This has held up surprisingly well. The blueberry, dark berry, pepper has given way to something almost meaty, leathery, with bramble and a hint of pepper. Tannins are well integrated
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Maybe on the edge of over ages but still a nice brick red color, lots of pepper on the nose with still some nice fruit. I’m surprised how well this has held up.
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Pnp. Heavily incensed cedar and sandalwood, musk, pencil shavings, some blackberry and dark plum but this is mainly tertiary especially on the nose. I expected this to be well past its prime especially since I have no idea how it was stored, but it’s at most slightly too old, certainly still enjoyable, and my guess would be I like this better now than I would fresh. 6.5/10
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I suppose this was consumable since it was neither corked nor oxidized; however, it was such a bastardization of the syrah grape that I'm not sure if I would have been able to identify the varietal without the label. Please Arrowood, do us a favor and pull the remaining of this for your sake. I'll never drink anything else from your winery but someone else might.
Disjoint fruit and alcohol, probably too old, past experience suggests better a day later, but still... Should have been drunk within 5 years of vintage. The alcohol was always going to be a problem though.
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Frist day this was too difficult to face writing a note. Has improved by day 2, but is still a disappointment. Deep red center, paler red/purple rim than expected, some signs of age, slightly cloudy. Damsons and pepper on the nose. Smooth, stiff tannins and acid, raspberries and white pepper, a little leafy in the middle, mature finish. Disappointing, should have drunk sooner maybe but the tannins/acid are still a little aggressive, stored well since purchase.
Bit of a stretch to call a 15.5 % syrah "cote Rotie" Viognier or not blended in. A good expression of Syrah, picked a Brix or 2 Less it may have better shown what cool climate Syrah can be.
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This has really calmed down and come together nicely. The nose and palate are an explosion of chocolate-covered berries (virtually all imaginable), a bouquet of flowers, and a hint of bacon. And, hey, the alcohol isn't overly intrusive! Excellent for what I paid.
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A nice surprise for a reasonably priced restaurant wine. Dark ruby red color, nice legs in the glass. Nose was good, and initial hit was plums/jammy and berries with some chocolate. Taste was big, full-bodied classic Cote Rotie with smooth nice complex finish. Everyone loved it.
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Per Arrowood: "True to the Cote Rotie sytle of the Rhone Valley, we co-fermented this Syrah with a small amount of Viognier to insensify its color and enhance the exotic, complex aromas of the wine. Inky ruby in color, this Syrah has a bouquet of ripe blackberry fruit, smoked meats, Chines camphor and violets. On the pallet, fleshy blackberry and plump blueberry flavors lead to tar, roasted meat, cracked pepper, and a suave minerality in the lingering finish.
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Great dark black ruby color. Pretty syrah nose of smoked meat with green pepper & other green herbs. Not much fruit showing in the nose, which is disappointing. Cool entry of sweet red plum with a hint of black pepper that flows into a clean, lightly tannic & sadly over alcoholic finish. On point, except for the elevated alcohol. What a shame.
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On questioning the sommelier at the restaurant, this received a hearty endorsement, and it turned out to be easily within striking distance of the WS96. P&P, color beautiful medium red with dark hues, medium-full body. They typically co-ferment the syrah with a small amount of viognier (eg., 3%) each vintage, and it showed here in the best possible way. Gorgeous lifted bouquet with a distinct floral top note over ripe plums and blackberries, chocolate, mild sweet road tar, baking spice, a touch of meat, and white pepper. Really lovely, the kind of nose that keeps you swirling and coming back again and again to try and pick apart the elements that are in such harmony. In the mouth, big voluptuous flavors of blackberries, cherries, milk chocolate, spices, some graphite and rich earth. Medium-low acid, moderate level of fine-grained tannins, moderate finish. Modest in complexity, but the aromas and flavors of this syrah sing yummy in spades without being over the top, and the silky texture imparts elegance. Spouse absolutely loved it, which doesn't hurt on a Valentine's weekend. Typical retail is around 40, and given this showing, I would certainly try it again.
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8/9/2022 - Rebs in Chicago wrote: 89 Points
This has held up surprisingly well. The blueberry, dark berry, pepper has given way to something almost meaty, leathery, with bramble and a hint of pepper. Tannins are well integrated
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7/29/2020 - Rebs in Chicago wrote: 90 Points
Maybe on the edge of over ages but still a nice brick red color, lots of pepper on the nose with still some nice fruit. I’m surprised how well this has held up.
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4/21/2019 - afields Likes this wine:
Pnp. Heavily incensed cedar and sandalwood, musk, pencil shavings, some blackberry and dark plum but this is mainly tertiary especially on the nose. I expected this to be well past its prime especially since I have no idea how it was stored, but it’s at most slightly too old, certainly still enjoyable, and my guess would be I like this better now than I would fresh. 6.5/10
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1/29/2015 - Tallhoyalawya wrote: 89 Points
Not as good as the 2002. Alcohol balance was a little high.
