Big surprise here. Opened figuring it would be long gone. But, tasted blind among 10 syrahs, this more than held its own, and surprised everyone with its age. Well done.
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At first I just get alcohol on the nose, but after some air I smell dark berries, cherry liqueur, and menthol. The palate is suddenly (but pleasantly) tart, then fades to soft berry fruit and sanguineous savoriness. It gets more harmonious the longer it's been open. This wine is still very big and does better with food. Please pair it with some red meat or another intense, savory dish.
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Really liked the nose on this. A little pepper spice with a nice earth/forrest floor undertone. Good dark berry in the pallette with a medium finish. Well balanced, well done. Drink now or hold for another year or two.
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Had this after a 2007 Quivet syrah. PnP. In comparison, it was just a little too OTT. Dark fruit, oak, and meatiness. Seemed well made...just followed a very good wine.
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Decanted 90 min. This one is really open for business at this point. Attractive nose of blackberry liqueur and roses, with a bit of bacon fat around the edges. A really nice palate has strength by virtue of dark fruits and fine, smooth tannins, but an excellent acidity to back it up. Ready to drink now, or hang on for a year or two.
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On opening, just offered alcohol and a thin band of berries. Recorked, opened the next night, whereupon it gains momentum with rockin' black cherry, menthol, and game. Still a fair bit of heat, but more in balance the next night. Drink soon, with a decant.
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Decanted two hours, enjoyed with a pairing of grilled kielbasa on pumpernickel with mustard and carmelized onions. Very floral nose. Deep, rich, vibrant fruits. The smokiness of the wine really brought out the flavors of the kielbasa.
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Dark, deep color....nose full of smoked meats, dried herbs, bacon drippings, and sour cherries. The wine is heavy, viscous, and concentrated. The alcohol came through a bit too much at first, but as the wine's flavors expanded with oxidation, the alcohol became hidden.
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asted the next evening. Dark ruby/purple in color with blackberry fruit, thick and lucious. Full-bodied, still showing a little heat on the finish, but a lovely wine.
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Wow -- after so many bad bottles of CA syrah, I finally see what the excitement is about; lush dark fruit, with a hint of meat and olive to provide savory contrast, all backed with a nice iron-y structure. Delicious, rich, balanced, and very drinkable!
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Blueberry, blueberry and blueberry. This is all I get from this wine. Nice fruit forward blueberry wine with alcoholic finish. I will taste again today and see if it has improved the next day.
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Big nose. This one need about 1 hour to breath and mellow out. After that it is a greta syrah. Nice big flavor. Good finish. I would choose the big boy blend over this one but this is still very nice.
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Dense purple to the rim, with essence of licorice, blackberries, and some meaty notes. The palate shows pepper, crème de cassis, new saddle leather, and meaty, black cherry. Medium to full-bodied, rich, and very nicely balanced. Finishes clean, with respectable length.
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Heredia Vina Gravonia, 02 Siduri Rosella's, 06 Eric Kent, 93 Ridge Pagani Ranch (Rockridge): Another contribution from Sasha...he makes a Grenache from the Dry Stack Vineyard...this is a rich wine, that is showing a little oak right now. Good oak that imparts a little chocolate on the palate and contributes to a little bit of a creamy mouthfeel. Still enough acid to hold it all together. It also shows a little underbrush, some spice, violets and grilled meat. A terrific Syrah that went down fast!
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5/2/2022 - Cow Town Likes this wine: 91 Points
Big surprise here. Opened figuring it would be long gone. But, tasted blind among 10 syrahs, this more than held its own, and surprised everyone with its age. Well done.
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1/8/2016 - mlawren1 wrote: 91 Points
Fruit starting to fade, plums cherries and currants give way to a bit of spice on the finish.
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11/28/2013 - mgl wrote: 92 Points
wow!!
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10/31/2012 - mlawren1 wrote: 92 Points
Great syrah. Fruit burst out with cherries and currants and plums. Finishes with a bit of alcohol and chewiness.
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10/10/2012 - alpha_ori wrote: 91 Points
At first I just get alcohol on the nose, but after some air I smell dark berries, cherry liqueur, and menthol. The palate is suddenly (but pleasantly) tart, then fades to soft berry fruit and sanguineous savoriness. It gets more harmonious the longer it's been open. This wine is still very big and does better with food. Please pair it with some red meat or another intense, savory dish.
