Opened and poured. Dark, thick and jammy still at 14 years old. Sweet reds and blacks. Full throttle and high octane at 15.1%. Still delicious, turbo powered juice.
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This Syrah is still drinking well, but I recommend giving it at least an hour of air. This bottle was a bit hot initially, but it filled out over time and the noticeable alcohol subsided. It's a bit Syrah, but still plenty of fruit left in it.
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Basic big new world Syrah. Bursting with blueberry fruit and meaty notes. Graphite, minerals and oak cut across the midpalate, but finishes a bit short and dry.
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Dark purple color, quite youthful. The nose is expressive and direct with plums. The palate is not complex but does sport plums, graphite, and minerals. There is average acidity and depth, but the tannins are beginning to dry out this wine. The finish is average with apparent tannins that clip the fruit. Overall, this is simple and nondescript. A cautionary note, serving temperature is very important. As this warmed, it became hot and less focused.
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blackish red, opaque. Strong, fragrant nose of prunes and toasted oak. Huge, massive mouthfeel of thick, stewed fruit character. Grainy tannins and low acidity - medium long finish with a strong fig / prune character.
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San Antonio Wine Geeks (The Monterey): Having the Donelan there really hurt this one. Big ripe nose with a nice meat, iodine and pepper character. Nice nose. Things fall apart on the palate, with syrupy, ripe, alcoholic fruit that becomes clipped on the finish. Hot and out of balance, apparently not aging well.
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SA winegeeks. I don't remember much of this one because I tried it at the end of a long line of California blends mixed in with some Bdx, CdP, and an amazing super tuscan. I wrote down in my notes: candy. but good. 92. I'll have to re-visit this one.
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Opened and tasted - strong scent of alcohol. Decanted for 2 hours, still has scent of alcohol on the nose. Medium body, nice taste in the front of the mouth, followed by dry, alcoholic finish. Somewhat disappointed. Hoping day two is better. Opened on the long weekend - sampled each day, but Sunday night, alcohol still noticeable on the nose, but not so much on the finish. Day 3 would be an 89. Still wouldn't rebuy.
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Just as good as my last bottle. This wine is in a sweet spot right now. Try one if you have it. We first saw and smelled this wine in a fermentation bin at Deerfield Ranch in September of 2004. It's been a fun journey.
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Tasted non blind. Opened and glass decanted about 45 minutes before serving. Followed over the next two hours. Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of currants, briar patch, violets and plums. Flavors of plums, currants, black cherries and black berries. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied. Drink over the next few years with some air. 90.
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Wow. What a difference another 18 months makes. The tannins have softened, and the dark fruit is at the forefront. Long, smooth finish. I didn't think this wine was going to improve at all, let alone this much. Fantastic.
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Still holding quite well this syrah should hold for at least another several years. Joan liked it more than I did. I prefer KBs pinots but this wine is a lot of fun to drink too.
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COLOR: Purple w/light garnet rim NOTE: Without the Vinturi, the nose stings with alcohol, like a big whiff from a bottle of rubbing alcohol, but then I can smell the underlying blackberry liqueur and smoke. As bad as that sounds, it's not terribly off-putting. Mouth has a great density and purity of rich blackberry juice & liqueur flavors. It swirls around with mocha and dried strawberry and black currant. Tannins are very refined. Finish is dominated by black fruits, both dried and liqueur, and it takes on a little raw oaky edge. I may be rating this a little too high just because I was disappointed by the 2001 Pride I tasted next to it, but that's life!
DECANT: 2 hr (no Vinturi used for note) GLASS USED: Syrah TASTE: 92 COST: 49 VALUE: 6.0 PREVIOUSLY TASTED: n/a TRY AGAIN: n/a PAIRING: n/a ---
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Starts out with a blast of massively ripe red fruit and alcohol at first, coming across too hot and blowsy initially. With a little air this calms down and becomes a lot more balanced and restrained; bright cherry and plummy flavours seasoned with a gentle spiciness and the alcohol integrating quite nicely.
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Well, this was interesting, two bottles consumed on two consecutive days, and very different from each other. My impressions were shared by a second experienced taster. The first bottle was very rich and smooth, with intense fruit and viscosity, very hedonistic and "american" in its ripeness and flavor profile. The second bottle seemed almost 'OVER THE HILL" having lost fruitiness but having little else of pleasure to add except for interesting tannins which brought lots of attention to the tongue sensations.
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I decided to open this on a whim not really expecting much. i was really surprised how much this has opened up and really came into balance. It did not come accross as you typical over-the-top Cali syrah. It was really enjoyable and matched well with chicken quesadillas.
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Opened in bottle for 3+ hrs. Gorgeous nose of white pepper, kirsch liqueur, wild berries, pine sap ala Mourvedre. Big and juicy wild berry fruit, kicked up with huge white flower and pepper spice, smoked meat, candied dried cherries, sweet tobacco leaves. The alcohol is there....somewhat fumie, but to me, not off putting. Has substantial enough rich fruit to balance it....but I would prefer it to be have less. Tasty Syrah now...might be very surprised with even more age to it.
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Intense red; great nose, with blend of pepper, wood and plums; on the mouth, it is a bit hot, with some fruit, but not a ton; doubt this is going to get much better, but it still tastes young to me; very solid syrah, but not the type of balance and finish I prefer from a Cali Syrah.
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Had a few sips of this from tracis glass. W a maple mustard glazed pork tenderloin and braised kale
color is fairly dark. Nose is equally dark with dark cherries and plum some definite booze
palate shows more dark fruit, smoke, mint and a little raw beef and a lot of alcohol. We both agreed the alcohol sticks out in a slightly unpleasant way. I would drink these up if you have them
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This wine needed about ½ to 1 hour of airtime. Dark ruby color with a nice nose of blueberry, plum and black pepper with licorice notes coming to the forefront with air. This wine was OH SO creamy on the long, silky smooth palate, exhibiting notes of blueberry, plum and spice.
