Fairly simple wine. Nose of vanilla and raspberry cream. Fruit becomes darker and sweeter in the mouth, approaching blueberries. Finish has some chocolate. Unfortunately a bit too much heat on the finish for my tastes, even when served chilled.
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PnD for a couple of hours before consuming. Started consuming with pre-Christmas dinner appetizers, and continued to consume into a dinner with some very well prepared Swedish meatball.
Rich nose, deep with notes of plum, blackberries, etc., with a hint of spice. Purple and leggy. In the mouth, a nice attack of fruit with good depth and complexity. Flavors are consistent with the nose, and sustaining through mid-palate and all the way to a long finish. Tannins are fully integrated and rounded, adding to the depth. Mid-palate some heat appears along with a good bite of acidity; both combine with the fruit and sustain through to the finish. The heat and acidity work well with the fruit and provide a good backbone for the fruit notes. Taken as a whole it makes a pleasant combination with strength tho hold up to strong dishes, but it also works quite well on its own.
I found this to be a very solid offering - no defects and having nice depth, complexity, and strength. I would guess it's at it's peak right now. Wish I had more. Rated very good (88-90).
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Pnp. Its like drinking dark liquid vanilla covered tootsie rolls with blackberries and anise which is right up my alley. A bit hot at the end unfortunately. Great value wine for 11 bucks.
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Ripe, sweet marionberry, anise, fleshy black fruit and smoke on the nose. This is a bit hot this time around, fruit is ripe and almost cloying by the end of the bottle. In all fairness, the restaurant served this too warm which made a big difference. Last 2 bottles were well balanced, smooth as silk with nuances of chocolate, plum, a firm core and long spicy finish. Drink now through 2015
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Very smooth and big, dark fruit (blackberry, plum) oaky vanilla, sweaty, baking spices, cedar and bitter chocolate. Recently drank a bottle which seemed a bit flabby.
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Vinturi decanted for an hour. Dark garnet color. Sweet blueberry jam on the nose, along with a good amount of heat. Nice and smooth going down. I notice plums or prunes and cedar box on the mouth. Some oak there too, and spicy heat at the end. Excellent QPR for this one.
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First bottle corked. Second bottle much better. As others stated very oaky but quite smooth. Tannins are very reserved. Very nice wine especially for 12.99 bottle.
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A little more oak/milky vanilla this time around. Excellent, but preferred the balance I remember in my prior experience w/ this wine. Would I buy more at the WTSO price? Absolutely, and those who tried it tonight said they'd buy a case for that price.
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Popped and poured -- dark, inky color, rich nose of spice and dark fruit. The palate was rich and silky, nice spice in the background with a streak of chocolate on the back end. As the wine gained air, it opened up, revealing more elegance and richness. Tannins were chewy and ripe.
I am a big fan of Washington Syrah, and this wine deepened my appreciation. Most of the Syrah from this part of the world is aggressive and a bit out of varietal character. Not so here, the Milbrandt had just the right amount of spicy notes and fruit, plus a feminine elegance. Well done, and a steal from WTSO.
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Nice wine at any price, but absolutely outstanding for 13 bucks. Nose was restrained at first but eventually opened up to reveal red and black fruit, vanilla, and cedar. Taste matched the nose, but with time, the vanilla tended to dominate. Weakness in the tannic backbone keeps this wine from being truly great.
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Outstanding. Smokey meat, olive, sweet and tart blueberry and boisenberry fruit balanced by a good dose of oak. Medium to full in the mouth with a lightly tannic finish. Amazing value.
Drink now and over the next few years. 90
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Very solid value, pop & pour , classic New World Syrah, not Shiraz, but Syrah. Softer more velvet but still an abundance of Blueberry & Blackberry, I can still find a spotin my heart for this wine, @ $22.00 & the Mrs. likes it , I will be buying more
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Solid smooth, very good syrah. Popped and poured, oak dominant at first, but fruit evolved over an hour with very nice blackberrry, boysenberry, soy, white pepper noted developing.