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5/10/2014 - kurishin Does not like this wine: 60 Points
I suppose this was consumable since it was neither corked nor oxidized; however, it was such a bastardization of the syrah grape that I'm not sure if I would have been able to identify the varietal without the label.
Please Arrowood, do us a favor and pull the remaining of this for your sake. I'll never drink anything else from your winery but someone else might.
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4/20/2014 - Dfinn wrote:
Dark inky color with pleasant floral hints on nose. Nicely balanced. Plum and cherry flavor. Drinking very nicely now.
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4/19/2014 - pdadams66 Does not like this wine: 81 Points
Disjoint fruit and alcohol, probably too old, past experience suggests better a day later, but still...
Should have been drunk within 5 years of vintage. The alcohol was always going to be a problem though.
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4/16/2014 - pdadams66 Does not like this wine: 84 Points
Frist day this was too difficult to face writing a note. Has improved by day 2, but is still a disappointment.
Deep red center, paler red/purple rim than expected, some signs of age, slightly cloudy.
Damsons and pepper on the nose.
Smooth, stiff tannins and acid, raspberries and white pepper, a little leafy in the middle, mature finish.
Disappointing, should have drunk sooner maybe but the tannins/acid are still a little aggressive, stored well since purchase.
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12/3/2013 - Tmjdoc Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great nose, Smooth, very deep rich burgundy color and low tannins.
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11/3/2013 - Tmjdoc Likes this wine: 90 Points
Delightful. Great nose. Smooth. Fruity and mild.
Loved it
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8/6/2013 - NavyVet6874 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark impenetrable purple color. Mild musky nose, good fruit and earth in your mouth. But not as good as WA Syrah in my humble opinion.
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8/5/2012 - SonomaWilliam wrote: 89 Points
Bit of a stretch to call a 15.5 % syrah "cote Rotie" Viognier or not blended in. A good expression of Syrah, picked a Brix or 2 Less it may have better shown what cool climate Syrah can be.
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5/25/2012 - Gordonium Likes this wine: 92 Points
This has really calmed down and come together nicely. The nose and palate are an explosion of chocolate-covered berries (virtually all imaginable), a bouquet of flowers, and a hint of bacon. And, hey, the alcohol isn't overly intrusive! Excellent for what I paid.
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12/4/2011 - CosmicDude wrote: 91 Points
A nice surprise for a reasonably priced restaurant wine. Dark ruby red color, nice legs in the glass. Nose was good, and initial hit was plums/jammy and berries with some chocolate. Taste was big, full-bodied classic Cote Rotie with smooth nice complex finish. Everyone loved it.
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6/18/2011 - njm wrote: 88 Points
a little jammy, it opened up with some air nice but more a BBQ wine than a sipper.
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3/7/2011 - bmccoy wrote:
Per Arrowood:
"True to the Cote Rotie sytle of the Rhone Valley, we co-fermented this Syrah with a small amount of Viognier to insensify its color and enhance the exotic, complex aromas of the wine. Inky ruby in color, this Syrah has a bouquet of ripe blackberry fruit, smoked meats, Chines camphor and violets. On the pallet, fleshy blackberry and plump blueberry flavors lead to tar, roasted meat, cracked pepper, and a suave minerality in the lingering finish.
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3/3/2011 - ed-d wrote: 87 Points
Great dark black ruby color. Pretty syrah nose of smoked meat with green pepper & other green herbs. Not much fruit showing in the nose, which is disappointing. Cool entry of sweet red plum with a hint of black pepper that flows into a clean, lightly tannic & sadly over alcoholic finish. On point, except for the elevated alcohol. What a shame.
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2/12/2011 - Vinacull wrote: 93 Points
On questioning the sommelier at the restaurant, this received a hearty endorsement, and it turned out to be easily within striking distance of the WS96. P&P, color beautiful medium red with dark hues, medium-full body. They typically co-ferment the syrah with a small amount of viognier (eg., 3%) each vintage, and it showed here in the best possible way. Gorgeous lifted bouquet with a distinct floral top note over ripe plums and blackberries, chocolate, mild sweet road tar, baking spice, a touch of meat, and white pepper. Really lovely, the kind of nose that keeps you swirling and coming back again and again to try and pick apart the elements that are in such harmony. In the mouth, big voluptuous flavors of blackberries, cherries, milk chocolate, spices, some graphite and rich earth. Medium-low acid, moderate level of fine-grained tannins, moderate finish. Modest in complexity, but the aromas and flavors of this syrah sing yummy in spades without being over the top, and the silky texture imparts elegance. Spouse absolutely loved it, which doesn't hurt on a Valentine's weekend. Typical retail is around 40, and given this showing, I would certainly try it again.
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