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Very good. Rich flavors of plum, blackberry and oak were complimented by notes of bay leaf, clove and olive. The additional herbal and spice notes were nice, but the oak (vanilla-tinged) was maybe a bit too much this time around.
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This wine was deep and dark with a thick milky texture on the palate. The nose was full of very ripe black berries and blue berries that were followed by black olives and roasted meats. The viscous palate coated my mouth with blue berry preserves and black pepper. The weighty tannins were chewy yet smooth with no apparent heat from the alcohol.
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PnP. Dark reddish violet. Deep dark blackberry aromas with smoke, red currants, meat and a hint of peppery licorice. Fleshy black fruit and meaty tar on the palate with gritty tannins, sufficient acidity and a bit of heat (which was of little concern to me). Despite the powerful blackberry nose, I rather liked this wine as it has a really nice structure that created a good balance.
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Different story tonight. This came out of the tunnel (er cellar) ready to roll tonight. Cellar temp advised. Stuffed with ripe rich red fruits. Much more integrated than last time out. Drink Now
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Hot, hotter, hottest. Reduced, reduceder, reducedest. Ripe, riper, ripest. Bleh. Only thing going for this right now is that I have had a cold for three weeks, edging into bronchitis, and this worked better than any other medicine at breaking up that crap that I have "produced" from my lungs. One more bottle in the cellar. Drink now, or wait until next year when I come down with what has become my annual case of bronchitis?
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As opposed to earlier experiences with this wine where the parts were more of the expression than the whole, I'd offer this wine has really smoothed out now. No doubt, it is rich, fleshy and packed, maybe a bit ripe, but there is a decadent quality that is also atrractive. I would suggest this wine also is a "drink now" bottle, as I don't find the structure to hold this up for further aging. Down the hatch.
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Opened and decanted a little over an hour before serving. Following over another hour. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Slightly restrained nose of currants, berries and maybe a little smoke. Same thing on the palate with light notes of currants, berries and maybe a little blueberry on the slightly clipped finish. Light acidity, fairly resolved tannins, maybe medium bodied. Drink over the short term.
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Wow, has this wine improved from the bottle I had shortlly after release. I decanted for an hour but it needed two hours at least. A very nice syrah with more upside with some more ageing.
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Dark purple. Full bodied. First KB syrah. Expected cool-climate style, but more Aussie-like. Fruit forward. Blackberry, chocolate, allspice, white pepper. Reminds me of Amon Ra.
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The nose had sweet blackberry and blueberry aromas with some notes of baking spices. The palate was crammed full of dark fruit flavors, and a little nuance of tar/tobacco. Very nice mouthfeel and a good progression through a medium long finish. This was showing really well tonight in a lineup with a lot of Syrahs.
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The first KB Syrah I had was this bottle up on Howell Mountain nearly two years ago. I thought it was the worst showing wine of the night. I thought it was out of balance, and maybe even an off bottle. Things have changed in a few years and I believe out of all the KB bottles the Syrah may benefit the most from the aging. While I don't think it compares to the Pinot's it's very good. A ripe Syrah with tons of Blackberry and Blackcurrant. A nice peppery mid-palate lifts the enjoyment but where it drops is the heat on the back end. Looking forward to these over the next months.
15.1% EtOH
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Opening with age.......slight slight corkiness in this one though....gives it a little "old cellar-ness", which I kind of like!. Fresh crushed wild berry fruit, floral and BIG in white pepper spice. Still quite tannic, but the shell has cracked...showing some smoked meat, tar, tobacco, very New World richness. Needs to tone the acid though......little out of whack with the acid, alc. and spice kick. I like this wine!
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Wine was opened and "the neck broke" about 2 - 2 1/2 hours before I got to this one. Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose was still pretty tight or flat out not performing with basically some notes of roasted meat and maybe some fruit hiding behind that. Flavors were dominated by rich currants with some jammy notes. Light to medium acidity, medium tannins, medium body. Drink or hold but I'll be drinking my remaining bottles over the next year, two max. No reason to hold them. Yee...hah.
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Dark red / purple garnet color. Lots of fruit. Some smoke and leather also on the nose. Medium acids. Moderate grainy tannins. Bit of alcohol on the palate and finish. Also picked up some dates and pepper.
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Not nearly as integrated as I had hoped. Disjointed. Very Ripe. Syrupy red fruits, but heat and roasted notes poking out like jagged peaks. Hopefully time will smooth out OR that this bottle isnt representative
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This was drinking much better tonight than on previous occasions. sweet, brambly, with some coffee and cinnamon notes. Not a bad effort, but nothing like the Pinot.
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Popped and poured. At cellar temp I could detect alcohol on the nose and it was pretty evident on the palate. Re-corked and stuck in the fridge to retry on day 2. Much better. Dark berries and a hint of smoke and no heat. Will let the remaining bottles continue their slumber and try again in the fall/winter.
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Double-decanted for an hour; from a cold cellar. This was a surprise--this seemed more like a Cornas or even basic Cote-Rotie than New World Syrah. Iron, blood, smoke, even a little tar are present in the beginning, takes a few hours for the fruit to make an appearance. Unwinds a bit by the second day, but remains tight. The initial heat seemed to integrate with time. I'm very curious to see where this may go over the next 5 years.
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Tasting Group Dinner w/ Alan Rath - Rieslings & Thai (True Thai, Minneapolis): Again, take this TN with a big grain of salt since this was poured in a flight that followed a bunch of Rieslings. Intense, alcoholic nose. Dark, sticky sweet pruny fruit and cough syrup flavors. Huge-scaled. Bitter, burning hot, Mollydooker-like finish. Tastes like it was laced with vodka. Borderline undrinkable.