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10/22/2015 - juffer Likes this wine: 85 Points
Fairly simple wine. Nose of vanilla and raspberry cream. Fruit becomes darker and sweeter in the mouth, approaching blueberries. Finish has some chocolate. Unfortunately a bit too much heat on the finish for my tastes, even when served chilled.
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11/25/2013 - mpchs1988 wrote: 89 Points
Toasted oak and vanilla on nose. Hint of tobacco and blue berry. Palate is cherry and chocolate with sour fruit finish. Served at 62 deg. pop n pour.
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7/5/2013 - snarfglk wrote: 89 Points
Violets on the nose and palate. Very nice.
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6/9/2013 - Wineson Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice solid wine.
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5/4/2013 - jjlobi wrote: 88 Points
Nicely softened after opening. Pleasant and smooth drinker.
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4/28/2013 - ChrisinCowiche wrote: 90 Points
Still solid smooth easy drinking Syrah.
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4/18/2013 - snarfglk wrote: 88 Points
good solid syrah
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1/20/2013 - snarfglk wrote: 89 Points
Way less than 89 day 1. Dramatically improved day 2. Sooo. it looks like a decant will make it shine after a pop n pour.
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12/25/2012 - Basil Ganglia Likes this wine:
PnD for a couple of hours before consuming. Started consuming with pre-Christmas dinner appetizers, and continued to consume into a dinner with some very well prepared Swedish meatball.
Rich nose, deep with notes of plum, blackberries, etc., with a hint of spice. Purple and leggy. In the mouth, a nice attack of fruit with good depth and complexity. Flavors are consistent with the nose, and sustaining through mid-palate and all the way to a long finish. Tannins are fully integrated and rounded, adding to the depth. Mid-palate some heat appears along with a good bite of acidity; both combine with the fruit and sustain through to the finish. The heat and acidity work well with the fruit and provide a good backbone for the fruit notes. Taken as a whole it makes a pleasant combination with strength tho hold up to strong dishes, but it also works quite well on its own.
I found this to be a very solid offering - no defects and having nice depth, complexity, and strength. I would guess it's at it's peak right now. Wish I had more. Rated very good (88-90).
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8/29/2012 - Wineson Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice easy drinking, non-complex wine. Taste does not linger.
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8/14/2012 - ChrisinCowiche wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with prior bottles. Still rocking along. A bit of bricking on edge of color this time.
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7/30/2012 - Belikin Stout wrote: 91 Points
- Crimsom color and aromas of cherry and black pepper and has flavours of cherry - Vanilla on the nose and more in the glass. Better the second day.
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7/17/2012 - AMC Eagle wrote: 92 Points
Pnp. Its like drinking dark liquid vanilla covered tootsie rolls with blackberries and anise which is right up my alley. A bit hot at the end unfortunately. Great value wine for 11 bucks.
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6/29/2012 - VinLancaster wrote: 87 Points
Ripe, sweet marionberry, anise, fleshy black fruit and smoke on the nose. This is a bit hot this time around, fruit is ripe and almost cloying by the end of the bottle. In all fairness, the restaurant served this too warm which made a big difference. Last 2 bottles were well balanced, smooth as silk with nuances of chocolate, plum, a firm core and long spicy finish.
Drink now through 2015
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5/4/2012 - Wineson Likes this wine: 89 Points
When first tasted, this wine was bright, fruity, chocolatey and tasty. However, the taste seemed to diminish over time. Smooth finish. Did not linger.
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12/19/2011 - Wineson Likes this wine: 90 Points
The wine looks Crimson colored.
The body is Medium.
The wine is textured Coarse.
The wine finishes Medium.
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11/22/2011 - W2WineGuy Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice nose, that came through as soon as I opened the bottle. Smoky and spicy, medium finish, enjoying it
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11/19/2011 - ChrisinCowiche wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with prior note a year later. Still yummy.
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11/12/2011 - guribh wrote: 85 Points
Tasted abit more simple this go around.
