Decanted for an hour before service, which seems to have been about right. In the glass, maroon-tinted magenta at the rim, shading quickly to cloudy near-black at the core. On the nose, currants, peach, and a faint hint of cedar, although that last part presents as more of a forest note than an aged note, if that makes sense. On the palate, blind I would have guessed a syrah/viognier blend, with that exotic peach note coming in right behind the primary fruit. If you're not me, and you read my notes, you know I'm a sucker for syrah/viognier blends, so no surprise that this is hitting my sweet spot. Tannins are still present, but modest, so now is probably as good a time as any to open one...
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Drank over two days. I suspect this wine is in an intermediate sleepy phase. Overpowering oak on the first day. On day two balanced but with very restrained flavors of dark fruit and spiced cedar. If I had any more bottles I'd hold for a bit to see what happens.
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Much better experience than the previous bottle. Singing right out of the bottle. Big, masculine Syrah with mouth-filling fruit and lovely balance. Wow.
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Popped and poured. Out of the bottle, big and burly with fuzzy tannins and pronounced citrus, which is odd because the winery claims it's 100% Syrah. I was about to tell myself I had finally tried a Sanguis that I didn't find aesthetically pleasing when lo and behold, after about two hours in the half-opened bottle, it settled down into the expected silky, balanced experience I've come to expect. The evolution was enjoyable but next time I'll decant and serve to accelerate the process. Seems like plenty of years ahead for this beauty.
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Misc Tasting - Terkel Style (Birkerød): Interesting wine that are showing some signs of age but still seems quite harsh. I would never have guessed 2006 with this wine as it still seems to have some harsh tannins and I see the vintage as a little more lush in general. Still, a solid and interesting wine.
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very interesting, when first opened was very red raspberry and almost a medium body, but after a bit of time built in depth, and darkness to revel more black cherry, and weight. very good.
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When first opened, there was an intense aroma of oak and almost nothing else. My first sip was the same and I was concerned. However, after 1-2 hours of decanting, deep berry compote flavors, coffee, caramel, and floral tones came through and showed a complex, integrated wine. The oak is still very present and the strength of this element prevents this wine from climbing into a classic rating.
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Opaque color with a thin bluish rim. Brooding and deep black fruit, minerals and oak on the nose. Inviting, but with a backlash of tannins and acidity. Harder on the palate than I remember it from last time. Still very tasty with layered black fruit, stony minerals and creamy caramel. The oak adds interesting, well-integrated secondary notes, which do stand out.
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This must be in the better end of Californian wine. Im a sucker for Syrah/Shiraz and that may affect my rating/opinion from others who favors other grapes. This wine has a lovely collar, great structure and a long lovely finish. Maybe not so much to offer on the nose but again this is good Syrah!
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Exuberant dark fruit with soft tannins. After an hour, truly excellent. I'll go a step further and say this is approaching the quality of an alban. This was my first Sanguis. I can't wait to try the next.
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Wine Club: Epic Syrah Smackdown (The Abarnment): Yikes. Sanguis can do no wrong. Decanted this two hours, and it was singing. A strong chocolate note, very ripe, but surprisingly red fruit based. California to the bone, with non-jammy ripeness, blueberry notes, massive complexity, and a very high delicious factor. A stunning wine.
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don't hate me because all i can say is that this was a rich, dark, viscous wine that reeked of dark blue/blackberry fruit, was beautifully blended with soft tannins, had a hint of smoke/leather and was outstanding with my grilled/smoked babyback ribs.
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100% Syrah from Bien Nacido and Watch Hill Vineyards. 115% new oak for 42 months. Almost black in color. Enormous noseo f blackberry fruit with some notes of vanilla oak. Tastes of blackberry, cherry, coffee, leather and tobacco. Very full bodied. Rich powerful finish with great complexity. 15.1% alcohol.
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Tasted from barrel. Syrah and Viognier blend. Dark purple color. Tastes of blackberry, tobacco and blueberry. Showing plenty of new oak. Firm tannins. Seems to going through an awkward phase where the fruit is subdued and the alcohol a little more prevalent. Nonetheless a very nice wine with huge upside potential. Showed much better at Hospice du Rhone around a month ago.
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12/1/2020 - jshufelt wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for an hour before service, which seems to have been about right. In the glass, maroon-tinted magenta at the rim, shading quickly to cloudy near-black at the core. On the nose, currants, peach, and a faint hint of cedar, although that last part presents as more of a forest note than an aged note, if that makes sense. On the palate, blind I would have guessed a syrah/viognier blend, with that exotic peach note coming in right behind the primary fruit. If you're not me, and you read my notes, you know I'm a sucker for syrah/viognier blends, so no surprise that this is hitting my sweet spot. Tannins are still present, but modest, so now is probably as good a time as any to open one...
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11/6/2019 - Quiet Lion wrote: 90 Points
Drank over two days. I suspect this wine is in an intermediate sleepy phase. Overpowering oak on the first day. On day two balanced but with very restrained flavors of dark fruit and spiced cedar. If I had any more bottles I'd hold for a bit to see what happens.