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Gave my wife the choice between this and a 94' Vieux Telegraphe La Crau, because it was her birthday. She went "new world" on me and chose this to pair with the lamb loin she prepared. Initially it was hot on both the nose and palate, and I chalked that up to it being young. Truthfully, I was hoping the sight of '94 on the VT would distract her, but it didn't work, so I opened this baby up against my will. It is now 3+ hours later, after an hour decant, and it has lost some of the heat and gained some complexity (pepper, more smooth mouthfeel) but I still think this should be put away for a few more years. Tannins aren't too bad, but it's just a bit out of whack for me at this point. Not bad with the food, but should sleep for 2 - 3 years.
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Paired with cassoulet following a 2hr decant. This was great, blackberry, plum and rasberry fruit with supple vanilla oak. Enjoyed this greatly, excellent syrah.
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The blackberry, blueberry, and spice flavors were somewhat disjointed, and I enjoyed this lbottle ess than the last bottle I had of this. Things did start to come together a few hours after opening though.
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Opened and poured into a decanter for sediment and to let this wine get air. Poured a small glass when first opened and the nose was subdued, a bit of fruit and chocolate with a bit of heat from the alcohol. The Color is dark reddish purple but not the blackish purple I was expecting. The first taste and I was met by a wall of tannins with some dark fruit, blueberries and blackberries, trying to come to the forefront. There was a bit of spice on the rather short finish but at first taste I was disappointed.
What a difference three hours makes, the nose was full of Blueberry, chocolate, spice and a bit of an earthy component that I really liked. In the mouth this wine has opened up and is more ready for business, the tannins are in the background while the fruit and spice are out front. The wine has a nice spicy 30+ second finish that leves me wanting more.
I poured half of the wine back into the bottle and will revisit tomorrow, will edit this TN then.
Second day and this wine is very nice, the nose is chocolate, blueberry, plum, spice and earth. In the mouth this wine has come together with blueberry, blackberry, raspberry and pepper. The wine is very rich and full in the mouth with a 45+ second finish. While this doesn't compare well to some of the better Aussi Syrah's out there this wine is a very good Cali Syrah. Very good value at the mailer price but would never think of buying this at auction. I have one left and will hold for three - five years before opening the last one.
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TN: 04 Novy & 04 Kosta Browne Amber Ridge Syrah ... 1 corked :-(: Previously this was wide awake from the moment the bottle was open. Now it is in need of some air. Lots of sweet fruit. This first day it was like jazz fusion. I was wanting it to be a little more straight forward. On the second day, the oak and tannin showed up. I think this is the first time I have noticed tannin on this wine. The fruit is still cranking through and there is just enough acid. This is still a jammy wine. For now, it is disjointed. There is a long heavy finish that shows a lot of heat.
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One of 9 wines tasted at our syrah/zin OL at Lucio's and one of four of the "mystery" wines. In comparison to the other syrah on the table, this one was much more mellow and had a sweet note … almost like brown sugar. If I had not known the theme, I would not have pegged this for a syrah. I enjoyed the wine, but was not a standout among the others.
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I kept thinking "is this a pinot?" The nose was so close to the 05 KB RRV pinot that I served at the same time. It had a deep dark purple color with strong aromas of black fruits and currants. It was missing the spicy black pepper aromas that I like. Not bad but I think it is a bit of a disappointment for what I had expected from KB.
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Decanted for 2 hours. This bottle did not perform as well as the one in July. Never came together with the tannins overt and the fruit present, but not as dynamic. Maybe this was cosumed too early.
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A great bottle of syrah. I was skeptical but it was great. Pretty blackberry color in the glass with a nose of dark fruit, graphite, spice and a touch of oak. Elegant mouthfeel loaded with blackberries and currant with notes of pepper and mineral. A slight bit of oak. I enjoyed this very much. Far cry from the typical Aussie syrah. Decanted for 1 hr.
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Decanted for 7 hours...needs more! I took a sip at about 3 hrs, and it was sour and tight. After 7 hrs. and a full glass....it is still quite tight, but I did manage to get some beautiful boysenberry, raspberry, cherry fruit that's ripe and lush....very spicy white pepper(could also be alc. heat), some tar, pipe tobacco, cocoa dirt. Very high sour cherry skin acidity, lovely florals, intense spice, nice Syrah earth and meat........THIS JUST NEEDS SOME MORE TIME! I think it has great structure and killer fruit...just needs to open. This score could go 5pts higher.
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Woah Baby...what a difference a day makes. This is a 90 point wine when you pop and drink pretty quickly after opening. 24 hours softens the firm tannic edge. The first day the tannins and tar is so pronounced that this wine is hard to please. A night in the fridge with immediate Argon gassing and gradual warmup is just what the Dr ordered. Great nose...changes with different whiffs and increments of time. tar, spice, tobbaco, blue fruits....no burn. Not really a noticeable fruit...but fruit exists. Tar, mentoll, spice, long, complex, nicely integrated finish. Good stuff. Will let some age, but if I drink one soon, I'll give plenty of air time and serve at cellar temp.
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Decanted for 3 hours. This wine exhibited a rich dark purple color with aromas of blueberries, black raspberries and plums with notes of chocolate, spice and earthiness. There was a little bit of heat off the nose, but that would blow off with some more time in the glass. On the palate, rich concentrated berry flavors were present (blackberries and raspberries) with hints of tar and vanilla. Nice firm tannins and good acidity. Nice inaugural release... but as most have already noted... this needs a bit more time to fully integrate and be fully running on all cylinders. HS90
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Decanted 3 hr’s. Deep nose of raspberry and fatty game along with a hint of tar. Rich and concentrated flavors of raspberry, wild blackberry, meat and tar with a light streak of vanilla. Soft, thick tannins with a light foundation of acidity. Tannins still prominent on the long finish along with flashes of white pepper. Can be enjoyed now with a few hours of decant time, but should show its best in a few years.