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10/31/2011 - W2WineGuy Likes this wine: 89 Points
not a whole lot when I first opened, but over time opened up nicely. Fruit foward, a bit of smile, short to medium finish, really nicely tasty
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10/14/2011 - ggkemp wrote: 89 Points
Fruity, dark, complex. Great QPR
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10/5/2011 - Redhawk-Jayhawk wrote: 85 Points
Earthy and heavy on the nose and palate.
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8/14/2011 - Wineson Likes this wine: 89 Points
fruity & tasty. Very pleasant.
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7/15/2011 - midtownmac wrote:
Its a nice wine...if you like oak and vanilla. Its almost too much for me to take though. You decide.
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7/7/2011 - AMC Eagle wrote: 92 Points
A great Syrah for the money. Spicy and jammy berries. Yummy. I am buying a case(or two) if WTSO sells this again.
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6/30/2011 - Ali2615 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very smooth and big, dark fruit (blackberry, plum) oaky vanilla, sweaty, baking spices, cedar and bitter chocolate. Recently drank a bottle which seemed a bit flabby.
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6/2/2011 - AMC Eagle wrote: 91 Points
Vinturi decanted for an hour. Dark garnet color. Sweet blueberry jam on the nose, along with a good amount of heat. Nice and smooth going down. I notice plums or prunes and cedar box on the mouth. Some oak there too, and spicy heat at the end. Excellent QPR for this one.
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5/30/2011 - midtownmac wrote: 89 Points
First bottle corked. Second bottle much better. As others stated very oaky but quite smooth. Tannins are very reserved. Very nice wine especially for 12.99 bottle.
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5/26/2011 - ccrida wrote: 87 Points
Lots of oaky vanilla, some spice, though the fruit is bright enough to stand up, boysenberry. Nice casual sipper.
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4/26/2011 - Gestalted wrote: 92 Points
Classic WA Syrah. Extremely polished w/ intricate red/blue fruit weaving in and out of vanilla and baking spices. Remarkable finish that just goes on!
--
Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
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4/17/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote: 89 Points
A little more oak/milky vanilla this time around. Excellent, but preferred the balance I remember in my prior experience w/ this wine. Would I buy more at the WTSO price? Absolutely, and those who tried it tonight said they'd buy a case for that price.
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4/15/2011 - bablues wrote: 88 Points
Good fruit and balance of pepper and spice
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4/11/2011 - Dirty123 wrote: 91 Points
great bottle of wine. Hints of berry upon opening. Nice taste of vanilla. Great finish. Remarkable wine for the price. Great Syrah body
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3/27/2011 - BBinSC wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured -- dark, inky color, rich nose of spice and dark fruit. The palate was rich and silky, nice spice in the background with a streak of chocolate on the back end. As the wine gained air, it opened up, revealing more elegance and richness. Tannins were chewy and ripe.
I am a big fan of Washington Syrah, and this wine deepened my appreciation. Most of the Syrah from this part of the world is aggressive and a bit out of varietal character. Not so here, the Milbrandt had just the right amount of spicy notes and fruit, plus a feminine elegance. Well done, and a steal from WTSO.
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3/25/2011 - berko wrote: 90 Points
Nice wine at any price, but absolutely outstanding for 13 bucks.
Nose was restrained at first but eventually opened up to reveal red and black fruit, vanilla, and cedar. Taste matched the nose, but with time, the vanilla tended to dominate. Weakness in the tannic backbone keeps this wine from being truly great.
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3/22/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote: 90 Points
Outstanding. Smokey meat, olive, sweet and tart blueberry and boisenberry fruit balanced by a good dose of oak. Medium to full in the mouth with a lightly tannic finish. Amazing value.
Drink now and over the next few years. 90
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2/20/2011 - JDB wrote: 91 Points
Very solid value, pop & pour , classic New World Syrah, not Shiraz, but Syrah. Softer more velvet but still an abundance of Blueberry & Blackberry, I can still find a spotin my heart for this wine, @ $22.00 & the Mrs. likes it , I will be buying more
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11/7/2010 - ChrisinCowiche wrote: 90 Points
Solid smooth, very good syrah. Popped and poured, oak dominant at first, but fruit evolved over an hour with very nice blackberrry, boysenberry, soy, white pepper noted developing.
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