Hoops and McCabe got it right. While I found the tannins on the finish bitter a few years ago per my note, this wine has come around. Some jammy black fruit notes along with warm spices. Yes, it's still got a sledgehammer finish that keeps it out of the 90's but it's all integrated and the wine is not old or tired tasting. It needed time to show its potential. And it's a beautiful example of Cali Syrah. I'd say it's at peak now. I've been drawn to Zaca Mesa Syrahs forever because they're unapologetically big and that beats out the easy-drinking stuff any day for me.
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I never like this wine as much as others. This one had good spice, cinnamon nose and fairly rich palate, but I find the overtones of old vegetables on nose and palate that overwhelms the strong points.
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The May 27, 2013 tasting note is absolutely on point. So hard to judge this, as the nose and initial impression are excellent, but the finish is marred by bitter tannins. As attractive as the build up is, the finish is off.
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My experience with this bottle was like: yes, Yes, YES, ... oh, that's a shame. The nose was very nice with red fruit, kirsch, hint of licorice, and bacon fat. The initial attack was juicy, and the mouthfeel was plush. The major downside was the finish, which turned bitter. Air time softened the bitterness a tad, but then some heat crept in as it warmed (but not as much heat as the previous bottle). Tasted on a few occasions out of the Enomatic, with and without food, with consistent notes.
This gets close to being really good but just doesn't quite make it
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This bottle is at peak right now. The last of three, wish I'd let the others cellar longer. Strong nose that doesn't draw you in, but with some time in the glass this wine developed into a spicy Syrah with notes of pepper and blackberries. A real winner that underscores how a few years in the cellar can make an above average bottle into something special.
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This is like a big Aussie Shiraz -- powerful bouquet of blackberries, dark and opaque. Nice effort, although critics would call it a fruit bomb. I'm betting it will improve with more cellar time.
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This is very drinkable and somewhat of a crowd pleaser due to it's highly extracted flavor and heavy oak influence, but for me this clearly lacks depth and complexity. Very little memorable notes but a bit of a yum factor.
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Floral, cherries and something else (berries?) on nose. Dark wine with plenty of body....Really quite delicious..Tannins present. a little pepper but lots of fruit and a pleasantly long smooth finish. Maybe I'm slowly being converted to Syrahs.
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Big meaty rich concentrated, smoked meat on the nose with slight note of alcohol, dark fruit and maybe bacon on pallete. Needs at least an hour or two to breath, and like most well made wines, hold up great day 2, maybe even better than day 1.
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Dark purple in color with soft, ripe fruit flavors in the nose. It has plenty of juicy fruit flavors up front, solid mid-palate body, and an enduring finish that is round and rich. This seems like the perfect time to drink this wine. It paired well with the succulent grilled ribs. Lots of character and pretty distinctive terroir that is evocative of the Santa Ynez Valley. Excellent QPR. I'm looking forward to the next bottle.
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Popped, ran through aeration & filter into a decanter. Some sediment on the downward side of the bottle. Dark purple. Nose of bramble fruits. Notes of cherry, red berries, trace blackberry, maybe even a bit of tobacco going on. Very nice & full. Seriously nice.
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Nice syrah, this bottle had all the same fruit characteristics of the previous bottles i have had, but has now added a note of game. The tannins are still intact but seem close to softening significantly. Good overall balance, but it does still need some a couple hours of air to balance out.
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A beautiful perfume of raspberries, cherries, dark red roses, herbs, and dried leaves. A full bodied wine with a palate of fresh blackberries and a little bacon fat. Silky smooth mouthfeel leads to sweet tannins. ($20)
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Cinnamon and spice on the nose. Very plummy with spice notes on the palate, medium bodied, good depth, plummy, tannins are firm, dark plum color... nearly black, plummy.
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I can’t remember the last Syrah I had from California, so this will be a surprise, but maybe not much of a surprise as the Wine Spectator gave it 92 points.
This bottle has been open for two hours, so it should be fully open by now.
The meniscus is tricky. It’s trying to hide, but I can see it. It’s there being all coy while absorbing all the slow falling legs. The meniscus is not saying a word. It’s not inviting or saying come back again some other time. I’ll take that as a cue to give it a sniff. I think I should slowly approach this wine, which makes sense because I’ve been wanting to drink it for about a week now.
Oh, dear Zaca Mesa Syrah, do present your nose.
It’s a lovely Syrah nose. I smell another continent even. I smell Australia. But no, it’s from California. It smells dark. By the way, it is dark. It’s 98% opaque with bright purple sides and a dark ruby hue. It has a hint of pepper in it. It also has blackberries and blueberries. I’m also picking up something like steak fat. Juicy, yummy, slight charred steak fat that is served on a white plate next to a bouquet of flowers. There’s definitely flowers in the nose. Oh, the table has a muted white and freshly pressed table cloth. And here comes the server with a towel draped over his left arm. He pours me a glass of the Zaca Mesa Syrah 2005. What a picturesque nose this wine has. Already, I want to come back.
Anyway. To the tasting. Allons-y.
It’s cold in the front of the mouth and warm in the back. You know what? It’s kinda meaty. It’s got like a steak finish and sort of a steak feel, but only on the finish. A good medium-rare steak. At the same time, and I hate putting this next to the steak, but it’s a bit leathery, too.