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Deep opaque purple. Blueberry, dark fruits, and some heat on the nose. Big dark fruit, vanilla, chocolate, and some tobacco, with mildly drying tannins on the palate. Overall, a big monolithic Cali Syrah. Tasty quaffer, but not particularly inspiring.
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BELOW AVERAGE To me this Syrah was unbalanced and not at all what I expected. I am a HUGE Kosta Browne fan and back them whenever and wherever I can, but this is simply not good. Flabby, disjointed, and the fruit was barely hanging around. I hope thier first vintage is not a precursor to later bottles.
Tasted at the Vayniac party up at Howell at the Moon with Gary Vaynerchuk and others. Most were not impressed.
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I have to admit to still tyring to get a grip on Syrah's, but this was a very nice wine. I picked up a noticable amount of heat on the nose and less so on the palate. Despite the 15.1% alchohol, the fruit held it in check. The wine has that telltale bacon fat/roasted meat compotent on the nose I find in Syrah that's growing on me. In addition, this wine provided a nice black licorice finish and abundant fruit on the palate to make for an enjoyable expereince.
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OC Kosta Browne Pay It Forward Offline (Sage in Newport Beach, CA): This wine is still showing tight for me. I recall trying this last summer when KB was down and liking it then but I do think the youth of this wine is still very much showing, as the finish is still for me closed. A nose of crushed rocks and red fruit. The palate is pretty dense, with big char, cherry but even more of a blueberry note, with a finish of chocolate. Suggest further cellaring of this wine or a strong decant.
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7/29/2018 - Senso-beak wrote: 92 Points
Opened and poured. Dark, thick and jammy still at 14 years old. Sweet reds and blacks. Full throttle and high octane at 15.1%. Still delicious, turbo powered juice.
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1/1/2017 - EPounds wrote: 88 Points
This Syrah is still drinking well, but I recommend giving it at least an hour of air. This bottle was a bit hot initially, but it filled out over time and the noticeable alcohol subsided. It's a bit Syrah, but still plenty of fruit left in it.
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12/12/2013 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine:
still drinking well!
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3/31/2013 - MJTed Likes this wine: 90 Points
Basic big new world Syrah. Bursting with blueberry fruit and meaty notes. Graphite, minerals and oak cut across the midpalate, but finishes a bit short and dry.
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3/30/2013 - Meerlust wrote: 88 Points
Dark purple color, quite youthful. The nose is expressive and direct with plums. The palate is not complex but does sport plums, graphite, and minerals. There is average acidity and depth, but the tannins are beginning to dry out this wine. The finish is average with apparent tannins that clip the fruit. Overall, this is simple and nondescript. A cautionary note, serving temperature is very important. As this warmed, it became hot and less focused.
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8/17/2012 - MLwine wrote: 90 Points
Solid syrah.
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2/24/2012 - Chateau Cabron Does not like this wine:
blackish red, opaque.
Strong, fragrant nose of prunes and toasted oak. Huge, massive mouthfeel of thick, stewed fruit character. Grainy tannins and low acidity - medium long finish with a strong fig / prune character.
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11/23/2011 - MadTownWine wrote: 93 Points
Still massive. Beautiful black sediment on cork. Not subtle but yummy. Wish I had more.
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8/14/2011 - JFish wrote:
Quick TN. Popped and poured. Predominance of blueberries. Silky texture. The longer it was opened the heat began to show.
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7/2/2011 - jwebtx wrote:
Hot & flamboyant. Not to my taste on this night.
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7/1/2011 - Nutty08 wrote: 84 Points
San Antonio Wine Geeks (The Monterey): Having the Donelan there really hurt this one. Big ripe nose with a nice meat, iodine and pepper character. Nice nose. Things fall apart on the palate, with syrupy, ripe, alcoholic fruit that becomes clipped on the finish. Hot and out of balance, apparently not aging well.
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7/1/2011 - kantmakem wrote: 92 Points
SA winegeeks. I don't remember much of this one because I tried it at the end of a long line of California blends mixed in with some Bdx, CdP, and an amazing super tuscan. I wrote down in my notes: candy. but good. 92. I'll have to re-visit this one.
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7/1/2011 - daniel.jay wrote: 87 Points
Opened and tasted - strong scent of alcohol. Decanted for 2 hours, still has scent of alcohol on the nose. Medium body, nice taste in the front of the mouth, followed by dry, alcoholic finish. Somewhat disappointed. Hoping day two is better. Opened on the long weekend - sampled each day, but Sunday night, alcohol still noticeable on the nose, but not so much on the finish. Day 3 would be an 89. Still wouldn't rebuy.
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5/25/2011 - budman wrote: 93 Points
Just as good as my last bottle. This wine is in a sweet spot right now. Try one if you have it.
We first saw and smelled this wine in a fermentation bin at Deerfield Ranch in September of 2004.
It's been a fun journey.
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12/12/2010 - wineismylife wrote: 90 Points
Tasted non blind. Opened and glass decanted about 45 minutes before serving. Followed over the next two hours. Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of currants, briar patch, violets and plums. Flavors of plums, currants, black cherries and black berries. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied. Drink over the next few years with some air. 90.
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12/3/2010 - budman wrote: 93 Points
Wow. What a difference another 18 months makes. The tannins have softened, and the dark fruit is at the forefront. Long, smooth finish. I didn't think this wine was going to improve at all, let alone this much. Fantastic.
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11/19/2010 - pjhr wrote: 92 Points
Tasty, but not quite up to the last bottle!
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11/6/2010 - CMCLR wrote: 87 Points
Not interesting- too much alcohol
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10/31/2010 - oski wrote:
So this is what they blend their Pinot with.?. Somewhat one dimensional, good flavor smooth, but nose is lacking
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10/29/2010 - Screameagle wrote: 90 Points
Still holding quite well this syrah should hold for at least another several years. Joan liked it more than I did. I prefer KBs pinots but this wine is a lot of fun to drink too.
