Both cuvées side-by-side. Also wonderfully fresh for its age. Bigger black fruits here with very good density. Robust structure is still very present while not obtrusive. I think there is still further upside here! The best this wine has ever shown to me.
Second 1/2 of the bottle was finished the next day, when it was more expressive, balanced, and complete vs Day One.
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Both cuvées side-by-side. Rich and very fun tonight, maybe even more fun than Blue, but also warmer and less refined. Lots of ripe black fruit, liqueur and dark chocolate. So much fun, and I would have thought 5+ years younger if served blind.
Second 1/2 of the bottle was finished the next day, when it was almost as good, but lacking some of the freshness of Day One.
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Alas, my last bottle of this wine... Rich but cool in texture. Not hot nor jammy. Wonderful balance. Fresh black fruit, touches of c]black olive, damp earth, dark chocolate and black pepper. Have followed this particular wine and vintage for over 12 years now, and I loved every bottle for its balance, complexity, hedonism and ability to deliver FUN. Excellent QPR, as well. Shafer's Relentless, SQN, Bedrock and Lillian were my introduction to, and jumpstarted my fascination for American Syrah back then... and I am so glad to say that many more bottles and labels have found their way into my cellar.
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This was solid; fruit from Bien Nacido vineyard; ripe blackberry and blueberry on the nose, hints of smoke; I found the nose a bit muted overall; the palate is decadent and rich while remaining reasonably balanced.
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Phenomenal wine which should improve with age. This was juicy and fruit forward - almost like a California Cabernet - but spice and earth notes added provided a backbone and let you know this was a Syrah. While it was singing after 90 min in the decanter I suggest giving it some lore air. In short: if you want bloody, meaty Syrah this isn’t it, though I wonder if age will introduce these flavors.
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Slow ox 4 hrs -opaque purple -restrained dark plummy fruit -low acidity, med+/heavy weight though not as unctuous as last time tasting, faded plum dark berry and an almost old world earthiness capped off by distinct bitter licorice but no overt savory elements, still finishes with prominent heat and a bit of caramel oak though the med- tannins have largely resolved -this has aged a bit better than expected, I don't think it will do anything but gradually decline from this point forward as the heat will likely be more prominent as the fruit further fades
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Method: Grassl 1855; pop and pour (Coravin); 56 degrees (and up as it sat out)
Look: deep ruby/purple; very slow legs
Nose: Green olive, bacon fat, potting soil, beef jerky, cherry, dark cherry, tar
Palate: tart cherry, potting soil, green olive brine, dried herbs; long finish of dried herbs, leather, pepper; dry; full body; medium+ acidity; medium tannin
Overall: When I first opened this, it couldn't really find its stride. There was a brief moment where the temperature and air exposure aligned and it was fairly great, but most of the time it was a bit rough around the edges. When I finished this a month after I first Coravined it (notes above don't reflect this final tasting), it was as if it aged very gradually and nicely and was in a much better spot. I feel like this needs a good decant to show well and shows better at about 62 degrees. If you catch this in the right spot, it's pretty great, but if not, it's good but a bit rough around the edges.
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1st night aired for one hour plus and it was still too much, lush gigantic black fruit with plums and berries but a wild ride of iron and typical Syrah fat.vvWe let it sit in the fridge for an extra night and it came out singing . Complete integration, berries were calm and a forward wine that maintained the fruit and now had a hint of white pepper to go with the lovely silk of the smooth wine. This wine has time no reason to rush Into it.
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This bottle was really in a good place! Lovely rounded by the the ageing, but perfectly fresh and not showing any signs of oxidation. Smoky, dark fruited, warm clinate expression of Syrah, but very well balanced with a high drinkability factor despite the big proportions.
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Spring 2020 Memorial (Golf, Illinois): Impressive wine with lots of finesse and class. Overpowering, perfumed aromas of violet laced with fresh berry fruit. Flavor profile shows lots of secondary character, with dark berry fruit accented by mushrooms. Notes of spice, forest, bramble also present. This was a pricy bottle but worth the wait.
