Excellent Syrah, co-fermented with 2% viognier. great nose, silky smooth tannins with medium+ finish. If you have any of this, I would drink it now. It was drinking well, but I think its past it's prime.
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World class effort. Still too young? Maybe, I have one more I'll wait a couple of years. Concentrated and balanced....very dark and primary for a 2006.
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Really, really good. hit its peak at 3 hours in the decanter. strong aromatics, dense flavors, a little iron/slate, and dark fruits evident. complex and balanced on the palate with a very long finish. should easily last until 2017 end of CT drinking window.
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I had this after over the course of the evening on 2/7/14. It had the most incredible, expressive bouquet of smoked meat, rotting wood, char, plum, blackberry, allspice, bay leaf, pepper and spice. The palate was wonderfully integrated and velvety smooth with flavors of plum, blackberry, char, pepper and spice.
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Still appears young with many great years ahead. Very encouraging for this Producer whom we really like. Northern Rhone similarity with a touch of extra plum. Great, subtle notes of stone and pepper which flash on the mid palate but don't dominate nor overpower. Certainly plush in style but it's all good.
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Opened, aired for 1 1/2 hours and poured through the nozzle. Enjoyed with spicy Hungarian goulash and spaetzle. This wines continues to impress. Excellent balance of tannins, fruit, earth and acidity. Exceptional complexity in the mid palate with a massive finish. Down to one bottle in the cellar. Plenty of age left in this wine.
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Thanksgiving dinner. I'm afraid these just won't develop as nicely as expected. Marvelous on release, this has now become a typical fruity Washington syrah. It was still good, but unfortunately has shed its bacon character almost completely. A couple more lay in the cellar, hoping for a better outcome.
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The '06 CS II is a blend of 97% Syrah and 3% Viognier and was made by Ross Mickel of Ross Andrew Winery. 14.9% ABV. Still dark purple in color. Dark fruits, olive brine and peppercorn aromas emerge with a little bit of coaxing. Game, flowers, blueberries, bacon fat, minerals, smoke and maybe a hint of brown sugar on the palate. The finish is long and exquisite. Great texture and balance. If I had more bottles...I would enjoy them over the next 2-4 years.
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First of a few that I purchased on release on the basis of a spectacular nose of meats and bacon. A few years after the nose is still expressive with funky fruit but nowhere near as enticing as on release, unfortunately. It offers a broad set of dark fruit flavors, and a rich mouthfeel that leans towards rustic more than polished. Good complexity, very solid finish.
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Quinessential WA syrah with great color, nose, palate and mouth feel. Big wine but not overwhelming. Great integration. Vanilla over dark fruit on the nose. Light cofee. Long smooth finish that builds and then fades delicately. Drink now or wait.
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Beuatiful and complex wine. Wonderful nose with spice and vanilla over dark fruit. Light cofee. Long smooth finish. Really nice wine to balance with food or on it's own. Cherry and dark fruit.
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I am very thankful to have been afforded the opportunity to become a member of Grand Reve at their inception. Collaboration#2 is my second favorite wine from their stable and pushing #1 as my favorite. This wine is still evolving and seems to change with every delicious sip. On the palette: Mineral dark fruit, black berry, black pepper, flint, edges of Smokey flavor, bacon fat. Complex yet well integrated. I look forward to trying my last one in a few years. This is the finest wine I have enjoyed this year. It beats out a 95 Ridge Monte Bello & top 3 best I have ever had!!!!
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On the nose: Earth, flint, dark fruit, red mountain dirt, very nice and big overall. On the pallete: Mineral dark fruit, black berry, black pepper, flint, edges of smokey flavor. Complex and big tannins. This could have aged another few years, but was excellent right now. Overall: The wine was the hit of the night and people we impressed that this came from WA. Clearly a winery to watch over the coming years.
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We had this with Ribeye steaks at a friends after tasting at Urban Enoteca on 7/6/11. It had a terrific bouquet of plum, black cherry, bacon, smoked meat, allspice, bay leaf, pepper and spice aromas. The palate was well integrated, velvety smooth and delicious with flavors of plum, black cherry, allspice, bay leaf, pepper and spice.
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Blind Syrah Tasting w/ Ryan Johnson, Dick Boushey, Eric LeVine, and MrBigJ (Wild Ginger, Seattle, WA): Tasted blind. (Group's #1 (my #1)) – 7 first place votes, 4 second place votes, 0 third place votes, 1 fourth place vote – The nose had aromas of red and black fruits with olive, brown sugar and savory spice notes. This just smells awesome compared to the other wines in this flight. The palate had flavors of dark cherries and light notes of peppercorns and meat. Nice balance and a long finish.
