How is this for bad cellar management? Opened one of these last night, but according to my notes these were already consumed. So I think one of my previous March or December ‘20 notes may have been for a 1998 bottle. Anyway, this was lovely for my palate. A fully mature (will be too mature for some) Syrah, full fruited but also so much else going on with savory and Worcester notes. I was sad when the bottle was empty.
Similar to my note of 12/20 and drinking very well for my palate. If you like mature Syrah with plenty of savory flavors but still noticeable fruit, this is not to be missed.
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I really enjoy more mature Lewis Syrah’s, so when they had a library offer, I was thrilled to try some of these older wines. The 1999 was in pristine condition as you would expect from winery direct, my previous experiences with bottles from the secondary market have involved crumbly corks and probably not the best storage. This was drinking mature, but excellently. Still enough juicy black fruit to remind you it was a Cali Syrah. But loads of interesting tertiary flavor like game and roasted meat, some herbs and a dash of Worcester sauce. This was fantastic.
I bought two bottles of this back in 2011. I was a bit disappointed in the first, and so I forgot about the second for quite some time. Finally decided to crack it open while waiting for dinner to cook, and...you know what, this is still quite drinkable.
My tasting notes are pretty consistent, even seven years apart. The wine still isn't particularly complex. I suspect this was a wine that was trading mainly on a couple of luxurious elements: lush fruit, probably, a smooth texture, viscosity, and well-integrated oak.
The fruit was already ebbing by 2012 when I first tasted the wine, and it is almost completely gone now. The wine is still a luxurious textural experience alongside some minor secondary development. Despite maturing early, the tasting experience was fairly consistent between years 13 and 20 in the wine's lifespan. You have to admire that.
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Lots of sediment. The nose had a touch of smokey tar but mostly smooth pure black cherry. The palate has a touch of game with dark fruit, but mainly black cherry. Smooth tannin and strong acid provide a good frame. Long, complex finish. This wine is in its prime; running strong but I don't believe it has much life left. Drink up now.
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Great nose of mocha, blueberries, and... mocha. Very smooth texture, dark berries, and just barely enough acid to carry it through. This is a little past its best point, but it's still very tasty.
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Delicious cali syrah, tastes like a northern rhone, with blueberry, dark cherry, mocha and cedar flavors, with a hint of earthiness. Velvet texture, drinking beautifully.
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Popped this one for the Firecracker 500. Lovely out of the gate. Tons of fruit and that typical Lewis flavor. But this one faded to quickly for my taste. Unfortunately, heading downhill fast. If you have these, drink up--don't decant and consume quickly.
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(taken to Nando's, Hallandale FL) Pretty dark ruby. Soft nose with violet and cassis. Good body, solid fruit - very juvenile and primary - cassis and juice. Good balance and very giving. Nice finish with a bit of meat and spice. Solid wine and very enjoyable. Particularly good with my stuffed veal chop.
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($50) James & Anna's Birthdays at Trulucks: Nice nose of flowers (lavender and violets?) along with something that conveys creaminess - presumably some oak, and a little vanilla (also oak). Concentrated red berry fruit on the palate. The tannins are little cottony in the mid-palate - not drying like the Pride, but chewey, suggesting there might be some upside to this wine. Nice.
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($50) 14.4% alcohol. Amazing and delicious stuff. Truly a crowd pleaser. Maple syrup and lavender nose. Rich sweet blue and black fruits on the palate. Supple, lush, full-bodied. Awesome.
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7/23/2021 - Decanting Queen Likes this wine:
How is this for bad cellar management? Opened one of these last night, but according to my notes these were already consumed. So I think one of my previous March or December ‘20 notes may have been for a 1998 bottle.
Anyway, this was lovely for my palate. A fully mature (will be too mature for some) Syrah, full fruited but also so much else going on with savory and Worcester notes. I was sad when the bottle was empty.
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3/19/2021 - Decanting Queen Likes this wine:
Similar to my note of 12/20 and drinking very well for my palate. If you like mature Syrah with plenty of savory flavors but still noticeable fruit, this is not to be missed.
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12/15/2020 - Decanting Queen Likes this wine: 93 Points
I really enjoy more mature Lewis Syrah’s, so when they had a library offer, I was thrilled to try some of these older wines. The 1999 was in pristine condition as you would expect from winery direct, my previous experiences with bottles from the secondary market have involved crumbly corks and probably not the best storage. This was drinking mature, but excellently. Still enough juicy black fruit to remind you it was a Cali Syrah. But loads of interesting tertiary flavor like game and roasted meat, some herbs and a dash of Worcester sauce. This was fantastic.
