Dark-minus claret in color with a nose of light oak and good fruit. Get a lot of dark cherry, smoked meat and leather aromas. The wine is dry with soft tannins, good acidity and low heat. This is a nice food syrah at 13.5%, and really appreciated to see a Napa Syrah that's not a glass of syrupy, caramel flavored bigness. Drink it now, it's on the tail end.
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This is my last bottle, and it is definitely the best. One of my few positive garagiste experiences. Popped and poured. A little tar, clove/nutmeg/thyme, and bloody meat on the nose. Significant red fruit (plum). Tannins are smooth. Thyme/tarragon finish lingers for a while. For the price, this is awesome. I wish I had more.
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Irresistible from PnP. A couple of years ago this seemed a bit austere, but now it's singing. Initial nose showed some telltale Syrah tar, but from there it went on an evolution that seemed at times a bit Pinot and a bit Cab Franc, but a common thread was a neat spice - allspice, nutmeg - and bramble, with high red fruit notes interlaced with dark fruits, sometimes seeming nearly baked, but never heavy. All the time it had a mid-weight profile with finishes that lasted until the next sip, but not at all heavy or extracted. Patience paid off. Drink up.
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Based on the fact that I bought this from Garagiste, I was somewhat surprised that this wine started off with lots of oak, but it softened and diminished with time. Stewed plums, rubber tire and leather on the palate. Lingering finish with bramble and eucalyptus. More Rhone style and flavors than the typical Cali Syrah.
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CT reviewer Bob Fyke review seems to express some of my impressions of this wine. It is not like other Cali Syrahs I have tasted (Dumol, Alban, Tensley, Tablas Creek) and the memory of these wines gave me expectations this would be similar. it was not. My first impression is the fruit had passed prime and faded, but I think this is the style of this wine; subdued and subtle. I can see how it would appeal to some as an Old world style, which for me is more structured and less dense than what I'm used to. It was very easy to drink and did have some unusual flavors i couldn't place, but nothing offensive. One the second/third day my wife had some and said a good table wine and I'm inclined to agree. Would go good with food but nothing stands out as exceptional. Just so so for me. Drink now.
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A delightfully graceful syrah with luscious caramel and dark cherry on the palate. Popped this a few hours before dinner and this disappeared fast. Fantastic! Garagiste nailed this one.
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Great northern rhone nose of tar and dark blue fruit. Somewhat heavy on the first night. On the second night, far too fruity and sweet, with no nuances. This is a special and unique wine via Garagiste, worth studying? As the rope said, I'm afraid not.
Overall, 2 on the AF scale, 3 on the first night, 2 on the second night.
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color: darkish purple velvet; nose: oak, blackberry; taste: medium-bodied mouth feel, restrained fruit taste, medium-long finish with a touch of smoke and green pepper; overall: fruity and balanced, but so-so QPR ($26) and I also wouldn't call it fresh tasting
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a nice change from the big in your face Syrah's. as others mentioned this is more medium weight. I found a nice balance of fruit, earthiness and smooth tannins.
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Found this quite smooth and approachable. Medium bodied, with nice balance. A bit of smoked meat, with with some blackberry as well. Very food friendly.
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Muted nose on PnP compared to my first bottle. But after an hour in the glass, this is oozing anise & licorice. In mouth still a bit harsh & on the funky vegetal bend. Those patient enough to recork and revisit are probably rewarded - this could certainly benefit from some acid softening.
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Really nice well rounded syrah...not sure what other reviewers are talking about when they say 'Old World style.' If they mean not a hot jammy shiraz, then I get it...that said, this is not a terroir filled Rhone style Syrah by any measure. I wish I had more...
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Really kinda dull till day 4 (!), and then while still a little light it had some real character. All in all a little disappointing. Not sure it will get better with time but I'm gonna hope.
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This was very good. Well-balanced through the palate. Light on its feet - a pleasure to drink. Not heavy or jammy. Good acidity, but not overwhelming. A well-made, balanced wine. Wish I had bought more.
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Old world in style. Dark fruit infused with lots of minerals. Starts off strong but the finish is pretty short. Enjoyed this good wine, but I'm glad I only bought one.
I liked this very much the first day. Strong blackberry and bacon, nice nose, full-bodied, but still with some restraint. Day two, everything was overwhelmed by alcohol despite listed 13.5%. Either aging, unbalanced or still has a little bottle shock. (Was delivered two months ago.)