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A couple of cases on a Saturday afternoon: My first time trying this. A glass left in the bottle was better on Day 2. Inky purple, opaque and bright. The nose has black olives, black raspberries and is slightly odd at first. With air it develops nicely. The palate matches. Rough out of the bottle, with air its black raspberries, minerals (graphite?), and smoke. Complex. Nice balance. Great texture. Delicious.
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Opened and poured. Deep purple, dark to the rim. Beautiful nose of black cherry, blueberry, spice and tar which follows onto the palette with more blueberry, cherry, spice, jambon and hints of anise. Long, smooth finish; almost silky. This wine is evolving beautifully and has the structure to deliver another 5-6 years of wonder.
Opened w 45 min air in bottle. Dark to the edge, nose of blueberries, flowers & vanilla. Very smooth well integrated tannins & silky long finish. Dark fruit, mostly blueberry and cherry w hints of peppery spice, vanilla and a touch of Kobe medium-rare. This is an amazing Syrah, an amazing wine, and easily in my top 10 new world wines for '06. There is enough structure here to improve over another 4-5 years and last years longer. Hard to believe this is a WA Syrah it is so Rhone....
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Nose still big and pretty. Easy to drink and smoothing out. Light acids on the finish. The body is big and builds to mid palate, then is begins to fade. Fruit strong. Two more years or so before I open the next one. Mocha and coffee.
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It has been a little more than a year since garambler and I first tasted Grand Reve at Wicked Cellars where this was the wine of the night. Another year in the bottle has brought out smoked meat, bacon fat, lots of dark fruit. Has the legs to go 5-10 more years. Fantastic, a close second to my favorite collaberation #1
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I can't believe this is a WA Syrah - much less a wine from the new world. I have always preferred my Syrah from the Southern Rhone, however this is a game changer. It is elegant, supple and complex. It has a distinct earthiness on the nose and palate and will cellar well.
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We had this with friends on 12/6/09. It had a fabulous bouquet of rotting wood, smoked meat, beef blood, allspice, bay leaf and spices. The palate was well integrated, smooth and balanced with black cherry, bay leaf, spice and smoked meat flavors.
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love that classic deep dump truck of soft fruit, so dark the bubbles look like black pearls, the after taste is smoked bacon and ribs, mouth feel and flavor profile is all you could ask for while still keeping it elegant
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Delicious wine. absolutely fantastic for a 1st vintage. Dark purple, pop/poured. Lots of chocolate/espresso notes on the nose upon opening. game/leather/meatiness on the palate. Good balance, and almost chewy weight. Enjoyed just as a sipping wine.
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Nose - Tar, scorched Earth, rose petal, lilac floral component, herbs such as lavender, rosemary, tarragon, etc. slight oakiness and vanilla
Palate - The tar really shows thru with black fruit, lilac, Red Mountain dirt, gaminess, and vanilla sweetness with sweet tannin finish that lasts 20+ seconds.
This wine reminds me of a northern Rhone wine much more so than a new world wine from Washington. Would really show well in 5+ years.
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11/2/2020 - Adonisd1956 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent Syrah, co-fermented with 2% viognier. great nose, silky smooth tannins with medium+ finish. If you have any of this, I would drink it now. It was drinking well, but I think its past it's prime.
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11/27/2018 - Montecalvo Likes this wine: 93 Points
unbelievably young and concentrated. This will need another decade at least.
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3/29/2017 - Bob & Sue Atlanta wrote: 95 Points
World class effort. Still too young? Maybe, I have one more I'll wait a couple of years. Concentrated and balanced....very dark and primary for a 2006.
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8/18/2016 - Jeffsta wrote: 92 Points
Still very young, primary. Wait at least 2-3 years before the next.
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3/22/2014 - wine247365 wrote: 93 Points
Really, really good. hit its peak at 3 hours in the decanter. strong aromatics, dense flavors, a little iron/slate, and dark fruits evident. complex and balanced on the palate with a very long finish. should easily last until 2017 end of CT drinking window.
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2/7/2014 - garambler Likes this wine: 94 Points
I had this after over the course of the evening on 2/7/14. It had the most incredible, expressive bouquet of smoked meat, rotting wood, char, plum, blackberry, allspice, bay leaf, pepper and spice. The palate was wonderfully integrated and velvety smooth with flavors of plum, blackberry, char, pepper and spice.