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9/28/2019 - alpha_ori Likes this wine: 91 Points
I bought two bottles of this back in 2011. I was a bit disappointed in the first, and so I forgot about the second for quite some time. Finally decided to crack it open while waiting for dinner to cook, and...you know what, this is still quite drinkable.
My tasting notes are pretty consistent, even seven years apart. The wine still isn't particularly complex. I suspect this was a wine that was trading mainly on a couple of luxurious elements: lush fruit, probably, a smooth texture, viscosity, and well-integrated oak.
The fruit was already ebbing by 2012 when I first tasted the wine, and it is almost completely gone now. The wine is still a luxurious textural experience alongside some minor secondary development. Despite maturing early, the tasting experience was fairly consistent between years 13 and 20 in the wine's lifespan. You have to admire that.
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6/4/2018 - Goodeye Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was an estate find. Drinking beautifully but it’s time to enjoy now. Well integrated and balanced with nice rounded soft tannins.
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10/24/2015 - no leashes wrote: 90 Points
Sweet blackberry, cassis and spice flavors, smooth texture, some glycerin. Very tasty.
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4/11/2014 - f22nickell Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lots of sediment. The nose had a touch of smokey tar but mostly smooth pure black cherry. The palate has a touch of game with dark fruit, but mainly black cherry. Smooth tannin and strong acid provide a good frame. Long, complex finish. This wine is in its prime; running strong but I don't believe it has much life left. Drink up now.
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10/5/2013 - no leashes wrote: 90 Points
Dark fruit, anise, cocoa, spice, and a hint of meat and pepper, smooth texture, drinking nicely.
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9/17/2012 - alpha_ori wrote: 88 Points
Great nose of mocha, blueberries, and... mocha. Very smooth texture, dark berries, and just barely enough acid to carry it through. This is a little past its best point, but it's still very tasty.
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7/8/2012 - no leashes wrote: 91 Points
Delicious black fruit and cassis. Drink now.
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9/30/2011 - dtirsell wrote: 91 Points
Delicious, still thick and rich. Decanted for 2 hours, very smooth with hint of raisin.
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4/11/2010 - no leashes wrote: 92 Points
Delicious cali syrah, tastes like a northern rhone, with blueberry, dark cherry, mocha and cedar flavors, with a hint of earthiness. Velvet texture, drinking beautifully.
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10/1/2008 - no leashes wrote: 91 Points
One of the best California syrahs. Rich, velvet texture, with sweet, dark cherry and berry and mocha flavors. Drink now!
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10/4/2007 - GolferChris wrote: 92 Points
Hawaii Vacation Wines - Fall 2007; 10/4/2007-10/14/2007 (Big Island, Hawaii): Beautiful expression of CA Syrah. Deep extracted fruit in the hedonistic Lewis style, blends nicely with spice, pepper and a hint of earth. Full bodied with big, balanced tannins. Long, lingering finish.
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7/7/2007 - NittanyLion wrote:
Popped this one for the Firecracker 500. Lovely out of the gate. Tons of fruit and that typical Lewis flavor. But this one faded to quickly for my taste. Unfortunately, heading downhill fast. If you have these, drink up--don't decant and consume quickly.
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2/5/2006 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
(taken to Nando's, Hallandale FL) Pretty dark ruby. Soft nose with violet and cassis. Good body, solid fruit - very juvenile and primary - cassis and juice. Good balance and very giving. Nice finish with a bit of meat and spice. Solid wine and very enjoyable. Particularly good with my stuffed veal chop.
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7/5/2005 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
($50) James & Anna's Birthdays at Trulucks: Nice nose of flowers (lavender and violets?) along with something that conveys creaminess - presumably some oak, and a little vanilla (also oak). Concentrated red berry fruit on the palate. The tannins are little cottony in the mid-palate - not drying like the Pride, but chewey, suggesting there might be some upside to this wine. Nice.
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2/3/2003 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
($50) New World Syrah Tasting at Momo's: Blueberry and blackberry with sweet oak. Nice. Don't like it quite as much as I did last August.
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8/2/2002 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
($50) 14.4% alcohol. Amazing and delicious stuff. Truly a crowd pleaser. Maple syrup and lavender nose. Rich sweet blue and black fruits on the palate. Supple, lush, full-bodied. Awesome.
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