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Covid-19 Intro/Retro (Chez Hughes): The nose has sweet, creamy black fruit aromas with some toast and spice accents. The palate is plum and juicy with plenty of sweet black fruit. Sufficiently fresh with nice black pepper in the finish. Clearly California. Was guessing Pax. My #2, Group #3.
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A bit disappointing, to be honest. Opens with some funky, gamey, beef blood notes, which blow off after an hour. The rest of the time, however, the wine just shows some very simple black fruit, nothing more. Quite one-dimensional IMO.
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Rich black plum and berry aromas and flavors with an modern, New World character but made me think this would be too fat, but this is so clearly well balanced throughout. Very good length with a persistent charm through finish. Better tonight vs a magnum opened a few years ago.
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Passive cellar, direct from winery. PnP, served predinner and w ribcap Pretty delicious right from go. One of the better “ripe” syrahs I’ve tasted. Not jammy or overripe, nicely balanced and fully integrated. More saline than savory on the secondary flavors. Drinking at peak.
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Surprised so few have remarked on the salinity... first note of first sip out of the gates. Let it sit for 2+ hours and really opened up and balanced out. Benchmark example of larger style Cal Syrah as some have said. Typically prefer more more traditional syrah profile now than when this was orderied years ago, so surprised to find it so enjoyable. First of the 06s opened with a few more left. Will see where it goes.
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From auction purchase [cracked capsule, half-saturated cork]. Quick decant, this drank a bit funky at first due to the suspect prior ownership. While that never fully blew off over the couple hours drunk: the underlying, telltale foundation that makes Lillian syrah brilliant still [thankfully] shone through.
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From magnum...opened at the restaurant...poured off a little and then came back to it after a couple hours...really opened up with smoked meats, earth tones and blue and dark fruit...some mild tannins to finish it off...went down smooth...drinking well.
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Seemed a bit lighter in both color and body than what I have experienced from previous bottles...needed a full hour to open up and deliver...notes of smoked meat and earthy with dark fruit in the background...finish was on the short side, but went down smooth.
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Based on my previous bottles (and notes), I think this is on a slow downward descent. Fruit seemed to take a back seat to more savory notes, with a fairly prominent olive/tapenade nose. Strong alcohol notes from prior bottles seemed to be gone, but the result was a bottle with nothing to distinguish it. Fine wine, but not great.
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P&P. Amazing nose of black raspberry, makes my mouth water smelling this. Flavors are aligned with the nose. Slightly flat on the mid-palate, showing it's age I think. Flat out delicious tasting though. Will be interesting to see if this fleshes out a bit with more air. At 11 years old, I'm thinking it's held up very well. Drink now.
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Gobs of blue fruit, cocoa nibs, warm cherry pie, caramel, vanilla, ink and sandalwood. Well balanced, good acidic punch, very long and persistent finish. This is simply gorgeous..
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first time checking in on this in 18 months. continues to be a phenomenal wine. still very youthful at 11 years of age, this shows ripe blackberry, black plum, licorice, tar, smoke, black pepper, spicebox, and dark flowers. really great intensity of flavor. shines on a deep and long finish. such a great wine, and i can't believe that there isn't more attention paid here.
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Popped and poured. Started off delicious and put on a bit of weight with air. Somewhat funky nose but fruity, balanced, feminine style. These Lillians seem to drink great upon release, then go into a confused phase, then come out more refined on the other side.
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BYO Blind Tasting and Dinner (House of Nanda - Chicago IL): Magnum. Decanted 3 hours, served blind to the tasting group. Super concentration and technically very good and well balanced. I like the power here, but find it slightly one dimensional, so simpler than it should be as a "reserve" wine.
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Opulent black and blue berry aromas, flavors with dark chocolate and liqueur. Good concentration, but a sense of heat that detracts from overall harmony for me. Certainly enjoyable, but I did not enjoy this quite as much as another bottle from a year ago.
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Inky dark purple with a prevalent nose of violets and elderberry. On the second night opens with some tart purple fruit having a slightly bitter tannin component. This combined with high alcohol, I find off putting. I will give a few more days to see where this goes, but now it is very disjointed and a great disappointment considering the high praise others have given this wine. Starting to improve with more open time, loosing the bitter and starting to integrate the cane tannins with the fruit. Another night with continued improvement, more bright berry which I like, but the alc is a little sharp on the tongue.