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What most impressed me with this was the wonderful lightness on the palate, not thinness, but rather a sort of weightlessness that is so unlike many other syrah / shiraz wines. The nose shows subtle notes of blackberry and bacon with a stunning layer of incense / violet fragrance lying on top. Opens considerably in the first 30 minutes after pop & pour. Sweet tannins and good acidity supporting this balanced and finessed pleasure.
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Bouquet of bacon & stank - yet that's a good thing here. A fast, opulent berry burst on every sip, infused with rocks & bacon, that all-too-quickly subsided into a thin vegetal mid-palate... which thankfully eased up after a half hour. Though the finish never lengthened, it rounded out a neatly packaged syrah that is better than most, especially at this price point.
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Pop/pour. 87 points at this point. Fairly reserved. A bit of attractive bacon funk on the nose. On the palate, a bit tepid. Actually a lot tepid. Perhaps this needs some time. Or, could be that I'm drinking it out of a crappy glass, could be I didn't let it air out enough. One way or another, for me, tonight, this is a pretty ordinary wine, and a poor QPR given the $27 price tag. Update: Day 2, considerably more alluring with the addition of a lot more fruit depth and an interesting menthol note that serves to add complexity that wasn't present the night before.
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Popped and poured at Friday night dinner with family, but wish I had decanted. The wine was dark purple and opaque to the rim. Nose was peppery, dark berry fruits, smoke and bacon and on the palate delivered the same with soft tannins and a smooth if slightly quick finish. I'm glad I have one more that I can decant and enjoy with a meal, as I suspect this would be great with grilled meats or even a burger.
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Certainly a more restrained style than most domestic Syrahs. I'll take better notes with the next bottle. It didn't blow me away, but it was pleasing and is a food friendly Syrah.
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Decanted 1 hr. I own exactly 0.0% bottles of either Napa or Sonoma wine, so what exactly lured me into a Napa Syrah from Garagiste? The good price? Cool label? Hard to say, but I was feeling frisky I guess, and was rather pleased to see this arrive in the warehouse soon thereafter, allowing me to see what was what. The nose threw off what can best be described as Duraflame tones, not bad mind you, just a little different. This soon subsided as more familiar waves of traditional campfire smoke, fresh picked blackberries, and violets took over. Fans of Copain (especially ‘the new style’) will certainly applaud what was in the glass here: Very elegant Syrah, classy raspberry dominated fruit that was backed by a brilliant streak of orange peel, odd descriptor I know, but it was there plain as day, and most definitely worked well within the context of the wine. I don’t think any full clusters were used during fermentation, as I didn’t pick up on the telltale resiny / olive notes one would associate with stems. Just a modest suggestion of wood rounds out the finish, satisfying and complete. Wish I had bought more of these. A great buy sub $30; perhaps I would be a buyer at the normal retail price which I think was around $45 or so.
11/5/2020 - bigbass250 Does not like this wine:
nothing nice worth saying
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6/19/2016 - Italiana wrote:
Nothing out of place. Well made. Drinking well. Not super exciting. Good for guests.
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11/15/2014 - Kitebrian Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark-minus claret in color with a nose of light oak and good fruit. Get a lot of dark cherry, smoked meat and leather aromas. The wine is dry with soft tannins, good acidity and low heat. This is a nice food syrah at 13.5%, and really appreciated to see a Napa Syrah that's not a glass of syrupy, caramel flavored bigness. Drink it now, it's on the tail end.
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6/14/2014 - irinotecan Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is my last bottle, and it is definitely the best. One of my few positive garagiste experiences. Popped and poured. A little tar, clove/nutmeg/thyme, and bloody meat on the nose. Significant red fruit (plum). Tannins are smooth. Thyme/tarragon finish lingers for a while. For the price, this is awesome. I wish I had more.
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11/2/2013 - tward Likes this wine: 91 Points
Irresistible from PnP. A couple of years ago this seemed a bit austere, but now it's singing. Initial nose showed some telltale Syrah tar, but from there it went on an evolution that seemed at times a bit Pinot and a bit Cab Franc, but a common thread was a neat spice - allspice, nutmeg - and bramble, with high red fruit notes interlaced with dark fruits, sometimes seeming nearly baked, but never heavy. All the time it had a mid-weight profile with finishes that lasted until the next sip, but not at all heavy or extracted. Patience paid off. Drink up.