It’s definitely a full-bodied wine. It’s a hard body, too, yet a bit juicy. And it seems old world Syrah to me, which is fine, but I like them even bigger than this one and with more explosions. But that’s me. What about this wine. It’s a solid, sturdy wine. The flavors are concentrated, which I like, but I think a little cheese or red sauce pasta or, of course, some steak would put this wine at ease and make it all loose and cool. You know, like a muted white and freshly pressed table cloth but with a few crumbs on it and a waded up cloth napkin and one unused fork.
I have no steak, but I have some cheese and water. Oh, yeah. That did it. This wine opened right up. It got all bright like it’s bright purple sides. It started smiling and kicking back. It put its napkin on the table, slid the chair back a bit, kicked out its legs, started chattin’ and laughin’ away while tapping the unused fork on the freshly pressed table cloth, and then it said, “Honey, where’s that baked Alaska at?”
Oh, this just gets better and better. I haven’t had a bite of cheese in a while. Yeah, it’s lovely. A wonderful commingling of steak and flowers.
I like this wine. I can’t wait to serve it with dinner.
Dark magenta color. Blueberries, bitter chocolate and some floral aromas on the nose, maybe a whiff of bacon fat now & then too. Fairly rich, good concentration, but not too heavy or syrupy. Blueberries, some creamy oak and spice, medium length & finish. A little tannic. Held up nicely the next day. Pretty good wine for the price. If the oak is able to integrate in the next few years, could be a very nice wine.
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Bottle age has let the fruit come forward, blueberry and cherry. Still a good amount of tannin, with balanced acidity. Black pepper, tobacco, and smoke on the finish. Excellent with grilled tri-tip.
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Great nose. Warm, rich dark fruits, tobacco, coffee and meat. On the palate, same and a healthy dose of pepper. Well integrated, lush and fun, but not over the top. Terrific Central Coast Syrah.
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Good plum and berry fruit, with nice gamey, earthy, and spice notes. I liked this wine except for the heat on the finish. Just felt the alcohol too much on this, even though we drank it at 55-60 deg. Have had many other wines with similar %ABV that mask the alcohol much better. Will hang onto the other bottle to see if it smooths out.
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PnV. Great dark purple black color almost all the way to a dark plum rim. Huge nose from the moment the cork was pulled of blueberry, savoury cassis, tabacco, leather and fennel sausage. Big but smooth blueberry jam but with a balancing acidity lots of extra herbal notes, touch of smoke and vanilla. Oomph with elegance. Like it a lot and wish I bought more at the $19 a bottle I paid.
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A nose of dark fruit and spice, dark purple in color. A smooth, full bodied red, blueberry, blackberry, spice, pepper with a good finish, a solid wine.
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Decanted for an hour and drank over 2 days. Better than your average Syrah. Black cherries and plums. Ripe, but not overly so, with a touch of spice (and alcohol) on the finish. Really smoothed out the second day. Really good value.
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Hard to be disappointed at $22. Nice Syrah with a pretty and inviting nose. Licorice, tar, wood spice, rich floral aspects, purple fruit. Palate is perhaps a touch over-refined, thinning out slightly in midpalate. Still surprisingly nice for the price point.
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Not as good as I remembered but this improved over time in the glass. In the final glass I got blueberry, raspberry, with big tannin and good acidity. Earlier I got more blackberry that was bordering on the Aussie style that I don't care for. My final glass would have rated 91, my initial glass would have rated 85. Does this mean it should have been aerated?
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Poured through Vinturi ... A deep, inky purple. Clean and very smooth Syrah. Full-flavored, rich and mouth-coating, with a medium finish. Decent QPR at approx. $16/bottle, but lacks depth and complexity.
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Very nice Syrah. Smooth, mature, soft. This is an easy drinking wine with a nice nose. It is "ready now" and is drinking very smooth with no sharp edges and a nice long finish. Robust, but not too much pepper or spice.
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Very smooth and balanced. Mostly cherry with a hint of strawberry. Not as complex as previous bottles, but feels very mature now. My favorite Syrah under $20/bottle.
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Nice dark color. Blueberry, black cherry, and a hint of pepper (or perhaps cinnamon?) both on the nose and in the taste. Moderately long, smoot finish. Probably near it's peak, though will last some years longer.
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Deep garnet in color with an attractive nose of dark cherry, black plum. Very enjoyable on the palate; red rapsberry, smoke, and an awkward transition (vegital) to a rather pleasant long finish. I'm not sure how to describe the mid-palate, but I'm not to fond of it. Overall a nice wine and a nice value for Cali Syrah.
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Overpoweringly grapey in the nose when first poured, with a distinct note of some hydrocarbon (kerosene?). Not sure if the bottle was flawed, but it was not very appetizing. Inky dark in the glass. Palate was full-bodied, with moderate grip on the finish. Left half-empty bottle corked overnight, and was much better the next day, but still too grapey for me. I love syrahs with spicy, meaty notes, but I found them lacking here. Not a favorite.
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Nice QPR! Rubber, tobacco, dark fruit. Really enjoyable, based on previous reviews I suspect that the tannins have softened a bit since this summer. I am going to grab some more.
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Easily the best bottle of this yet. Where the others have been good daily drinkers, this was an out and out great wine. Blackberry and black currant syrah fruit, with good meaty and mineral notes. Peppery smoke on the finish. Seemed very Rhonish, really. Had no traces of vanillin that I could detect. 90+
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Definitely showing some age. Almost tasted more like an Aussey than what I am usually familiar with from SBC. More dark fruit, less smoke. A different complexity than what I remember before but still interestingly complex.
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nice nose with bold scent of dark/blue fruit, spice and some smokey barrell. palate has spicy blackberry showing very good acidity which creates a nice, lingering finish.
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Really nice Syrah with coffee, smoke and toffe flavors that meld well in the mouth. Held-up well with food and neither over-powered nor shied away. Have been nothing but impressed with wines from this winery. The Z Three is also a great wine
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Very nice- smooth with some meatiness, but less than many Syrahs. Nice fruit. J liked it too. I think it's ready to drink, and I'm not sure if it will get better.
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New Years Dinner and Good Wines 12/31/2009 (Gervais & Vine, Columbia, SC): I find that same diesel and nitrogen deficiency on the nose here that I get on some of those Australian Shiraz' that I don't feel qualified to review. To me this is a flaw. I have been told to give them the benefit of the doubt, and that this is probably the product of some particularly heavy duty acidity. This otherwise is a big dark wine with plenty of fruit, and color. There is some peppery spice, cedar and leather in the background. It is a little light on the mid palate. There is lots here to like, and I will try another bottle, and decant it.
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Last drank this about a year ago and took about 3-4 hours to really open up. Drank tonight after a 1 hour decant and it was right on target. Great bouquet, blackberry some tobacco and that wonderful edge that a classic syrah should have. I'm not talking total fruit bomb but a wonderfully balanced wine. Does anyone remember Cliffe Lede Syrah 2003? This pretty close to that. But if you didn't like the 03 Lede, then forget the last coment and move on....Buy more and drink the stuff with some smoked ribs this summer.
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Corked bottle. Came highly recommended but at least this bottle was undrinkable. Hope the other 3 I bought are good. Won't rate the wine that I poured out. A good bottle might very well be fantastic.
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Plums and cream on the nose, full-bodied and full-of dark fruits, but a bit one dimensional. Decent value, but had a bit of a hard, bitter edge on the finish. Perhaps needs another year or two?
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Robust dark fruit on the nose - black berry, dark cherry, blueberry - spice and hint of vanilla. Tannins nicely offset the fruit and suggest that this one might even be a bit better with a little age (just a couple years). Very full bodied with a nice rich, smooth, long finish. Used in a french beef stew recipe and enjoyed before and with the meal. We all really enjoyed the wine.
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High alcohol packs a punch at first but is rounded out shortly with forest berry and earthy flavors. Finish is quite dry from what I could tell and not as lush as some Aussie Shiraz.
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Would be a real nice syrah but the heat from the alcohol is way too much on the finish. Has good dark fruit, spice, and pepper. It is really good till the end of the finish, then the heat. Too bad.
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Took forever to open up and was still very overpowered by prunes and bitter fruits. Second day was a bit more mellow, but not great. I'll wait a while to open my second bottle.
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Put this one in the "over-oaked" file for me. There is very little varietal character in this wine -- the oak overpowered everything. I would challenge anyone to identify this as Syrah in a blind tasting. I'm very disappointed and upset that I spent $15 on this -- this is the exact same oak juice that the Tobin James Chateau Le Cacheflo is that sells for $8 or even Yellowtail Shiraz for $5. I was expecting much better than this lazy winemaking from Zaca Mesa because I have previously enjoyed their Z-Cuvee and Z-Three. I did not expect a $15 bottle of generic oak plonk and I am not happy about it. I guess I'm in the minority with this style of wine because the 25 previous notes all seem to have enjoyed this and not a single mention of oak. Perplexing, to say the least. 2nd day edit: oak spice has softened somewhat, but now the alc is more prominent. Not sure what WS was drinking to warrant a 92 rating, but they weren't drinking this. This wine actually reminds me quite a bit of the 2006 Cycles Gladiator Syrah I tried recently, but that was $8.
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This is a full bodied wine. Great nose, blackberries, cassis, a hint of coffee(?), and some spice, my friends thought sage or similar. Lovely finish as said earlier full bodied. Great wine and enjoyed by all.
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This bottle is very dense and tightly wound compared to previous bottles. There's some mineral, fig, and blackberry on the nose. In the mouth, it's exceedingly dense, not without good qualities, but it gets a little bitter on the finish. Not as good as previous bottles. 87
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Dark purple. Nice plum and dark cherry with hint of blueberry on the nose. Somewhat dry and restrained, but beefy on first taste. Opens up quickly to big New World fruit, but tannins could soften a bit. Really like this wine but will hold on to the last 2 bottles awhile to fully develop. 90 Points now, but better softer tannins could get this one to 92-93.
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zaca mesa is a fav of mine ever since i stepped foot in their tasting room.. this syrah was fantastic.. smells of strawberries, cherries come to mind when opening.. very vivacious.. would def buy again
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Initial impression was blah...waited 2 hours and better. Tasted Jam infused with herbs and tobacco. Paired with Miteca Cordobes goats milk cheese and a prime NY steak off the bar-b. Not sure I would buy again since its only as good as Peter Lehmann Syrah for $5 less.
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Good full dark fruit aromas and a rich dark color in the glass. The fruit is paired with a nice hint of spice and a touch of pepper on the palate and a nice finish with enough tannins to allow a few more years to develop. Nice low price means plenty more to be consumed over the next few years.
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Good, balanced syrah, nowhere close to overwhelming. Wild berry profile, a little currant, with a slightly meaty herbal edge to it. Easy to recommended as an everyday wine at around $15.
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Rich and jammy black raspberry nose, with hints of blueberry. Echoed on palate. Definitely jammy and super-extracted, which I've been getting a little tired of. Rich body, light-medium tannins and acid. Fruit bomb, very new world and fresh. I wouldn't get again, but it was tasty enough. $20
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on the nose barnyard, dirt, a burst of good n' plenty cnady, with some underlying fruit. on the palate blueberry, spice and plum. dies quickly on the tongue, soft mouthfeel. bitter-sweet chocolate on the finish.
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12/17/2018 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 90 Points
From a magnum. Plenty going on, though past it’s peak. Notes of sous bois, pepper and some meat juice. Past peak but not tired, if that makes sense.
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5/30/2017 - Brad T Likes this wine: 89 Points
Hoops and McCabe got it right. While I found the tannins on the finish bitter a few years ago per my note, this wine has come around. Some jammy black fruit notes along with warm spices. Yes, it's still got a sledgehammer finish that keeps it out of the 90's but it's all integrated and the wine is not old or tired tasting. It needed time to show its potential. And it's a beautiful example of Cali Syrah. I'd say it's at peak now. I've been drawn to Zaca Mesa Syrahs forever because they're unapologetically big and that beats out the easy-drinking stuff any day for me.
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3/31/2014 - hoops92 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Velvet mouthfeel, great taste from first sip. No indication of harshness reported by some members. Nice value Syrah.
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3/17/2014 - Doblk wrote: 84 Points
I never like this wine as much as others. This one had good spice, cinnamon nose and fairly rich palate, but I find the overtones of old vegetables on nose and palate that overwhelms the strong points.
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3/6/2014 - John McCabe wrote: 92 Points
Rich and complex. Pretty spicy but plenty of other things going on. Has a beautiful sweetness to it.
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3/2/2014 - Brad T Does not like this wine: 86 Points
The May 27, 2013 tasting note is absolutely on point. So hard to judge this, as the nose and initial impression are excellent, but the finish is marred by bitter tannins. As attractive as the build up is, the finish is off.
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6/10/2013 - Tpmess wrote: 90 Points
spicey nose with plum and licorice flavors, more fruity as it opened up
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5/27/2013 - SpoochMan wrote: 87 Points
My experience with this bottle was like: yes, Yes, YES, ... oh, that's a shame. The nose was very nice with red fruit, kirsch, hint of licorice, and bacon fat. The initial attack was juicy, and the mouthfeel was plush. The major downside was the finish, which turned bitter. Air time softened the bitterness a tad, but then some heat crept in as it warmed (but not as much heat as the previous bottle). Tasted on a few occasions out of the Enomatic, with and without food, with consistent notes.
This gets close to being really good but just doesn't quite make it
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12/14/2012 - joet626 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very good. Dark and rich. Lots of plum flavors. Nice, long finish.
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11/18/2012 - Pour Boy wrote: 92 Points
This bottle is at peak right now. The last of three, wish I'd let the others cellar longer. Strong nose that doesn't draw you in, but with some time in the glass this wine developed into a spicy Syrah with notes of pepper and blackberries. A real winner that underscores how a few years in the cellar can make an above average bottle into something special.
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8/31/2012 - newworldman wrote: 91 Points
Great wine. Smoke cedar complex
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4/11/2012 - VAD wrote: 88 Points
Good aroma. Nice color and smell. Nice start to the wine but fades at the finish. Good wine, but not great.
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11/24/2011 - Naso wrote: 88 Points
Nice syrah but nothing spectacular.
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11/20/2011 - jordanwf wrote:
Seemed like it was getting near the end of its time. I'd drink now if I were you.
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11/15/2011 - BobMilton Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice fruit, though starting to fade. Well integrated tannins and quite smooth.
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11/4/2011 - pgm wrote: 91 Points
A serious, Rhone-ish syrah, with minerals and pepper over the blackberry fruit. This is better than I remember from the bottle I'd had in '09 and '10.
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10/17/2011 - Muchacho wrote: 89 Points
Decanted x 30 min. Well integrated and smooth, nice fruit and soft tannins. I liked this one better when it was younger and had more character.
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10/10/2011 - Pour Boy wrote: 89 Points
This is like a big Aussie Shiraz -- powerful bouquet of blackberries, dark and opaque. Nice effort, although critics would call it a fruit bomb. I'm betting it will improve with more cellar time.
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10/4/2011 - jpakma wrote: 85 Points
This is very drinkable and somewhat of a crowd pleaser due to it's highly extracted flavor and heavy oak influence, but for me this clearly lacks depth and complexity. Very little memorable notes but a bit of a yum factor.
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9/16/2011 - John McCabe wrote: 91 Points
Am very pleasantly surprised at the quality of this. Ready to drink.
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8/28/2011 - EvanJB wrote: 90 Points
Still a very nice Syrah
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8/11/2011 - Annie1 wrote: 90 Points
Floral, cherries and something else (berries?) on nose. Dark wine with plenty of body....Really quite delicious..Tannins present. a little pepper but lots of fruit and a pleasantly long smooth finish. Maybe I'm slowly being converted to Syrahs.
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8/7/2011 - hwjunkie wrote: 91 Points
Big meaty rich concentrated, smoked meat on the nose with slight note of alcohol, dark fruit and maybe bacon on pallete. Needs at least an hour or two to breath, and like most well made wines, hold up great day 2, maybe even better than day 1.
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4/24/2011 - docjavadude wrote: 90 Points
Dark purple in color with soft, ripe fruit flavors in the nose. It has plenty of juicy fruit flavors up front, solid mid-palate body, and an enduring finish that is round and rich. This seems like the perfect time to drink this wine. It paired well with the succulent grilled ribs. Lots of character and pretty distinctive terroir that is evocative of the Santa Ynez Valley. Excellent QPR. I'm looking forward to the next bottle.
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4/11/2011 - trneumann wrote: 91 Points
Slight pepper, blueberry, hint of chocolate
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3/28/2011 - wadcorp wrote: 88 Points
Popped, ran through aeration & filter into a decanter. Some sediment on the downward side of the bottle. Dark purple. Nose of bramble fruits. Notes of cherry, red berries, trace blackberry, maybe even a bit of tobacco going on. Very nice & full. Seriously nice.
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3/17/2011 - Gargamel wrote: 92 Points
Nice syrah, this bottle had all the same fruit characteristics of the previous bottles i have had, but has now added a note of game. The tannins are still intact but seem close to softening significantly. Good overall balance, but it does still need some a couple hours of air to balance out.
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2/27/2011 - dwaynelm wrote: 89 Points
Tannins have faded, leaving a cherry, blueberry, cocoa, coffee melange. This was good now but I wouldn't let it age much longer.
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2/4/2011 - ecola wrote: 91 Points
A beautiful perfume of raspberries, cherries, dark red roses, herbs, and dried leaves. A full bodied wine with a palate of fresh blackberries and a little bacon fat. Silky smooth mouthfeel leads to sweet tannins. ($20)
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1/26/2011 - EvanJB wrote:
Really nice balanced Syrah.
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1/13/2011 - wineotim wrote: 88 Points
Cinnamon and spice on the nose. Very plummy with spice notes on the palate, medium bodied, good depth, plummy, tannins are firm, dark plum color... nearly black, plummy.
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12/27/2010 - Normones wrote: 89 Points
very nice.
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12/18/2010 - Muchacho wrote: 89 Points
Good juice. I think I like it better last year though.
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11/11/2010 - thelinebreak wrote: 90 Points
I can’t remember the last Syrah I had from California, so this will be a surprise, but maybe not much of a surprise as the Wine Spectator gave it 92 points.
This bottle has been open for two hours, so it should be fully open by now.
The meniscus is tricky. It’s trying to hide, but I can see it. It’s there being all coy while absorbing all the slow falling legs. The meniscus is not saying a word. It’s not inviting or saying come back again some other time. I’ll take that as a cue to give it a sniff. I think I should slowly approach this wine, which makes sense because I’ve been wanting to drink it for about a week now.
Oh, dear Zaca Mesa Syrah, do present your nose.
It’s a lovely Syrah nose. I smell another continent even. I smell Australia. But no, it’s from California. It smells dark. By the way, it is dark. It’s 98% opaque with bright purple sides and a dark ruby hue. It has a hint of pepper in it. It also has blackberries and blueberries. I’m also picking up something like steak fat. Juicy, yummy, slight charred steak fat that is served on a white plate next to a bouquet of flowers. There’s definitely flowers in the nose. Oh, the table has a muted white and freshly pressed table cloth. And here comes the server with a towel draped over his left arm. He pours me a glass of the Zaca Mesa Syrah 2005. What a picturesque nose this wine has. Already, I want to come back.
Anyway. To the tasting. Allons-y.
It’s cold in the front of the mouth and warm in the back. You know what? It’s kinda meaty. It’s got like a steak finish and sort of a steak feel, but only on the finish. A good medium-rare steak. At the same time, and I hate putting this next to the steak, but it’s a bit leathery, too.
It’s definitely a full-bodied wine. It’s a hard body, too, yet a bit juicy. And it seems old world Syrah to me, which is fine, but I like them even bigger than this one and with more explosions. But that’s me. What about this wine. It’s a solid, sturdy wine. The flavors are concentrated, which I like, but I think a little cheese or red sauce pasta or, of course, some steak would put this wine at ease and make it all loose and cool. You know, like a muted white and freshly pressed table cloth but with a few crumbs on it and a waded up cloth napkin and one unused fork.
I have no steak, but I have some cheese and water. Oh, yeah. That did it. This wine opened right up. It got all bright like it’s bright purple sides. It started smiling and kicking back. It put its napkin on the table, slid the chair back a bit, kicked out its legs, started chattin’ and laughin’ away while tapping the unused fork on the freshly pressed table cloth, and then it said, “Honey, where’s that baked Alaska at?”
Oh, this just gets better and better. I haven’t had a bite of cheese in a while. Yeah, it’s lovely. A wonderful commingling of steak and flowers.
I like this wine. I can’t wait to serve it with dinner.
Enough said. I’ll give it 90 points.
http://thelinebreak.wordpress.com/2010/11/10/in-pursuit-of-the-juiciest-wine-day-sixty-four-zaca-mesa-syrah-2005/
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11/10/2010 - davergny wrote: 87 Points
Dark magenta color. Blueberries, bitter chocolate and some floral aromas on the nose, maybe a whiff of bacon fat now & then too. Fairly rich, good concentration, but not too heavy or syrupy. Blueberries, some creamy oak and spice, medium length & finish. A little tannic. Held up nicely the next day. Pretty good wine for the price. If the oak is able to integrate in the next few years, could be a very nice wine.
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11/7/2010 - dwaynelm wrote: 91 Points
Bottle age has let the fruit come forward, blueberry and cherry. Still a good amount of tannin, with balanced acidity. Black pepper, tobacco, and smoke on the finish. Excellent with grilled tri-tip.
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11/7/2010 - RandomCoil wrote: 90 Points
Tight at first, opened up after a vinturi. Smooth and not overly fruity. Great value.