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This producer has truly emerged as one of the greatest makers of Rhone varietals in the US. I am just always amazed at the consistency and complexity of these wines. Out of the bottle it displays a bright purple, medium dark color, already evident the weight of the wine is just about perfect. Great cacophony of competing layers on the palate: dark berry, sandalwood, leather, cherry with polished tannin. As the previous reviewer noted, I also thought there was no way this wine was 11 years old. Definitely has another 10 years or so ahead of it as the various elements will continue to integrate, likely with great results. Finish was beautiful - espresso, more dark fruit with just a hint of saline. Can't get enough, buy buy buy.
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This effort has without the slightest doubt matured into one of those "Grand Vins" which is so meticulously well made I am left in an endless state of joy for the whole tasting. The 2006 Lillian reveals rich dark, clean and totally crisp fruit accompanied by layer after layer of flowers, orange zest, truffles, dark chocolate, deep profound spice and a whiff of saddle leather. The palate adds superbly and with immense power to the first impressions with a silky and almost velvety like balance. There is not a hard edge to this effort. Tannins are integrated and the whole effort just boasts of pure pleasure. Actually one of the of the more experienced guests said this was 100 % "first class Grenache" - and I am quite inclined to agree (though the wine was of course not served blind to me). There is a deep rich velvety fruit and mouth coating experince one would normally just find in a Grenache... Just as with the wines from Sine Qua Non, Lillian need time and this is time with capital letters. After 10+ years tannins have integrated - but there is still massive fruit which is quite impressive. Still, there is no chance anyone would have guessed this was a 2006. Although this is indeed a powerful wine, the elegant backbone of this effort cannot be highlighted enough. The acidity, texture and structure just adds to this backbone. A truly magnificent wine!
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A great bottle as usual, but served amongst a bunch of aged old world and it was sticking out as an outlier. Love the fruit and structure on this bottle.
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Very rich, interesting flamboyance of creamy red fruits and blackberry cheesecake. At ten years old it's still almost over the top, but has become somewhat more tamed. The white hawk flavor profile shines through on this one, a very full midpalate and some nice acids show themselves after a few hours of air. Great finish of tar and olive tapenade. This one should really be interesting in another five-seven years.
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Ruby red in color. 15.6% ABV. Spellbinding nose of blue fruits, molten licorice and violets. Medium to full body with exceptional balance. Amazing texture and presence on the palate. Flavors of cherry liqueur, blueberries, iron and milk chocolate. The finish is long, seamless and silky. Stunning, sexy and extremely well crafted Syrah. Drink over the next 2-3 years.
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Pop & pour. Amazingly rich, impenetrable black-purple color. Nose of spicy blackberry, oak and a slight burn of alcohol. Flavors of oak, sweet black fruit, espresso and a touch of vanilla on the finish. Perhaps a touch too much oak still apparent. It sort of overshadows the rest of the experience. I like the wine very much, but as it sat open, the oak took on more and more of a presence. Started out as a 95-96 level wine, and ended up more of a 93 after being open for 3+ hours. Drink now.
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Ripe, powerful and polished, but reasonably fresh and balanced with some nice secondary elements complementing the exuberant fruit. Went well with Texas pulled pork. A night on the counter was not kind to it though, yielding a goopy mess that paired better with my son's waffles and maple syrup than my venison vegetable soup.
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PopnPour, tasted over 1 hr -opaque dark red-purple minimal clearing at edge -rich dark fruit wet stone and some new oak -med/med- acidity, fading dark fruit but not much else on the fairly simple though still dense mid-palate, some heat and oak but not much tannic structure linger on the finish, no real mature elements -very nice nose but the fruit has fallen off of the alcohol and oak scaffolding leaving a bit of a hot mess; it seems like it is not really evolving but just fading, this wine is styled to be better in its youth to enjoy its voluptuous fruit
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Dunkles purpurrot; intensive Aromen von Beerenkompott, Pflaumenmus, Pfeffer, Menthol und Barbecuesoße, Rauch und Holz; am Gaumen vollmundiger, weicher, trotz seines Alkoholgehalts nicht überkonzentriert oder heiß wirkender Wein mit langem Abgang. Hat noch viele Jahre vor sich.
