Some Saxum and a Hoage (for the NBA Playoffs) (My home): Its been a while since I tried this. At first taste it seemed a bit over the hill, but with some air it revived and was drinking quite well. Purple in color. The nose has lots of black raspberry fruit with a dried fruit quality. On opening there is a lot of alcohol on the nose but with some air, it smoothes out. Tom and I discussed the dried fruit, not quite rasined, more like dry figs. The palate is much purer than the nose. No taste of alcohol. There is some complexity here. Plenty of black raspberry fruit. Still delicious. Perhaps a bit past peak, but still drinking well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted carefully (lots of sediment) for over an hour. Color was inky, dark. Nose seemed to be mostly alcohol but that sure wasn't evident on our palates. This wine was smoooth and rich in my mouth. Raspberry was the most prominent flavor...other flavors were more subtle...licorice, a melange of dark fruit. Tannins were very tame. This wine is mature and drinking beautifully now. I was afraid it would be too old but nope, it was a wonderful treat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dug these out of the back of the locker, finally, and these are right in my wheelhouse for this type of wine. Dark as night. This smacks you in the face with black fruit, pepper, licorice, iron/blood and bacon. Much, much mellower than it was a year or so after release. Damn fine job of winemaking, Justin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
TN: SQN, Terry Hoage, Aalto, Turley: These wines also demonstrate just how well they can age. The "older" Hoages are getting better and better. These early vintages were made by Justin Smith, but I think Terry's will do just as well. Inky purple in color. On the nose, this is raw but great. Black raspberries, slight game, bacon fat, black pepper and really powerful. On the palate, this is smooth and layered. Complex but full of fruit. Not really showing tertiary notes, more just a melding and smoothing out of the raw materials into a seamless but layered drink. Nice finish. This is bigger than the SQN and at first I thought I preferred it. After further review, it does not have quite the depth and smoothness, but is still outstanding.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is still very primary and a monster. At first, blackberry fruit was super extracted, but with decanting, the mineral, meat and iron notes emerged. Thick texture, chewy tannins and inky, mouthstaining fruit deserve at least 2-5 more years of cellaring.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted along 2 other California Syrahs, and this was the most fruit-forward, with tremendous and sweet blackberry, black cherry aromas and flavors -- not overripe, however. Again, the color is very dark, almost black. Very enjoyable, although it lacked the extra dimension in complexity. Still outstanding.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Delicious California syrah. The color is very dark, inky purple-black -- among the darkest wines I've seen. There are some smoky, licorice and black fruit aromas. There are tons of very ripe, rich, and sweet blackberry and cherry flavors.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
12/10/2022 - PinotPaul Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wonderful Syrah. Extremely smooth with very good structure. Fruit still showing well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2015 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 92 Points
Some Saxum and a Hoage (for the NBA Playoffs) (My home): Its been a while since I tried this. At first taste it seemed a bit over the hill, but with some air it revived and was drinking quite well. Purple in color. The nose has lots of black raspberry fruit with a dried fruit quality. On opening there is a lot of alcohol on the nose but with some air, it smoothes out. Tom and I discussed the dried fruit, not quite rasined, more like dry figs. The palate is much purer than the nose. No taste of alcohol. There is some complexity here. Plenty of black raspberry fruit. Still delicious. Perhaps a bit past peak, but still drinking well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/10/2013 - Annie1 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted carefully (lots of sediment) for over an hour. Color was inky, dark. Nose seemed to be mostly alcohol but that sure wasn't evident on our palates. This wine was smoooth and rich in my mouth. Raspberry was the most prominent flavor...other flavors were more subtle...licorice, a melange of dark fruit. Tannins were very tame. This wine is mature and drinking beautifully now. I was afraid it would be too old but nope, it was a wonderful treat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2011 - rmodak wrote: 92 Points
Drinking great now, dark and rich blackberry, loads of glycerin, minerals and fine tannins. Certainly shined with an hour of decanting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2010 - jt wrote:
Dug these out of the back of the locker, finally, and these are right in my wheelhouse for this type of wine. Dark as night. This smacks you in the face with black fruit, pepper, licorice, iron/blood and bacon. Much, much mellower than it was a year or so after release. Damn fine job of winemaking, Justin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2010 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 93 Points
TN: SQN, Terry Hoage, Aalto, Turley: These wines also demonstrate just how well they can age. The "older" Hoages are getting better and better. These early vintages were made by Justin Smith, but I think Terry's will do just as well. Inky purple in color. On the nose, this is raw but great. Black raspberries, slight game, bacon fat, black pepper and really powerful. On the palate, this is smooth and layered. Complex but full of fruit. Not really showing tertiary notes, more just a melding and smoothing out of the raw materials into a seamless but layered drink. Nice finish. This is bigger than the SQN and at first I thought I preferred it. After further review, it does not have quite the depth and smoothness, but is still outstanding.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2007 - rmodak wrote: 90 Points
This is still very primary and a monster. At first, blackberry fruit was super extracted, but with decanting, the mineral, meat and iron notes emerged. Thick texture, chewy tannins and inky, mouthstaining fruit deserve at least 2-5 more years of cellaring.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2007 - MJHDC wrote:
Tasted along 2 other California Syrahs, and this was the most fruit-forward, with tremendous and sweet blackberry, black cherry aromas and flavors -- not overripe, however. Again, the color is very dark, almost black. Very enjoyable, although it lacked the extra dimension in complexity. Still outstanding.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2006 - MJHDC wrote:
Delicious California syrah. The color is very dark, inky purple-black -- among the darkest wines I've seen. There are some smoky, licorice and black fruit aromas. There are tons of very ripe, rich, and sweet blackberry and cherry flavors.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment