave a brief decant … but I had to smell and sneak a taste. Two things grabbed me. The added aromatics from the 100% whole cluster, that I love and fantastic texture. Nice tannic structure but the squeaky clean fruit makes it perfect for drinking now. At this stage, the wine is Un-jammy! Now on to 3 hours later. This wine is so precise. The texture is so smooth and clean. A great balance of sweet tannin, whole cluster vegetables and spice, and perfectly ripe fruit. I think I am going to open another very soon just to see if I am plain crazy or if this is indeed a Great Cali syrah. My guess is that there is a window of pure pleasure for this wine right now but it could start close up a bit as the primary fruit begins to subside. Once that starts, I think the wine will transition just fine and have a nice complex life.
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