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Dark color with powerful dark berry aromas and flavors with hints of liqueur and dark chocolate. While is a little on the flamboyant side, it retains balance without showing obtrusive heat on the finish despite 15.6% alcohol as indicated on the label. I find this very enjoyable, and think it will continue to drink nicely through the decade.
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4yrs from my last bottle. Needed a couple hours to really show well. Exposing wine of pepper and spice and a bit of coffee. Early in the evening the oak notes were mixed up with the fruit, but with some time this receded and the fruit seemed much more pure. Plenty of purple fruit, with oak spice. Lengthy finish with pepper, spice, and mocha. Smooth and integrated, with a nuanced polished style.
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Popped and poured, big mistake. This needed an hour of decanting at least to reach its potential. Even at this age there is still primary brambly dark fruits, a massive dark core and well integrated alcohol with little heat.
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The 2006 was a beast of a wine with incredible richness and intensity. The deep and layered nose showed dark fruits, olive, tomatoes on the vine, cherry liquor, sweet florals and dusty spice. On the palate, I found rich, velvety textures giving way to ripe fruit, balsamic tones, and dark chocolate. It turned more spicy and confectionary with time in the glass and finished with saturating black fruits and hints of bitters. This is a big and intense wine, yet it’s balanced to the core.
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Spectacular. Everything about this was exceptional. Beautiful blue fruits and silky resolved tannins. If I had more of this, I'd be curious to see where it goes, but it'd be hard to resist popping because it's in such an amazing spot right now. WOTY candidate for me!
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Huuuuuuuuge wine. Tasted a splash from the bottle and this wine screams DECANTER. as we finished up the boneless leg of lamb on the grill, the wine rested in the magnum decanter for another 45 mins. We drank over 2.5 hours and it got better as it continued to soften the edges just a bit on the palate. Dark Berries are primary, oak an d pepper secondary. Really paired well with the lamb.
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Great wine. Blackberry flavors predominate, with licorice, black pepper, spice and earthiness mixing in. Smooth, voluptuous, quite rich and dense, but still fresh. Not a hard edge anywhere. It reminded me quite a bit of a Sine Qua Non, which should not have surprised me given the source, but nonetheless did.
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Domestic (err.... sortof) Syrah (... well, mostly...) (The Apt): Opened and let sit for a few hours, then decanted. After two Washington funky wines this was a bit of a change. Get a lot more smoke here, still a bit of meatiness, some hints of fruit (mostly plum). It was an interesting wine. Initial reactions were very positive to this one, but was generally not in the list of favorites at the end of the night.
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Slow-oxed an hour, decanted for thirty, commenced. Silky, integrated tannins. Smoke! Black pepper, graphite, blackberries, gunflint, hints of baking spices. So, so, lovely right now. Will last another 2-3 years easy, though I don't see how as how it has much room for ascent....
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Gorgeous. Very ripe dark fruited syrah flavor. Served blind next to the Texier Cote Rotie, this was obviously the California wine. But avoids much of the over ripe jamminess of some similarly big New World syrahs. Beautiful and in a lovely place right now.
Big smooth and full of dark fruits. I need to learn to let these rest to develop that slim Jim, BBQ thing I like so much. As it is, very balanced and satisfying. Good wine.
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Gave this a quick decant when we arrived at the table and let it sit for perhaps 15 minutes before pouring…deep purple color with an elegant floral nose mixed with blue fruit and pepper…just glorious with the first sip…will let remaining bottles age as I think this will improve.