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10/29/2010 - tp096255 wrote: 92 Points
COLOR: Purple w/light garnet rim
NOTE: Without the Vinturi, the nose stings with alcohol, like a big whiff from a bottle of rubbing alcohol, but then I can smell the underlying blackberry liqueur and smoke. As bad as that sounds, it's not terribly off-putting. Mouth has a great density and purity of rich blackberry juice & liqueur flavors. It swirls around with mocha and dried strawberry and black currant. Tannins are very refined. Finish is dominated by black fruits, both dried and liqueur, and it takes on a little raw oaky edge. I may be rating this a little too high just because I was disappointed by the 2001 Pride I tasted next to it, but that's life!
DECANT: 2 hr (no Vinturi used for note)
GLASS USED: Syrah
TASTE: 92
COST: 49
VALUE: 6.0
PREVIOUSLY TASTED: n/a
TRY AGAIN: n/a
PAIRING: n/a
---
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9/16/2010 - salil wrote: 83 Points
Starts out with a blast of massively ripe red fruit and alcohol at first, coming across too hot and blowsy initially. With a little air this calms down and becomes a lot more balanced and restrained; bright cherry and plummy flavours seasoned with a gentle spiciness and the alcohol integrating quite nicely.
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8/20/2010 - Mr Cabernet wrote: 90 Points
KB make dependable, if not overpriced, syrahs.
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6/21/2010 - zheem wrote:
Well, this was interesting, two bottles consumed on two consecutive days, and very different from each other. My impressions were shared by a second experienced taster. The first bottle was very rich and smooth, with intense fruit and viscosity, very hedonistic and "american" in its ripeness and flavor profile. The second bottle seemed almost 'OVER THE HILL" having lost fruitiness but having little else of pleasure to add except for interesting tannins which brought lots of attention to the tongue sensations.
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6/3/2010 - Screameagle Likes this wine: 91 Points
Another excellent bottle. Seems to be in it's prime but should hold for at least another few years if not more.
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5/22/2010 - g-man wrote: 92 Points
I decided to open this on a whim not really expecting much. i was really surprised how much this has opened up and really came into balance. It did not come accross as you typical over-the-top Cali syrah. It was really enjoyable and matched well with chicken quesadillas.
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5/2/2010 - Eric wrote:
Pizza and "wines that don't suck" with Leslie Fisher (Seattle, WA, USA): Not tasted.
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3/4/2010 - jimmythesaint wrote: 89 Points
The bottle has integrated well with dark fruit, smoked meat and spice. Medium finish that was balanced and soft.
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3/2/2010 - GoldenTbne wrote: 93 Points
Truly delicious, hitting its stride right now.
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2/20/2010 - Knicksfan wrote: 89 Points
A bit "over the top" for me (and I like over the top)....a bit too hot and dark candied fruit for me.
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1/24/2010 - whminor wrote: 93 Points
Delicious
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1/10/2010 - Mrbuzz wrote: 92 Points
Opened in bottle for 3+ hrs. Gorgeous nose of white pepper, kirsch liqueur, wild berries, pine sap ala Mourvedre. Big and juicy wild berry fruit, kicked up with huge white flower and pepper spice, smoked meat, candied dried cherries, sweet tobacco leaves. The alcohol is there....somewhat fumie, but to me, not off putting. Has substantial enough rich fruit to balance it....but I would prefer it to be have less. Tasty Syrah now...might be very surprised with even more age to it.
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1/9/2010 - windypinot wrote: 90 Points
Intense red; great nose, with blend of pepper, wood and plums; on the mouth, it is a bit hot, with some fruit, but not a ton; doubt this is going to get much better, but it still tastes young to me; very solid syrah, but not the type of balance and finish I prefer from a Cali Syrah.
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1/6/2010 - tonyvelebil wrote: 86 Points
Had a few sips of this from tracis glass. W a maple mustard glazed pork tenderloin and braised kale
color is fairly dark. Nose is equally dark with dark cherries and plum some definite booze
palate shows more dark fruit, smoke, mint and a little raw beef and a lot of alcohol. We both agreed the alcohol sticks out in a slightly unpleasant way. I would drink these up if you have them
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1/2/2010 - DesMarteau wrote: 90 Points
losing steam fast....mint, spice, nice integration. Much of the complexity gone. Fruit pretty faded into the background.
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12/15/2009 - CRAUBER4242 wrote: 90 Points
This wine needed about ½ to 1 hour of airtime. Dark ruby color with a nice nose of blueberry, plum and black pepper with licorice notes coming to the forefront with air. This wine was OH SO creamy on the long, silky smooth palate, exhibiting notes of blueberry, plum and spice.
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12/12/2009 - yhn wrote: 65 Points
Nose - smooth, woody, pruney.
Burning hot, peppery, bitter, hint of black fruit, gritty bitter tannin.
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11/20/2009 - WetRock wrote: flawed
Back to School Again (The Restaurant at Kellogg Ranch): Corked!
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11/13/2009 - Jared wrote: 92 Points
Hefty, new world syrah. Gobs of blue/black fruits interwoven with some nice spice and oak. Pretty darn good. 92pts.
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11/7/2009 - bajayngo wrote:
09 cayuse dinner quick notes - cool to get a lil cali syrah in the mix. Nice fruit forward wine with some secondary characteristice. I enjoyed his.
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9/13/2009 - jnanz wrote: 89 Points
Very good. Rich flavors of plum, blackberry and oak were complimented by notes of bay leaf, clove and olive. The additional herbal and spice notes were nice, but the oak (vanilla-tinged) was maybe a bit too much this time around.
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8/26/2009 - CADomer wrote: 90 Points
This wine was deep and dark with a thick milky texture on the palate. The nose was full of very ripe black berries and blue berries that were followed by black olives and roasted meats. The viscous palate coated my mouth with blue berry preserves and black pepper. The weighty tannins were chewy yet smooth with no apparent heat from the alcohol.