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10/31/2010 - Jbegleiter Likes this wine: 90 Points
Really opened up after an hour or so... a little tight at the beginning. Would absolutely buy this again.
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10/8/2010 - acintheoc wrote: 91 Points
Best Syrah of the night
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9/19/2010 - tgkswine wrote: 84 Points
Drinkable but not memorable. This one never seemed to get itself together and was way overpriced on a generally overpriced wine list.
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9/10/2010 - Brian1970 wrote: 91 Points
Great nose. Warm, rich dark fruits, tobacco, coffee and meat. On the palate, same and a healthy dose of pepper. Well integrated, lush and fun, but not over the top. Terrific Central Coast Syrah.
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9/4/2010 - MDRwinos wrote: 88 Points
Solid if unspectacular syrah from Zaca Mesa. Reasonably balanced but not long on the palatte.
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9/4/2010 - Muchacho wrote: 90 Points
Still drinking well!
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8/27/2010 - SpoochMan wrote: 86 Points
Good plum and berry fruit, with nice gamey, earthy, and spice notes. I liked this wine except for the heat on the finish. Just felt the alcohol too much on this, even though we drank it at 55-60 deg. Have had many other wines with similar %ABV that mask the alcohol much better. Will hang onto the other bottle to see if it smooths out.
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7/28/2010 - df1962 wrote: 92 Points
PnV. Great dark purple black color almost all the way to a dark plum rim. Huge nose from the moment the cork was pulled of blueberry, savoury cassis, tabacco, leather and fennel sausage. Big but smooth blueberry jam but with a balancing acidity lots of extra herbal notes, touch of smoke and vanilla. Oomph with elegance. Like it a lot and wish I bought more at the $19 a bottle I paid.
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7/24/2010 - BobMilton Likes this wine: 89 Points
This has aged ust about to its peak. Nice fruit, with more than a hint of Syrah's pepper. Nicely balanced.
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7/23/2010 - denisontb wrote: 90 Points
Very nice, smooth Syrah. See previous notes, as still hold. Buy more if I can find the 2005. Heard the '06 was good too.
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7/11/2010 - corkscrews wrote: 90 Points
A nose of dark fruit and spice, dark purple in color. A smooth, full bodied red, blueberry, blackberry, spice, pepper with a good finish, a solid wine.
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7/6/2010 - hawk30 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for an hour and drank over 2 days. Better than your average Syrah. Black cherries and plums. Ripe, but not overly so, with a touch of spice (and alcohol) on the finish. Really smoothed out the second day. Really good value.
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6/26/2010 - Giggs wrote: 90 Points
Hard to be disappointed at $22. Nice Syrah with a pretty and inviting nose. Licorice, tar, wood spice, rich floral aspects, purple fruit. Palate is perhaps a touch over-refined, thinning out slightly in midpalate. Still surprisingly nice for the price point.
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6/22/2010 - dirtyharry wrote: 86 Points
something missing here, but not sure what..just did not warm up to this wine after 2 bottles
wanted to really like it but just too vegetal to my taste
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5/13/2010 - maxmanx wrote: 92 Points
Very nice, refined wine. The meatiness is there but not overwhelming. Ready to drink now.
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5/7/2010 - dwaynelm wrote: 89 Points
Not as good as I remembered but this improved over time in the glass. In the final glass I got blueberry, raspberry, with big tannin and good acidity. Earlier I got more blackberry that was bordering on the Aussie style that I don't care for. My final glass would have rated 91, my initial glass would have rated 85. Does this mean it should have been aerated?
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5/1/2010 - markandsusanw Likes this wine: 87 Points
Poured through Vinturi ... A deep, inky purple. Clean and very smooth Syrah. Full-flavored, rich and mouth-coating, with a medium finish. Decent QPR at approx. $16/bottle, but lacks depth and complexity.
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4/16/2010 - denisontb wrote: 89 Points
Very nice Syrah. Smooth, mature, soft. This is an easy drinking wine with a nice nose. It is "ready now" and is drinking very smooth with no sharp edges and a nice long finish. Robust, but not too much pepper or spice.
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4/16/2010 - Grillgod wrote: 91 Points
Very smooth and balanced. Mostly cherry with a hint of strawberry. Not as complex as previous bottles, but feels very mature now. My favorite Syrah under $20/bottle.
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4/12/2010 - BobMilton Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice dark color. Blueberry, black cherry, and a hint of pepper (or perhaps cinnamon?) both on the nose and in the taste. Moderately long, smoot finish. Probably near it's peak, though will last some years longer.
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4/12/2010 - Sauvyfan Likes this wine: 88 Points
Deep garnet in color with an attractive nose of dark cherry, black plum. Very enjoyable on the palate; red rapsberry, smoke, and an awkward transition (vegital) to a rather pleasant long finish. I'm not sure how to describe the mid-palate, but I'm not to fond of it. Overall a nice wine and a nice value for Cali Syrah.
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3/3/2010 - maxmanx wrote: 92 Points
I really enjoyed the contrast between the fruit & the meaty Syrah flavors. J did not (I did the scoring!).
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2/27/2010 - Sparkotron wrote: 82 Points
Overpoweringly grapey in the nose when first poured, with a distinct note of some hydrocarbon (kerosene?). Not sure if the bottle was flawed, but it was not very appetizing. Inky dark in the glass. Palate was full-bodied, with moderate grip on the finish. Left half-empty bottle corked overnight, and was much better the next day, but still too grapey for me. I love syrahs with spicy, meaty notes, but I found them lacking here. Not a favorite.