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This is a wow wine and an effort so meticulously made I am totally impressed. The 2006 Lillian exhibits abundant dark, clean, razor sharp fruit adjoined by complex layers of orange, lemon zest, cacao, truffles, saddle leather and an intriguing spiciness. The palate is just as gorgeous with a silky and almost velvety like balance. There is not a hard edge to this effort, although tannins still speak up quite loudly. Just as with the wines from Sine Qua Non, Lillian comes across as a "slow ager". There is no chance anyone would have guessed this was a 2006 without knowledge of the wine and the winemaker. Although this is a truly powerful wine, there is striking elegance further elaborated on by the acidity, texture and structure which tells me further aging is not a problem. Well, there might just be one problem: this effort is so lovely and drinks so well at present I see absolutely no reason to wait. Bravo!
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Nearly three years since I last drank this wine, and time has been its friend. Not as big or alcoholic, the wine had wonderful nuance and complexity - some wonderful earthy and savory notes to go with the dark fruit profile. Each glass seemed to develop with air, providing a wonderful evolution over the two hours I drank this.
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Day one - tightly wound and not letting anything show. Day two - skipped Day three - Eureka. Beautiful nose of many different dark red fruits, maybe even a little cinnamon, lovely. Excellent on the palate as well. Finally showed what its all about. Relatively short finish though and a touch of heat (alcohol) but that only makes me think this will age quite well for a few more years. I really liked it. Want more. But if drinking now, keep open for like 36 hours + first.
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Dark color depth, ruby hue, 1/4" to the meniscus. Nose of licorice, blue fruit, plum, and some chalk. Primary palate of black fruit, very soft intensity with some bitter, astringent characteristics. No attack, soft across the board, ending in dry heat. Tannins are fine. Finish is short and not complex.
Final thoughts: I think this wine was a bit overwhelmed by the previous extracted Lagier Meredith wine. This one just seemed to get lost. Nothing great, nothing bad ... Nothing memorable. This was a "middle of the pack" wine for most of the group, with only two outliers, one high, one low.
My Ranking: 6th out of 8 wines Group Ranking: 4th out of 8 wines Middle-Tier (47 total points out of 88 possible points)
Amazing syrah, needs at least an hour decant, was really singing at hour two... No hurry to drink this, will be great for another 2-4 years at least...
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The wine is opaque purple in color. 15.6% ABV. Cool dark fruits, iron, violets and anise on the nose. Exceptionally well balanced with great acidity. Rich and unctuous. Blueberries, vanilla, leather, pepper and saline on the palate. Still somewhat tannic. The finish is endless. Drink over the next 2-4 years.
- Purple color with medium forming legs and aromas of blackberry, black pepper and coffee. It's somewhat balanced and has flavours of blackberry and cherry with a medium/full body. Polished texture - Popped and poured which was a mistake. It needed about an hour which we discovered on the last few sips. By that time a terrific, well balanced and flavorful wine emerged
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nice load of fruit with some hint of meat, blood and earth. little spicy. but overall not as lush and dense as i recall. missing some complexity and wow factor. little astringent on finish.
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If you dare, this wine is BIG and ugly. I'm not sure what the plan long term would look like. I respect this winemaker very much, and still want to jump in for the future.
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a little disjointed from the get go. less expressive than my last experience. it started to kick in after a few hours in the decanter. see previous note for descriptors.
hold for now.
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Didn't give this much of a chance to breath. Poured right into glass and tasted. A slight bitterness followed the powerful fruit. About 2 hours later the bitterness was gone and the massive flavors showed themselves to be extremely enjoyable. I have a little more than half a bottle left so I hope to see it showing itself to be as good or better tonight. Will update otherwise.
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First Lillian. Decanted 5 hours. This was awesome and exceed my expectations. Kept smelling it over and over. Big and complex as others have noted but not over the top and very easy to drink. Still could use a few more year to tone down the alcohol and tannins a bit more.
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Always wondering if some wines live up to their hype? This does. Had with BBQ beef ribs. This has a perfumed nose of mixed red/blue fruit with flowers and damp wood. Huge fruit wine, that seems light on its feet, wonderfully balanced and food-friendly.
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One hour decant this time. The notes are the same as previous bottle except the alcohol and tannins are getting wrapped up and are not as pronounced. A lovely bottle.
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It is not often that a bottle exceeds my expectations. This is one. It is a feminine wine, beautiful integrated, no rough edges. Just a delight to drink.