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6/19/2009 - thomaskeil wrote: 91 Points
PnP. Dark reddish violet. Deep dark blackberry aromas with smoke, red currants, meat and a hint of peppery licorice. Fleshy black fruit and meaty tar on the palate with gritty tannins, sufficient acidity and a bit of heat (which was of little concern to me). Despite the powerful blackberry nose, I rather liked this wine as it has a really nice structure that created a good balance.
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6/6/2009 - lorenzo wrote: 91 Points
Different story tonight. This came out of the tunnel (er cellar) ready to roll tonight. Cellar temp advised. Stuffed with ripe rich red fruits. Much more integrated than last time out. Drink Now
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6/5/2009 - cookie7 wrote: 79 Points
Waited too long on this one - all heat no fruit. Not enjoyable
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5/31/2009 - jt wrote:
Hot, hotter, hottest. Reduced, reduceder, reducedest. Ripe, riper, ripest. Bleh. Only thing going for this right now is that I have had a cold for three weeks, edging into bronchitis, and this worked better than any other medicine at breaking up that crap that I have "produced" from my lungs. One more bottle in the cellar. Drink now, or wait until next year when I come down with what has become my annual case of bronchitis?
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5/28/2009 - budman wrote: 90 Points
Not quite as good as the last bottle. I was hoping this would improve with age, but so far.... not!
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5/10/2009 - Frank Murray III wrote:
As opposed to earlier experiences with this wine where the parts were more of the expression than the whole, I'd offer this wine has really smoothed out now. No doubt, it is rich, fleshy and packed, maybe a bit ripe, but there is a decadent quality that is also atrractive. I would suggest this wine also is a "drink now" bottle, as I don't find the structure to hold this up for further aging. Down the hatch.
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4/26/2009 - oski wrote: 93 Points
nice
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4/17/2009 - BonnieM wrote:
Didn't decant but it was pretty good all the same. More restrained than it might have been with air. Nice currant and smokiness.
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4/6/2009 - wineismylife wrote: 89 Points
WIML89?
Tasted April 6, 2009.
Opened and decanted a little over an hour before serving. Following over another hour. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Slightly restrained nose of currants, berries and maybe a little smoke. Same thing on the palate with light notes of currants, berries and maybe a little blueberry on the slightly clipped finish. Light acidity, fairly resolved tannins, maybe medium bodied. Drink over the short term.
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3/28/2009 - Screameagle wrote: 92 Points
Wow, has this wine improved from the bottle I had shortlly after release. I decanted for an hour but it needed two hours at least. A very nice syrah with more upside with some more ageing.
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3/27/2009 - leadpencil wrote: 93 Points
Dark purple. Full bodied. First KB syrah. Expected cool-climate style, but more Aussie-like. Fruit forward. Blackberry, chocolate, allspice, white pepper. Reminds me of Amon Ra.
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3/15/2009 - pjhr wrote: 93 Points
Delicious blackberry and black cherry aromas and flavors with silky texture and spice and oak notes on the long finish.
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2/28/2009 - last chance wrote: 93 Points
The nose had sweet blackberry and blueberry aromas with some notes of baking spices. The palate was crammed full of dark fruit flavors, and a little nuance of tar/tobacco. Very nice mouthfeel and a good progression through a medium long finish. This was showing really well tonight in a lineup with a lot of Syrahs.
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2/16/2009 - chateaumiller wrote: 86 Points
VERY GOOD
The first KB Syrah I had was this bottle up on Howell Mountain nearly two years ago. I thought it was the worst showing wine of the night. I thought it was out of balance, and maybe even an off bottle. Things have changed in a few years and I believe out of all the KB bottles the Syrah may benefit the most from the aging. While I don't think it compares to the Pinot's it's very good. A ripe Syrah with tons of Blackberry and Blackcurrant. A nice peppery mid-palate lifts the enjoyment but where it drops is the heat on the back end. Looking forward to these over the next months.
15.1% EtOH
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1/23/2009 - Mrbuzz wrote: 92 Points
Opening with age.......slight slight corkiness in this one though....gives it a little "old cellar-ness", which I kind of like!. Fresh crushed wild berry fruit, floral and BIG in white pepper spice. Still quite tannic, but the shell has cracked...showing some smoked meat, tar, tobacco, very New World richness. Needs to tone the acid though......little out of whack with the acid, alc. and spice kick. I like this wine!
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12/28/2008 - wineismylife wrote: 88 Points
WIML88
Tasted December 28, 2008 at an offline.
Wine was opened and "the neck broke" about 2 - 2 1/2 hours before I got to this one. Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose was still pretty tight or flat out not performing with basically some notes of roasted meat and maybe some fruit hiding behind that. Flavors were dominated by rich currants with some jammy notes. Light to medium acidity, medium tannins, medium body. Drink or hold but I'll be drinking my remaining bottles over the next year, two max. No reason to hold them. Yee...hah.
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12/11/2008 - glg wrote: 87 Points
In a word, or two words -- BLUEBERRY PIE. Frankly a little too sweet at this stage of development.
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11/10/2008 - kris.h wrote: 89 Points
Dark red / purple garnet color. Lots of fruit. Some smoke and leather also on the nose. Medium acids. Moderate grainy tannins. Bit of alcohol on the palate and finish. Also picked up some dates and pepper.
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10/7/2008 - budman wrote: 91 Points
This was worth waiting for. Decanted 90 minutes. Smooth dark fruit. Long finish.
Folks who popped this early probably should have waited!!!
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7/31/2008 - lorenzo wrote: 86 Points
Not nearly as integrated as I had hoped. Disjointed. Very Ripe. Syrupy red fruits, but heat and roasted notes poking out like jagged peaks. Hopefully time will smooth out OR that this bottle isnt representative
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7/1/2008 - shudave wrote:
This was drinking much better tonight than on previous occasions. sweet, brambly, with some coffee and cinnamon notes. Not a bad effort, but nothing like the Pinot.