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9/23/2018 - Quiet Lion wrote:
Some brett, which I hate, but the wine was bold enough to taste through the toothpaste.
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6/1/2017 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 95 Points
Much better experience than the previous bottle. Singing right out of the bottle. Big, masculine Syrah with mouth-filling fruit and lovely balance. Wow.
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4/8/2017 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 93 Points
Popped and poured. Out of the bottle, big and burly with fuzzy tannins and pronounced citrus, which is odd because the winery claims it's 100% Syrah. I was about to tell myself I had finally tried a Sanguis that I didn't find aesthetically pleasing when lo and behold, after about two hours in the half-opened bottle, it settled down into the expected silky, balanced experience I've come to expect. The evolution was enjoyable but next time I'll decant and serve to accelerate the process. Seems like plenty of years ahead for this beauty.
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3/17/2017 - canan wrote: 94 Points
Misc Tasting - Terkel Style (Birkerød): Interesting wine that are showing some signs of age but still seems quite harsh. I would never have guessed 2006 with this wine as it still seems to have some harsh tannins and I see the vintage as a little more lush in general.
Still, a solid and interesting wine.
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12/20/2016 - rgcanada Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still deep, dark and bursting with flavor.
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4/8/2014 - goofy Yno Likes this wine: 94 Points
a simple quote from my wife: "if all the wines you open tasted like this , I'd drink a whole lot more"
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1/30/2013 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 93 Points
consistent with notes of 12/15/2012
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12/31/2012 - goofy Yno wrote: 92 Points
very interesting, when first opened was very red raspberry and almost a medium body, but after a bit of time built in depth, and darkness to revel more black cherry, and weight. very good.
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12/15/2012 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 93 Points
When first opened, there was an intense aroma of oak and almost nothing else. My first sip was the same and I was concerned. However, after 1-2 hours of decanting, deep berry compote flavors, coffee, caramel, and floral tones came through and showed a complex, integrated wine. The oak is still very present and the strength of this element prevents this wine from climbing into a classic rating.
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8/31/2012 - Terkel wrote: 93 Points
Opaque color with a thin bluish rim. Brooding and deep black fruit, minerals and oak on the nose. Inviting, but with a backlash of tannins and acidity. Harder on the palate than I remember it from last time. Still very tasty with layered black fruit, stony minerals and creamy caramel. The oak adds interesting, well-integrated secondary notes, which do stand out.
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6/25/2012 - Dybdal Inc. wrote: 93 Points
This must be in the better end of Californian wine. Im a sucker for Syrah/Shiraz and that may affect my rating/opinion from others who favors other grapes. This wine has a lovely collar, great structure and a long lovely finish. Maybe not so much to offer on the nose but again this is good Syrah!
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12/26/2011 - bonedocnine wrote: 94 Points
This is what sanguis is all about! fantastic. This is why this is my only "wine club"!
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6/6/2011 - goofy Yno wrote: 93 Points
nose of blackberry, black cherry, vanilla oak. wine still tight, but with layers of fruit. good balance.
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4/13/2011 - rb6p wrote: 95 Points
Exuberant dark fruit with soft tannins. After an hour, truly excellent. I'll go a step further and say this is approaching the quality of an alban. This was my first Sanguis. I can't wait to try the next.
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2/27/2011 - joshwoodward wrote: 96 Points
Wine Club: Epic Syrah Smackdown (The Abarnment): Yikes. Sanguis can do no wrong. Decanted this two hours, and it was singing. A strong chocolate note, very ripe, but surprisingly red fruit based. California to the bone, with non-jammy ripeness, blueberry notes, massive complexity, and a very high delicious factor. A stunning wine.
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12/31/2010 - bonedocnine wrote: 94 Points
This wine is what you would expect....rich and extracted with wonderful fruit with a firm tannic backbone.
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11/1/2010 - tacman wrote: 93 Points
don't hate me because all i can say is that this was a rich, dark, viscous wine that reeked of dark blue/blackberry fruit, was beautifully blended with soft tannins, had a hint of smoke/leather and was outstanding with my grilled/smoked babyback ribs.
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7/24/2010 - goofy Yno wrote: 93 Points
nose of black cherry, toasted almonds. big wine with nice balance, good fruit. long finish
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7/23/2010 - kstoddard Likes this wine: 94 Points
100% Syrah from Bien Nacido and Watch Hill Vineyards. 115% new oak for 42 months. Almost black in color. Enormous noseo f blackberry fruit with some notes of vanilla oak. Tastes of blackberry, cherry, coffee, leather and tobacco. Very full bodied. Rich powerful finish with great complexity. 15.1% alcohol.
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7/10/2009 - kstoddard wrote: 90 Points
Tasted from barrel. Syrah and Viognier blend. Dark purple color. Tastes of blackberry, tobacco and blueberry. Showing plenty of new oak. Firm tannins. Seems to going through an awkward phase where the fruit is subdued and the alcohol a little more prevalent. Nonetheless a very nice wine with huge upside potential. Showed much better at Hospice du Rhone around a month ago.
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5/2/2009 - kstoddard wrote: 94 Points
2009 Hospice du Rhone Grand Tasting (Paso Robles): Barrel sample
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