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2/22/2010 - Muchacho wrote: 90 Points
Nice QPR! Rubber, tobacco, dark fruit. Really enjoyable, based on previous reviews I suspect that the tannins have softened a bit since this summer. I am going to grab some more.
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2/20/2010 - pgm wrote: 90 Points
Easily the best bottle of this yet. Where the others have been good daily drinkers, this was an out and out great wine. Blackberry and black currant syrah fruit, with good meaty and mineral notes. Peppery smoke on the finish. Seemed very Rhonish, really. Had no traces of vanillin that I could detect. 90+
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2/18/2010 - GregGH wrote: 90 Points
very enjoyable and smooth - bottle didn't last long
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2/15/2010 - dwaynelm wrote: 89 Points
Definitely showing some age. Almost tasted more like an Aussey than what I am usually familiar with from SBC. More dark fruit, less smoke. A different complexity than what I remember before but still interestingly complex.
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2/5/2010 - Pour Boy wrote: 90 Points
Nice spicy Syrah, a la a Rhone blend. Plums and berries, with tart finish.
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1/29/2010 - Gargamel wrote: 92 Points
nice nose with bold scent of dark/blue fruit, spice and some smokey barrell. palate has spicy blackberry showing very good acidity which creates a nice, lingering finish.
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1/18/2010 - Disco Stew wrote: 90 Points
Really nice Syrah with coffee, smoke and toffe flavors that meld well in the mouth. Held-up well with food and neither over-powered nor shied away. Have been nothing but impressed with wines from this winery. The Z Three is also a great wine
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1/14/2010 - maxmanx wrote: 90 Points
Very nice- smooth with some meatiness, but less than many Syrahs. Nice fruit. J liked it too. I think it's ready to drink, and I'm not sure if it will get better.
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1/12/2010 - yui wrote: 91 Points
soo good. great price
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12/31/2009 - Laurence wrote: 90 Points
Lovely wine - good color, flavor and balance.
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12/31/2009 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 87 Points
New Years Dinner and Good Wines 12/31/2009 (Gervais & Vine, Columbia, SC): I find that same diesel and nitrogen deficiency on the nose here that I get on some of those Australian Shiraz' that I don't feel qualified to review. To me this is a flaw. I have been told to give them the benefit of the doubt, and that this is probably the product of some particularly heavy duty acidity. This otherwise is a big dark wine with plenty of fruit, and color. There is some peppery spice, cedar and leather in the background. It is a little light on the mid palate. There is lots here to like, and I will try another bottle, and decant it.
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12/29/2009 - pgm wrote: 88 Points
Notes as before, a good value syrah with decent varietal typicity, but nothing really distinctive.
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12/26/2009 - newworldman wrote: 90 Points
Last drank this about a year ago and took about 3-4 hours to really open up. Drank tonight after a 1 hour decant and it was right on target. Great bouquet, blackberry some tobacco and that wonderful edge that a classic syrah should have. I'm not talking total fruit bomb but a wonderfully balanced wine. Does anyone remember Cliffe Lede Syrah 2003? This pretty close to that. But if you didn't like the 03 Lede, then forget the last coment and move on....Buy more and drink the stuff with some smoked ribs this summer.
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12/25/2009 - sonofabacchus wrote: flawed
Corked bottle. Came highly recommended but at least this bottle was undrinkable. Hope the other 3 I bought are good. Won't rate the wine that I poured out. A good bottle might very well be fantastic.
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12/24/2009 - jmcmchi wrote: 89 Points
I like this; somewhat restrained nose for a californian but fair balance of oak, acicity and fruit. Higher alcohol than I expected.
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12/4/2009 - mas01950 wrote: 86 Points
Plums and cream on the nose, full-bodied and full-of dark fruits, but a bit one dimensional. Decent value, but had a bit of a hard, bitter edge on the finish. Perhaps needs another year or two?
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11/21/2009 - peternelson wrote: 87 Points
Hiro: Fair Syrah ripe, cali style, average.
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11/21/2009 - jonb72 wrote: 87 Points
Leather, gasoline, dark berries, oak, some bitterness
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11/11/2009 - Michael6296 wrote:
SWLS - 10/18/2009 90 points
Reminds me of gasoline and poop. Lots of spice. Yuk. Water quick. The anti Viagra.
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11/6/2009 - n8540 wrote: 92 Points
This wine is very dark. Nose is fruity, but not candied. Very rich and earthy. Finish is medium long, tastes like dark chocolate. Excellent wine!
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11/1/2009 - jcbrand wrote: 91 Points
better on night 2...
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10/31/2009 - Combo wrote: 91 Points
Robust dark fruit on the nose - black berry, dark cherry, blueberry - spice and hint of vanilla. Tannins nicely offset the fruit and suggest that this one might even be a bit better with a little age (just a couple years). Very full bodied with a nice rich, smooth, long finish. Used in a french beef stew recipe and enjoyed before and with the meal. We all really enjoyed the wine.
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10/22/2009 - skiwine wrote: flawed
May have been bad
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10/18/2009 - SWLS wrote: 90 Points
Gasoline and dirt on the nose, pepper forward, with vanilla notes and leather on the finish. Great value
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10/3/2009 - tequilajake wrote: 85 Points
High alcohol packs a punch at first but is rounded out shortly with forest berry and earthy flavors. Finish is quite dry from what I could tell and not as lush as some Aussie Shiraz.
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9/28/2009 - dwaynelm wrote: 90 Points
Blueberry, black pepper, smoke, tight acidic & tannic structure, hint of barnyard on the nose.