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6/15/2008 - Sweet Nancy wrote:
Sweet for a Syrah from RRV. Served it on the cool side considering the alcohol. Bramble and coffee notes. Nice!
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6/14/2008 - JFish wrote:
Popped and poured. At cellar temp I could detect alcohol on the nose and it was pretty evident on the palate. Re-corked and stuck in the fridge to retry on day 2. Much better. Dark berries and a hint of smoke and no heat. Will let the remaining bottles continue their slumber and try again in the fall/winter.
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5/17/2008 - bknysak wrote: 90 Points
Double-decanted for an hour; from a cold cellar. This was a surprise--this seemed more like a Cornas or even basic Cote-Rotie than New World Syrah. Iron, blood, smoke, even a little tar are present in the beginning, takes a few hours for the fruit to make an appearance. Unwinds a bit by the second day, but remains tight. The initial heat seemed to integrate with time. I'm very curious to see where this may go over the next 5 years.
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4/18/2008 - Sweet Nancy wrote:
Dark color, big fruit profile. Soft tannins on the finish. Glycerine. Enjoyed with grilled loin lamb chops.
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3/5/2008 - Siggy wrote:
Tasting Group Dinner w/ Alan Rath - Rieslings & Thai (True Thai, Minneapolis): Again, take this TN with a big grain of salt since this was poured in a flight that followed a bunch of Rieslings. Intense, alcoholic nose. Dark, sticky sweet pruny fruit and cough syrup flavors. Huge-scaled. Bitter, burning hot, Mollydooker-like finish. Tastes like it was laced with vodka. Borderline undrinkable.
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2/29/2008 - PinotFan wrote:
Gave my wife the choice between this and a 94' Vieux Telegraphe La Crau, because it was her birthday. She went "new world" on me and chose this to pair with the lamb loin she prepared. Initially it was hot on both the nose and palate, and I chalked that up to it being young. Truthfully, I was hoping the sight of '94 on the VT would distract her, but it didn't work, so I opened this baby up against my will. It is now 3+ hours later, after an hour decant, and it has lost some of the heat and gained some complexity (pepper, more smooth mouthfeel) but I still think this should be put away for a few more years. Tannins aren't too bad, but it's just a bit out of whack for me at this point. Not bad with the food, but should sleep for 2 - 3 years.
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2/23/2008 - jnanz wrote: 91 Points
Paired with cassoulet following a 2hr decant. This was great, blackberry, plum and rasberry fruit with supple vanilla oak. Enjoyed this greatly, excellent syrah.
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2/17/2008 - CRAUBER4242 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for an hour. Nice nose of black fruit with a hint of red fruit. Black fruit on the palate. Nice finish.
Enjoyed with the family at the Wine Cellar with venison, lamb chops and short ribs.
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2/14/2008 - Rob A wrote: 92 Points
Deep, rich black fruits, overt oak, but not totally off-putting, all-in-all very pleasureable
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2/11/2008 - cookie7 wrote: 92 Points
This was a pleasant surprise. Seemed old world. Lots of black and blue fruits, anise and licorice. Nice finish.
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2/11/2008 - mreinitz wrote: 88 Points
The blackberry, blueberry, and spice flavors were somewhat disjointed, and I enjoyed this lbottle ess than the last bottle I had of this. Things did start to come together a few hours after opening though.
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2/8/2008 - Seanr7 wrote: 90 Points
Opened and poured into a decanter for sediment and to let this wine get air. Poured a small glass when first opened and the nose was subdued, a bit of fruit and chocolate with a bit of heat from the alcohol. The Color is dark reddish purple but not the blackish purple I was expecting. The first taste and I was met by a wall of tannins with some dark fruit, blueberries and blackberries, trying to come to the forefront. There was a bit of spice on the rather short finish but at first taste I was disappointed.
What a difference three hours makes, the nose was full of Blueberry, chocolate, spice and a bit of an earthy component that I really liked. In the mouth this wine has opened up and is more ready for business, the tannins are in the background while the fruit and spice are out front. The wine has a nice spicy 30+ second finish that leves me wanting more.
I poured half of the wine back into the bottle and will revisit tomorrow, will edit this TN then.
Second day and this wine is very nice, the nose is chocolate, blueberry, plum, spice and earth. In the mouth this wine has come together with blueberry, blackberry, raspberry and pepper. The wine is very rich and full in the mouth with a 45+ second finish. While this doesn't compare well to some of the better Aussi Syrah's out there this wine is a very good Cali Syrah. Very good value at the mailer price but would never think of buying this at auction. I have one left and will hold for three - five years before opening the last one.
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2/6/2008 - jasonh wrote:
TN: 04 Novy & 04 Kosta Browne Amber Ridge Syrah ... 1 corked :-(: Previously this was wide awake from the moment the bottle was open. Now it is in need of some air. Lots of sweet fruit. This first day it was like jazz fusion. I was wanting it to be a little more straight forward. On the second day, the oak and tannin showed up. I think this is the first time I have noticed tannin on this wine. The fruit is still cranking through and there is just enough acid. This is still a jammy wine. For now, it is disjointed. There is a long heavy finish that shows a lot of heat.
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1/22/2008 - kris.h wrote: 88 Points
Seattle Round 2: Rhone vs. Rhone Ranger (Seattle, WA): Green Olives. Interesting. Seems overly acidified. Maybe it's still young and disjointed.
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1/20/2008 - scofer wrote: 88 Points
One of 9 wines tasted at our syrah/zin OL at Lucio's and one of four of the "mystery" wines. In comparison to the other syrah on the table, this one was much more mellow and had a sweet note … almost like brown sugar. If I had not known the theme, I would not have pegged this for a syrah. I enjoyed the wine, but was not a standout among the others.