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8/4/2013 - Surfdoc wrote: 88 Points
Based on the fact that I bought this from Garagiste, I was somewhat surprised that this wine started off with lots of oak, but it softened and diminished with time. Stewed plums, rubber tire and leather on the palate. Lingering finish with bramble and eucalyptus. More Rhone style and flavors than the typical Cali Syrah.
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6/9/2013 - pmarlo wrote: 89 Points
CT reviewer Bob Fyke review seems to express some of my impressions of this wine. It is not like other Cali Syrahs I have tasted (Dumol, Alban, Tensley, Tablas Creek) and the memory of these wines gave me expectations this would be similar. it was not. My first impression is the fruit had passed prime and faded, but I think this is the style of this wine; subdued and subtle. I can see how it would appeal to some as an Old world style, which for me is more structured and less dense than what I'm used to. It was very easy to drink and did have some unusual flavors i couldn't place, but nothing offensive. One the second/third day my wife had some and said a good table wine and I'm inclined to agree. Would go good with food but nothing stands out as exceptional. Just so so for me. Drink now.
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5/27/2013 - jimmymac wrote: 91 Points
A delightfully graceful syrah with luscious caramel and dark cherry on the palate. Popped this a few hours before dinner and this disappeared fast. Fantastic! Garagiste nailed this one.
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2/3/2013 - nefarm wrote: 84 Points
Much better on days 2 and 3. Fruit was muted on first day.
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1/8/2013 - BklynNeophyte wrote: 81 Points
Great northern rhone nose of tar and dark blue fruit. Somewhat heavy on the first night. On the second night, far too fruity and sweet, with no nuances. This is a special and unique wine via Garagiste, worth studying? As the rope said, I'm afraid not.
Overall, 2 on the AF scale, 3 on the first night, 2 on the second night.
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1/5/2013 - skifree wrote: 88 Points
Restrained but interesting on Day 1. Some smoke, stems, and fruit. Day 2 it lost it, especially as it warmed. Score reflects day 1.
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1/1/2013 - davidspieker wrote: 88 Points
Served at a holiday party with no formal notes. Well received.
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12/8/2012 - Epic Tale wrote: 85 Points
color: darkish purple velvet; nose: oak, blackberry; taste: medium-bodied mouth feel, restrained fruit taste, medium-long finish with a touch of smoke and green pepper; overall: fruity and balanced, but so-so QPR ($26) and I also wouldn't call it fresh tasting
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8/25/2012 - drdebs wrote: 88 Points
an interesting mix of blackberry, fennel, smoke, and mineral notes in the aromas and flavors.
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7/24/2012 - spidersva Likes this wine: 88 Points
Good, but loses its zip pretty quickly.
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5/20/2012 - j.a.price.trucking Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drank at picnic - no notes.
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4/9/2012 - stormygirl wrote: 85 Points
a nice change from the big in your face Syrah's. as others mentioned this is more medium weight. I found a nice balance of fruit, earthiness and smooth tannins.
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3/12/2012 - bmwcarl wrote:
Nice, medium bodies syrah with some smoky mineral notes. A little too green and vegetal, especially on day 2, for me to really rave about it.
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3/4/2012 - AccaDacca wrote: 88 Points
Found this quite smooth and approachable. Medium bodied, with nice balance. A bit of smoked meat, with with some blackberry as well. Very food friendly.
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2/9/2012 - fitchbuck wrote: 89 Points
Muted nose on PnP compared to my first bottle. But after an hour in the glass, this is oozing anise & licorice. In mouth still a bit harsh & on the funky vegetal bend. Those patient enough to recork and revisit are probably rewarded - this could certainly benefit from some acid softening.
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1/7/2012 - C Mackay wrote: 93 Points
Really nice well rounded syrah...not sure what other reviewers are talking about when they say 'Old World style.' If they mean not a hot jammy shiraz, then I get it...that said, this is not a terroir filled Rhone style Syrah by any measure. I wish I had more...
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12/23/2011 - spidersva Likes this wine: 88 Points
Really kinda dull till day 4 (!), and then while still a little light it had some real character. All in all a little disappointing. Not sure it will get better with time but I'm gonna hope.