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5/1/2012 - jon_goodman1 wrote: 90 Points
nice nose. dark fruits but very one dimensional
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1/21/2012 - rben_mvp wrote: 89 Points
Really liked the nose on this. A little pepper spice with a nice earth/forrest floor undertone. Good dark berry in the pallette with a medium finish. Well balanced, well done. Drink now or hold for another year or two.
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12/10/2011 - meatman wrote: 88 Points
Had this after a 2007 Quivet syrah. PnP. In comparison, it was just a little too OTT. Dark fruit, oak, and meatiness. Seemed well made...just followed a very good wine.
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12/16/2010 - lynarthur wrote: 88 Points
Very big wine - needs a little time to smooth out. Decanted for about an hour but needed a little more time.
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11/19/2010 - swillpower wrote:
Decanted 90 min. This one is really open for business at this point. Attractive nose of blackberry liqueur and roses, with a bit of bacon fat around the edges. A really nice palate has strength by virtue of dark fruits and fine, smooth tannins, but an excellent acidity to back it up. Ready to drink now, or hang on for a year or two.
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8/4/2010 - swillpower wrote:
On opening, just offered alcohol and a thin band of berries. Recorked, opened the next night, whereupon it gains momentum with rockin' black cherry, menthol, and game. Still a fair bit of heat, but more in balance the next night. Drink soon, with a decant.
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7/31/2010 - Cellar4040 wrote: 86 Points
Time to drink up--very pleasant upon opening but not complex. After an hour or so gains some depth. Retains a delightful finish.
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4/12/2010 - xtrmjoe wrote: 85 Points
My system (nose mouth finish) /+-
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1/24/2010 - gordoyflaca wrote: 91 Points
sweet and smooth cherries. Big.
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12/16/2009 - ruddy wrote: 90 Points
Plums and licorice and some white pepper on top. Medum body, clean finish.
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11/25/2009 - gordoyflaca wrote: 91 Points
deep cherries kissed with anise, provencal herbs, but with the fruitiness and sweetness that ensures it's a California wine.
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11/21/2009 - blondon wrote:
Decanted two hours, enjoyed with a pairing of grilled kielbasa on pumpernickel with mustard and carmelized onions. Very floral nose. Deep, rich, vibrant fruits. The smokiness of the wine really brought out the flavors of the kielbasa.
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10/17/2009 - tooch wrote: 91 Points
Dark, deep color....nose full of smoked meats, dried herbs, bacon drippings, and sour cherries. The wine is heavy, viscous, and concentrated. The alcohol came through a bit too much at first, but as the wine's flavors expanded with oxidation, the alcohol became hidden.
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9/21/2009 - Tom_B wrote: 92 Points
asted the next evening. Dark ruby/purple in color with blackberry fruit, thick and lucious. Full-bodied, still showing a little heat on the finish, but a lovely wine.
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9/13/2009 - sdatl wrote: 92 Points
Wow -- after so many bad bottles of CA syrah, I finally see what the excitement is about; lush dark fruit, with a hint of meat and olive to provide savory contrast, all backed with a nice iron-y structure. Delicious, rich, balanced, and very drinkable!
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5/3/2009 - MCUBEB wrote: 85 Points
Blueberry, blueberry and blueberry. This is all I get from this wine. Nice fruit forward blueberry wine with alcoholic finish. I will taste again today and see if it has improved the next day.
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2/22/2009 - Saintaz wrote: 90 Points
Big nose. This one need about 1 hour to breath and mellow out. After that it is a greta syrah. Nice big flavor. Good finish. I would choose the big boy blend over this one but this is still very nice.
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2/20/2009 - scott davis wrote: 92 Points
Dense purple to the rim, with essence of licorice, blackberries, and some meaty notes. The palate shows pepper, crème de cassis, new saddle leather, and meaty, black cherry. Medium to full-bodied, rich, and very nicely balanced. Finishes clean, with respectable length.
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2/18/2009 - mgl wrote: 91 Points
Very, very nice. Jammy flavor, very smooth, a lot of fruit.
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10/26/2008 - rogerr wrote: 93 Points
Big, fruit forward, syrah with great mouth feel.
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10/19/2008 - tonyvelebil wrote: 91 Points
Heredia Vina Gravonia, 02 Siduri Rosella's, 06 Eric Kent, 93 Ridge Pagani Ranch (Rockridge): Another contribution from Sasha...he makes a Grenache from the Dry Stack Vineyard...this is a rich wine, that is showing a little oak right now. Good oak that imparts a little chocolate on the palate and contributes to a little bit of a creamy mouthfeel. Still enough acid to hold it all together. It also shows a little underbrush, some spice, violets and grilled meat. A terrific Syrah that went down fast!
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