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12/29/2013 - ledwards wrote: 94 Points
Still appears young with many great years ahead. Very encouraging for this Producer whom we really like. Northern Rhone similarity with a touch of extra plum. Great, subtle notes of stone and pepper which flash on the mid palate but don't dominate nor overpower. Certainly plush in style but it's all good.
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12/23/2013 - jbouchy wrote: 95 Points
Opened, aired for 1 1/2 hours and poured through the nozzle. Enjoyed with spicy Hungarian goulash and spaetzle. This wines continues to impress. Excellent balance of tannins, fruit, earth and acidity. Exceptional complexity in the mid palate with a massive finish. Down to one bottle in the cellar. Plenty of age left in this wine.
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11/28/2013 - ron m wrote:
Thanksgiving dinner. I'm afraid these just won't develop as nicely as expected. Marvelous on release, this has now become a typical fruity Washington syrah. It was still good, but unfortunately has shed its bacon character almost completely. A couple more lay in the cellar, hoping for a better outcome.
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7/17/2013 - team-blackburn wrote: 95 Points
I'm sad this was my last bottle, consistant with previous notes. Fantastic!!!
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4/4/2013 - tomlee wrote: 93 Points
The '06 CS II is a blend of 97% Syrah and 3% Viognier and was made by Ross Mickel of Ross Andrew Winery. 14.9% ABV. Still dark purple in color. Dark fruits, olive brine and peppercorn aromas emerge with a little bit of coaxing. Game, flowers, blueberries, bacon fat, minerals, smoke and maybe a hint of brown sugar on the palate. The finish is long and exquisite. Great texture and balance. If I had more bottles...I would enjoy them over the next 2-4 years.
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9/6/2012 - ron m wrote:
First of a few that I purchased on release on the basis of a spectacular nose of meats and bacon. A few years after the nose is still expressive with funky fruit but nowhere near as enticing as on release, unfortunately. It offers a broad set of dark fruit flavors, and a rich mouthfeel that leans towards rustic more than polished. Good complexity, very solid finish.
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12/30/2011 - pdemaio wrote: 95 Points
Quinessential WA syrah with great color, nose, palate and mouth feel. Big wine but not overwhelming. Great integration. Vanilla over dark fruit on the nose. Light cofee. Long smooth finish that builds and then fades delicately. Drink now or wait.
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11/8/2011 - pdemaio wrote: 95 Points
Beuatiful and complex wine. Wonderful nose with spice and vanilla over dark fruit. Light cofee. Long smooth finish. Really nice wine to balance with food or on it's own. Cherry and dark fruit.
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10/12/2011 - team-blackburn wrote: 97 Points
I am very thankful to have been afforded the opportunity to become a member of Grand Reve at their inception. Collaboration#2 is my second favorite wine from their stable and pushing #1 as my favorite. This wine is still evolving and seems to change with every delicious sip. On the palette: Mineral dark fruit, black berry, black pepper, flint, edges of Smokey flavor, bacon fat. Complex yet well integrated. I look forward to trying my last one in a few years. This is the finest wine I have enjoyed this year. It beats out a 95 Ridge Monte Bello & top 3 best I have ever had!!!!
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10/2/2011 - JoshUW wrote: 95 Points
On the nose: Earth, flint, dark fruit, red mountain dirt, very nice and big overall.
On the pallete: Mineral dark fruit, black berry, black pepper, flint, edges of smokey flavor. Complex and big tannins. This could have aged another few years, but was excellent right now.
Overall: The wine was the hit of the night and people we impressed that this came from WA. Clearly a winery to watch over the coming years.
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7/6/2011 - garambler wrote: 93 Points
We had this with Ribeye steaks at a friends after tasting at Urban Enoteca on 7/6/11. It had a terrific bouquet of plum, black cherry, bacon, smoked meat, allspice, bay leaf, pepper and spice aromas. The palate was well integrated, velvety smooth and delicious with flavors of plum, black cherry, allspice, bay leaf, pepper and spice.
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6/12/2011 - wirelesswine wrote: 91 Points
Big and dark - and almost tarry on the nose. Very dark fruit on the palate yet had a certain brightness.