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12/4/2011 - BRSAustinTex wrote: 90 Points
very old world style, nice acid, dark fruit and minerals
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11/11/2011 - J.L. Likes this wine:
Bacon, anise, touch of raisin. Lovely.
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9/16/2011 - dk0s0v3c wrote: 89 Points
This was very good. Well-balanced through the palate. Light on its feet - a pleasure to drink. Not heavy or jammy. Good acidity, but not overwhelming. A well-made, balanced wine. Wish I had bought more.
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7/29/2011 - jtinto wrote: 88 Points
Old world in style. Dark fruit infused with lots of minerals. Starts off strong but the finish is pretty short. Enjoyed this good wine, but I'm glad I only bought one.
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7/18/2011 - Mary Crawford wrote: 85 Points
I liked this very much the first day. Strong blackberry and bacon, nice nose, full-bodied, but still with some restraint. Day two, everything was overwhelmed by alcohol despite listed 13.5%. Either aging, unbalanced or still has a little bottle shock. (Was delivered two months ago.)
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7/18/2011 - Bob Fyke wrote: 92 Points
What most impressed me with this was the wonderful lightness on the palate, not thinness, but rather a sort of weightlessness that is so unlike many other syrah / shiraz wines. The nose shows subtle notes of blackberry and bacon with a stunning layer of incense / violet fragrance lying on top. Opens considerably in the first 30 minutes after pop & pour. Sweet tannins and good acidity supporting this balanced and finessed pleasure.
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7/17/2011 - fitchbuck wrote: 91 Points
Bouquet of bacon & stank - yet that's a good thing here. A fast, opulent berry burst on every sip, infused with rocks & bacon, that all-too-quickly subsided into a thin vegetal mid-palate... which thankfully eased up after a half hour. Though the finish never lengthened, it rounded out a neatly packaged syrah that is better than most, especially at this price point.
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6/26/2011 - vanpe003 wrote: 90 Points
Pop/pour. 87 points at this point. Fairly reserved. A bit of attractive bacon funk on the nose. On the palate, a bit tepid. Actually a lot tepid. Perhaps this needs some time. Or, could be that I'm drinking it out of a crappy glass, could be I didn't let it air out enough. One way or another, for me, tonight, this is a pretty ordinary wine, and a poor QPR given the $27 price tag. Update: Day 2, considerably more alluring with the addition of a lot more fruit depth and an interesting menthol note that serves to add complexity that wasn't present the night before.
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4/15/2011 - slulkin wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured at Friday night dinner with family, but wish I had decanted. The wine was dark purple and opaque to the rim. Nose was peppery, dark berry fruits, smoke and bacon and on the palate delivered the same with soft tannins and a smooth if slightly quick finish. I'm glad I have one more that I can decant and enjoy with a meal, as I suspect this would be great with grilled meats or even a burger.
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3/19/2011 - SparkDogg wrote: 91 Points
Very smooth - yummy!
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2/26/2011 - tward wrote: 88 Points
Certainly a more restrained style than most domestic Syrahs. I'll take better notes with the next bottle. It didn't blow me away, but it was pleasing and is a food friendly Syrah.
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1/27/2011 - Ron Felthoven wrote: 91 Points
Great cool climate syrah. no oak to speak of. Takes a while to open up but it's worth it. Great bottle of wine. a favorite in our blind tasting.
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1/15/2011 - Dale M wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 1 hr. I own exactly 0.0% bottles of either Napa or Sonoma wine, so what exactly lured me into a Napa Syrah from Garagiste? The good price? Cool label? Hard to say, but I was feeling frisky I guess, and was rather pleased to see this arrive in the warehouse soon thereafter, allowing me to see what was what. The nose threw off what can best be described as Duraflame tones, not bad mind you, just a little different. This soon subsided as more familiar waves of traditional campfire smoke, fresh picked blackberries, and violets took over. Fans of Copain (especially ‘the new style’) will certainly applaud what was in the glass here: Very elegant Syrah, classy raspberry dominated fruit that was backed by a brilliant streak of orange peel, odd descriptor I know, but it was there plain as day, and most definitely worked well within the context of the wine. I don’t think any full clusters were used during fermentation, as I didn’t pick up on the telltale resiny / olive notes one would associate with stems. Just a modest suggestion of wood rounds out the finish, satisfying and complete. Wish I had bought more of these. A great buy sub $30; perhaps I would be a buyer at the normal retail price which I think was around $45 or so.
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