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9/27/2009 - saribo wrote: 89 Points
I liked this. Very warm and new world, lots of dark fruit. Plenty of oak, but I thought it worked well.
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9/5/2009 - dwaynelm wrote: 91 Points
Blueberry, cherry, nice acidity, hardy tannins. Mushroom, smokey nose.
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8/19/2009 - Tuffdawg wrote: 84 Points
Would be a real nice syrah but the heat from the alcohol is way too much on the finish. Has good dark fruit, spice, and pepper. It is really good till the end of the finish, then the heat. Too bad.
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8/16/2009 - elefkowitz wrote: 87 Points
Took forever to open up and was still very overpowered by prunes and bitter fruits. Second day was a bit more mellow, but not great. I'll wait a while to open my second bottle.
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8/12/2009 - PIntag wrote: 75 Points
Put this one in the "over-oaked" file for me. There is very little varietal character in this wine -- the oak overpowered everything. I would challenge anyone to identify this as Syrah in a blind tasting. I'm very disappointed and upset that I spent $15 on this -- this is the exact same oak juice that the Tobin James Chateau Le Cacheflo is that sells for $8 or even Yellowtail Shiraz for $5. I was expecting much better than this lazy winemaking from Zaca Mesa because I have previously enjoyed their Z-Cuvee and Z-Three. I did not expect a $15 bottle of generic oak plonk and I am not happy about it. I guess I'm in the minority with this style of wine because the 25 previous notes all seem to have enjoyed this and not a single mention of oak. Perplexing, to say the least.
2nd day edit: oak spice has softened somewhat, but now the alc is more prominent. Not sure what WS was drinking to warrant a 92 rating, but they weren't drinking this. This wine actually reminds me quite a bit of the 2006 Cycles Gladiator Syrah I tried recently, but that was $8.
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7/26/2009 - zeenichka wrote: 94 Points
This is a full bodied wine. Great nose, blackberries, cassis, a hint of coffee(?), and some spice, my friends thought sage or similar. Lovely finish as said earlier full bodied. Great wine and enjoyed by all.
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7/15/2009 - pgm wrote: 87 Points
This bottle is very dense and tightly wound compared to previous bottles. There's some mineral, fig, and blackberry on the nose. In the mouth, it's exceedingly dense, not without good qualities, but it gets a little bitter on the finish. Not as good as previous bottles. 87
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6/23/2009 - Grillgod wrote: 90 Points
Dark purple. Nice plum and dark cherry with hint of blueberry on the nose. Somewhat dry and restrained, but beefy on first taste. Opens up quickly to big New World fruit, but tannins could soften a bit. Really like this wine but will hold on to the last 2 bottles awhile to fully develop. 90 Points now, but better softer tannins could get this one to 92-93.
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6/21/2009 - mr.spock wrote:
zaca mesa is a fav of mine ever since i stepped foot in their tasting room.. this syrah was fantastic.. smells of strawberries, cherries come to mind when opening.. very vivacious.. would def buy again
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6/14/2009 - SapphireDirewolf wrote: 89 Points
Initial impression was blah...waited 2 hours and better. Tasted Jam infused with herbs and tobacco. Paired with Miteca Cordobes goats milk cheese and a prime NY steak off the bar-b. Not sure I would buy again since its only as good as Peter Lehmann Syrah for $5 less.
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6/13/2009 - pkbackman wrote: 89 Points
Excellent fruit forward Syrah.
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6/9/2009 - Mike Stoneking wrote: 91 Points
Good full dark fruit aromas and a rich dark color in the glass. The fruit is paired with a nice hint of spice and a touch of pepper on the palate and a nice finish with enough tannins to allow a few more years to develop. Nice low price means plenty more to be consumed over the next few years.
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6/5/2009 - rck289 wrote: 91 Points
Great wine for the price. I'm planning to get more.
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5/24/2009 - dwaynelm wrote: 91 Points
Blueberry, cinnamon, raspberry, licorice, chocolate - moderate tannin, adequate acidity.
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5/23/2009 - pgm wrote: 89 Points
Good, balanced syrah, nowhere close to overwhelming. Wild berry profile, a little currant, with a slightly meaty herbal edge to it. Easy to recommended as an everyday wine at around $15.
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5/7/2009 - SKannan wrote: 91 Points
Full bodied and full of flavor with a spicy finish. Excellent to drink now.
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5/5/2009 - maxmanx wrote: 91 Points
Very nice wine. Ready to drink now. Popped & poured. Not sure it will improve with age.
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4/27/2009 - yui wrote: 91 Points
I liked this a lot for $18, it's a great syrah. very meaty, loads of dark fruit and a long finish.
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4/19/2009 - dwaynelm wrote: 91 Points
Blueberry, cinnamon, raspberry, licorice, chocolate - moderate tannin, adequate acidity.
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4/3/2009 - joshwoodward wrote: 87 Points
Rich and jammy black raspberry nose, with hints of blueberry. Echoed on palate. Definitely jammy and super-extracted, which I've been getting a little tired of. Rich body, light-medium tannins and acid. Fruit bomb, very new world and fresh. I wouldn't get again, but it was tasty enough. $20
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3/7/2009 - ihavezinned wrote: 87 Points
on the nose barnyard, dirt, a burst of good n' plenty cnady, with some underlying fruit. on the palate blueberry, spice and plum. dies quickly on the tongue, soft mouthfeel. bitter-sweet chocolate on the finish.
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