We opened this bottle with our friend, Wade, at The Oven - Haymarket, and decanted for about an hour. Enjoyed this bottle over the following hour with a couple of appetizers, soup, and various entrees. As mentioned in a previous review, this wine is a bit polarizing. I liked it a bunch, Wade was on the fence I think, and Brookie did not care for it all that much.
This is leaning towards New World style, but I sensed a hint of Cote Rotie. The nose is inviting, the mid-palate delivers, and the finish is good but not great. Dark fruit, mulberry, licorice, probably other stuff. Brooke thought the alcohol was noticeable, I did not. In it's drinking window now, but a decant helps. Napa drinkers will love this, Rhone purists may not.
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Condensed palate of boysenberry fruit, good focus, no bulk, no noticeable oak, alcohol in check. I'm intrigued by how lean this is showing. Dark Syrah fruits of the blue/black sort with a bit of red, along with some Syrah pepper notes. Sleek, smooth sides frame the tapered palate. There is still some tannin here, soft on the palate but prickly on the finish. The acidity is particularly vibrant. Blind, I would not have guessed California but maybe a mid-aged, somewhat modern Cornas.
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Decanted about 2 hours. One of the things I've always liked about Arnot-Roberts Syrahs is the interplay between the meat and fruit. This one is no different. You can almost taste the iron rich meatiness mixed with dark fruit on the nose. The subtle undertones of pepper, tar, and smoke makes hard to stop sniffing. The palate doesn't disappoint either. More of that iron tinged meats, and a mid-palate full of earth and smoke and tar. The acid is mouth watering, making me want something to eat. And the peppery dark fruit on the finish goes on forever.
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13.7% ABV. Dark garnet, slightly translucent in the glass. Cool (as in not warm) mineral nose with a slight lavender/violet nuance lending sweetness, but overall a very savory, northern Rhone-like aroma. Medium-bodied with cool blackish fruit and nuances of lime and saline. Interesting, but sort of cerebral and maybe a little polarizing - my wife didn't care for it at all.
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Tasted over 2 nights (after being open for 5 hours, sealed with a vacu vin) - decanted for ~ 1 hour on night 1. Dark red / purple color. Darker on night 2. On night one the nose was pretty tight with some red fruits & tobacco. On the body, the tannins are noticeable at the front (stems were left on in the crush I believe) but not overpowering. Very smooth, with rich acidity (better with food now than without) and fruit (black cherry), meat, and tobacco. More new world than old. Long finish. This wine was better on night 2 (it seemed to have more body) so I would wait at least a year if you only have one bottle but very good now with a decant. Would buy again.
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Sonoma-Napa Trip Day 1; 6/25/2009-6/26/2009 (Sonoma): 13.7% ABV. $60. High-toned cool climate fruit nose. Deeply colored, slightly translucent. The nose on this reminds me of some hypothetical super-ripe olive. Tangy fruit. Additional nuance that didn't make it into my notes. Nice.
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10/22/2021 - Magnum PI Likes this wine: 93 Points
We opened this bottle with our friend, Wade, at The Oven - Haymarket, and decanted for about an hour. Enjoyed this bottle over the following hour with a couple of appetizers, soup, and various entrees. As mentioned in a previous review, this wine is a bit polarizing. I liked it a bunch, Wade was on the fence I think, and Brookie did not care for it all that much.
This is leaning towards New World style, but I sensed a hint of Cote Rotie. The nose is inviting, the mid-palate delivers, and the finish is good but not great. Dark fruit, mulberry, licorice, probably other stuff. Brooke thought the alcohol was noticeable, I did not. In it's drinking window now, but a decant helps. Napa drinkers will love this, Rhone purists may not.
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2/9/2017 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice but doesn't sing for me like the 2010. 13.7%
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11/28/2016 - D3S Likes this wine: 92 Points
Took 40 minutes to open. Nice nose with smoke and meat, dark fruit on palate with medium finish.
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9/6/2015 - marshalc wrote: flawed
Stained label, from restaurant.
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9/20/2014 - Sennma wrote: 84 Points
A bit hot on the nose and palate...surprisingly so given its listed at 13.7%. This bottle didn't really have much to say and not very exciting.
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4/17/2014 - winegr wrote: 92 Points
Excellent fruit And balance. Very nicely done.
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4/15/2014 - jsapping Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great balance and finish. Medium body, black cherry, nice dry finish. Ready to drink.
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7/4/2013 - Pknut wrote: flawed
Purchased at the winery. Corked.
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11/4/2012 - 560 B&W wrote: 93 Points
Needs a year or two
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10/4/2012 - Pknut wrote:
Condensed palate of boysenberry fruit, good focus, no bulk, no noticeable oak, alcohol in check. I'm intrigued by how lean this is showing. Dark Syrah fruits of the blue/black sort with a bit of red, along with some Syrah pepper notes. Sleek, smooth sides frame the tapered palate. There is still some tannin here, soft on the palate but prickly on the finish. The acidity is particularly vibrant. Blind, I would not have guessed California but maybe a mid-aged, somewhat modern Cornas.
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1/27/2011 - Sennma wrote:
Never thought this wine would open up. Even when it did, there was a medicinal undertone that I couldn't shake.
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1/2/2011 - mmurry Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted about 2 hours. One of the things I've always liked about Arnot-Roberts Syrahs is the interplay between the meat and fruit. This one is no different. You can almost taste the iron rich meatiness mixed with dark fruit on the nose. The subtle undertones of pepper, tar, and smoke makes hard to stop sniffing. The palate doesn't disappoint either. More of that iron tinged meats, and a mid-palate full of earth and smoke and tar. The acid is mouth watering, making me want something to eat. And the peppery dark fruit on the finish goes on forever.
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10/1/2010 - OneLastSyrah wrote: 91 Points
13.7% ABV. Dark garnet, slightly translucent in the glass. Cool (as in not warm) mineral nose with a slight lavender/violet nuance lending sweetness, but overall a very savory, northern Rhone-like aroma. Medium-bodied with cool blackish fruit and nuances of lime and saline. Interesting, but sort of cerebral and maybe a little polarizing - my wife didn't care for it at all.
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8/22/2010 - wfdeacon wrote: 85 Points
Disapointed. Way too green, tight and tannic. Won't open another for several years.
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1/17/2010 - CWilliam wrote: 92 Points
Tasted over 2 nights (after being open for 5 hours, sealed with a vacu vin) - decanted for ~ 1 hour on night 1. Dark red / purple color. Darker on night 2. On night one the nose was pretty tight with some red fruits & tobacco. On the body, the tannins are noticeable at the front (stems were left on in the crush I believe) but not overpowering. Very smooth, with rich acidity (better with food now than without) and fruit (black cherry), meat, and tobacco. More new world than old. Long finish. This wine was better on night 2 (it seemed to have more body) so I would wait at least a year if you only have one bottle but very good now with a decant. Would buy again.
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6/26/2009 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
Sonoma-Napa Trip Day 1; 6/25/2009-6/26/2009 (Sonoma): 13.7% ABV. $60. High-toned cool climate fruit nose. Deeply colored, slightly translucent. The nose on this reminds me of some hypothetical super-ripe olive. Tangy fruit. Additional nuance that didn't make it into my notes. Nice.
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