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6/5/2011 - last chance wrote: 94 Points
Blind Syrah Tasting w/ Ryan Johnson, Dick Boushey, Eric LeVine, and MrBigJ (Wild Ginger, Seattle, WA): Tasted blind. (Group's #1 (my #1)) – 7 first place votes, 4 second place votes, 0 third place votes, 1 fourth place vote – The nose had aromas of red and black fruits with olive, brown sugar and savory spice notes. This just smells awesome compared to the other wines in this flight. The palate had flavors of dark cherries and light notes of peppercorns and meat. Nice balance and a long finish.
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10/10/2010 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 93 Points
A couple of cases on a Saturday afternoon: My first time trying this. A glass left in the bottle was better on Day 2. Inky purple, opaque and bright. The nose has black olives, black raspberries and is slightly odd at first. With air it develops nicely. The palate matches. Rough out of the bottle, with air its black raspberries, minerals (graphite?), and smoke. Complex. Nice balance. Great texture. Delicious.
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8/16/2010 - CMz wrote: 97 Points
Opened and poured. Deep purple, dark to the rim. Beautiful nose of black cherry, blueberry, spice and tar which follows onto the palette with more blueberry, cherry, spice, jambon and hints of anise. Long, smooth finish; almost silky. This wine is evolving beautifully and has the structure to deliver another 5-6 years of wonder.
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8/7/2010 - CMz wrote: 96 Points
Opened w 45 min air in bottle. Dark to the edge, nose of blueberries, flowers & vanilla. Very smooth well integrated tannins & silky long finish. Dark fruit, mostly blueberry and cherry w hints of peppery spice, vanilla and a touch of Kobe medium-rare. This is an amazing Syrah, an amazing wine, and easily in my top 10 new world wines for '06. There is enough structure here to improve over another 4-5 years and last years longer. Hard to believe this is a WA Syrah it is so Rhone....
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5/19/2010 - pdemaio wrote: 94 Points
Nose still big and pretty. Easy to drink and smoothing out. Light acids on the finish. The body is big and builds to mid palate, then is begins to fade. Fruit strong. Two more years or so before I open the next one. Mocha and coffee.
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5/13/2010 - team-blackburn wrote: 94 Points
It has been a little more than a year since garambler and I first tasted Grand Reve at Wicked Cellars where this was the wine of the night. Another year in the bottle has brought out smoked meat, bacon fat, lots of dark fruit. Has the legs to go 5-10 more years. Fantastic, a close second to my favorite collaberation #1
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1/31/2010 - pdemaio wrote: 95 Points
Excellent. Big. Earthy nose. Smooth body. Long, evolving finish starts with a hint of bitter and moves to acid very nicely.
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1/24/2010 - IamNotDrinkingAny#@!%Merlot wrote: 93 Points
Outstanding depth, structure and beautiful fruit. Loved it.
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12/24/2009 - jbouchy wrote:
I can't believe this is a WA Syrah - much less a wine from the new world. I have always preferred my Syrah from the Southern Rhone, however this is a game changer. It is elegant, supple and complex. It has a distinct earthiness on the nose and palate and will cellar well.
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12/7/2009 - garambler wrote: 93 Points
We had this with friends on 12/6/09. It had a fabulous bouquet of rotting wood, smoked meat, beef blood, allspice, bay leaf and spices. The palate was well integrated, smooth and balanced with black cherry, bay leaf, spice and smoked meat flavors.
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11/20/2009 - shadow wrote: 97 Points
love that classic deep dump truck of soft fruit, so dark the bubbles look like black pearls, the after taste is smoked bacon and ribs, mouth feel and flavor profile is all you could ask for while still keeping it elegant
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8/21/2009 - mye wrote: 92 Points
Delicious wine. absolutely fantastic for a 1st vintage. Dark purple, pop/poured. Lots of chocolate/espresso notes on the nose upon opening. game/leather/meatiness on the palate. Good balance, and almost chewy weight. Enjoyed just as a sipping wine.
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7/3/2009 - jemorris wrote: 93 Points
Great wine. Leathery old world wine. Very enjoyable.
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5/24/2009 - elise wrote: 93 Points
Nose - Tar, scorched Earth, rose petal, lilac floral component, herbs such as lavender, rosemary, tarragon, etc. slight oakiness and vanilla
Palate - The tar really shows thru with black fruit, lilac, Red Mountain dirt, gaminess, and vanilla sweetness with sweet tannin finish that lasts 20+ seconds.
This wine reminds me of a northern Rhone wine much more so than a new world wine from Washington. Would really show well in 5+ years.
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3/7/2009 - NomadicEntrepreneur wrote: 91 Points
Probably my fav from Grand Reve. The tobacco palette almost gives it a meaty taste. This is a great combo with a steak.
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