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1/17/2008 - old tractor wrote: 91 Points
Japanese preserved plums. Astringency, licorice, newly lit cigar, cedar. Big, weighty.
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12/28/2007 - Love4Vino wrote:
I kept thinking "is this a pinot?" The nose was so close to the 05 KB RRV pinot that I served at the same time. It had a deep dark purple color with strong aromas of black fruits and currants. It was missing the spicy black pepper aromas that I like. Not bad but I think it is a bit of a disappointment for what I had expected from KB.
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12/16/2007 - Elkiholic wrote: 86 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. This bottle did not perform as well as the one in July. Never came together with the tannins overt and the fruit present, but not as dynamic. Maybe this was cosumed too early.
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11/22/2007 - jnanz wrote: 91 Points
A great bottle of syrah. I was skeptical but it was great. Pretty blackberry color in the glass with a nose of dark fruit, graphite, spice and a touch of oak. Elegant mouthfeel loaded with blackberries and currant with notes of pepper and mineral. A slight bit of oak. I enjoyed this very much. Far cry from the typical Aussie syrah. Decanted for 1 hr.
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11/9/2007 - jimmythesaint wrote: 90 Points
Reviewed ratings prior to opening and was very hesitant. Drank wine upon decanting and was muy bueno. Nice fruit and spice but still very young.
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11/6/2007 - Erik R. wrote: 88 Points
some nice fruit, but wasn't giving it up much, trace heat.
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11/2/2007 - Mrbuzz wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 7 hours...needs more! I took a sip at about 3 hrs, and it was sour and tight. After 7 hrs. and a full glass....it is still quite tight, but I did manage to get some beautiful boysenberry, raspberry, cherry fruit that's ripe and lush....very spicy white pepper(could also be alc. heat), some tar, pipe tobacco, cocoa dirt. Very high sour cherry skin acidity, lovely florals, intense spice, nice Syrah earth and meat........THIS JUST NEEDS SOME MORE TIME! I think it has great structure and killer fruit...just needs to open. This score could go 5pts higher.
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10/30/2007 - pinotwinelover wrote: 90 Points
fine
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10/20/2007 - glg wrote: 92 Points
Varietally correct - with lots of spice and earth on the fruit backbone. Very enjoyable and well made wine.
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10/12/2007 - DesMarteau wrote: 94 Points
Woah Baby...what a difference a day makes. This is a 90 point wine when you pop and drink pretty quickly after opening. 24 hours softens the firm tannic edge. The first day the tannins and tar is so pronounced that this wine is hard to please. A night in the fridge with immediate Argon gassing and gradual warmup is just what the Dr ordered. Great nose...changes with different whiffs and increments of time. tar, spice, tobbaco, blue fruits....no burn. Not really a noticeable fruit...but fruit exists. Tar, mentoll, spice, long, complex, nicely integrated finish. Good stuff. Will let some age, but if I drink one soon, I'll give plenty of air time and serve at cellar temp.
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9/15/2007 - HurrahSyrah wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. This wine exhibited a rich dark purple color with aromas of blueberries, black raspberries and plums with notes of chocolate, spice and earthiness. There was a little bit of heat off the nose, but that would blow off with some more time in the glass. On the palate, rich concentrated berry flavors were present (blackberries and raspberries) with hints of tar and vanilla. Nice firm tannins and good acidity. Nice inaugural release... but as most have already noted... this needs a bit more time to fully integrate and be fully running on all cylinders. HS90
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9/2/2007 - GreenDrazi wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 3 hr’s. Deep nose of raspberry and fatty game along with a hint of tar. Rich and concentrated flavors of raspberry, wild blackberry, meat and tar with a light streak of vanilla. Soft, thick tannins with a light foundation of acidity. Tannins still prominent on the long finish along with flashes of white pepper. Can be enjoyed now with a few hours of decant time, but should show its best in a few years.
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9/2/2007 - Greg Pierce wrote:
Deep opaque purple. Blueberry, dark fruits, and some heat on the nose. Big dark fruit, vanilla, chocolate, and some tobacco, with mildly drying tannins on the palate. Overall, a big monolithic Cali Syrah. Tasty quaffer, but not particularly inspiring.
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8/12/2007 - chateaumiller wrote: 74 Points
BELOW AVERAGE
To me this Syrah was unbalanced and not at all what I expected. I am a HUGE Kosta Browne fan and back them whenever and wherever I can, but this is simply not good. Flabby, disjointed, and the fruit was barely hanging around. I hope thier first vintage is not a precursor to later bottles.
Tasted at the Vayniac party up at Howell at the Moon with Gary Vaynerchuk and others. Most were not impressed.
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7/23/2007 - Elkiholic wrote: 90 Points
I have to admit to still tyring to get a grip on Syrah's, but this was a very nice wine. I picked up a noticable amount of heat on the nose and less so on the palate. Despite the 15.1% alchohol, the fruit held it in check. The wine has that telltale bacon fat/roasted meat compotent on the nose I find in Syrah that's growing on me. In addition, this wine provided a nice black licorice finish and abundant fruit on the palate to make for an enjoyable expereince.
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7/4/2007 - mreinitz wrote: 92 Points
Great barbeque wine. Big, fruity, and open. All four of us thoroughly enjoyed it.
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4/21/2007 - old tractor wrote: 91 Points
Cerries, berry, hint of licorice, moist fresh hay, smooth, approachable. Tannins on the finish.
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2/4/2007 - Frank Murray III wrote:
OC Kosta Browne Pay It Forward Offline (Sage in Newport Beach, CA): This wine is still showing tight for me. I recall trying this last summer when KB was down and liking it then but I do think the youth of this wine is still very much showing, as the finish is still for me closed. A nose of crushed rocks and red fruit. The palate is pretty dense, with big char, cherry but even more of a blueberry note, with a finish of chocolate. Suggest further cellaring of this wine or a strong decant.
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