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This is such a beautiful wine. Tonight it shows as very fruit forward, with a crisp and almost "clean" experience - despite present and rather non-subtle oak. Beautiful acidity and a lovely Syrah nose without the traditional Old-World impurities which sometimes are referred to as "typically Syrah". There is a rather large dose of elegance to be found in this effort too, but tonight the fruit and acidity speak up a bit more loudly compared to a year ago. For sure, this is an example of a "New World" style Syrah, but it is so meticulously made I am still as impressed as last time I tasted it.
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If this wine was an oil, its viscosity would be something like a 20W/50, it's that thick of a purple beast. And it's still feeling young at this time, with bracing tannins and solid blackberry fruit characteristics. Once it's been open for approaching six hours, a nice pepper and black licorice component starts to overtake the dark fruits and gives me additional hope that this wine will continue to experience an interesting evolution over the next five years. Niney three plus and climbing....
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Great nose of spice, olives, and black raspberry. Palate very seemless with deep black fruits, violets, smoke, rocks. Outstanding persistence on black fruited finish.
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From a bottle opened the night before. No detailed notes. Had a nice berry driven nose, with black currants, almost cab-like. Palate was loaded with purple fruit, white pepper and spice, vibrant acidity. Lengthy mocha on the finish with loads of pepper and dark fruit. This has integrated nicely , smooth and seamless. Has a touch of "high toned" fruit that I get in higher alcohol wines, but no real heat. Very nice.
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my first blue label and I was pretty underwhelmed compared to how much I've loved the regular label. it was tasty, and everyone else loved it, but it didn't do much for me. maybe in an awkward phase? decanted 4 hours and it just never came around for me to meet my lofty expectations. if scoring, 88-90.
Absolutely delicious. I continue to love each bottle I open. Dark nose, with meat, black fruit, and spice. Similar on palate with a long finish. Extremely young, even with a 2 hr decant and watching the bottle open up over 3 hours. Slight heat on late midpalate.
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Everything you'd want in a young Syrah...but let it air for a while first!! Great with the steaks at Capital Grill and was the WOTN for all. Last one, boo hoo!
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Got a couple nice pours of this. Bigger syrah, with the blue and black coat of fruit showing. Some heat in the aromatic but not overpwering, with iron, too.
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15.6% ABV. Opened this yesterday and found it to be kind of an oaky mess. Left overnight in the cellar it improved quite a bit. Slightly translucent rim, opaque dark garnet center. Aromas of oak, black cherry, and an elemental mineral quality. The aromatics reminded me a bit of some Saxum wines. Full bodied on the palate with sweet black fruit and some additional oak. Probably better with some more time in bottle.
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not decanted. shortly after opening i watched in horror as a clueless guest poured a good 6 oz into a glass right after i mentioned it was a fairly rare wine. jesus. probably the best wine i poured all night and the least drunk despite this gaff. oh, well...more for me at the end of the night. typical spice and pepper and pleasing licorice. this needs more air/cellar time, but i keep opening them. doe!
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Just as good as I remembered it. Purpur color with the distinct Syrah smell and flavour without the jam hint that you sometimes get from new world syrah. Did not feel the alcohol despite being 15.5%.
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if you don't have these wines in your cellar, stop reading this and go buy them now. at $85 on the secondary market, these still offer fantastic qpr. right out of the gate this was singing with massive roasted blackberries, black cherries, plums, and raspberries, with smokey/peppery nuances and sweet spice all swirling out of the glass. in the mouth, this is huge, plush, weighty but balanced, and a black-fruit explosion. the finish brings in some cream and maybe licorice flavors to complement all the ooey gooey black fruits. this wine is worth the tariff, and i am so happy to have more in my cellar. if scoring, 95-96 points. no rush to drink these, but if you have a few go ahead and open one to check in. you won't be disappointed!
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I opened this when friends came over for leg of lamb on 5/19/12. Wow, what a treat! The bouquet was dense, ripe and alluring with smoked meat, blackberry, plum, mocha, coffee, licorice, black olive and spice aromas. The palate was rich, hedonistic and simply incredible with flavors of blackberry, plum, mocha, coffee, licorice and spice. It was the unanimous WOTN.
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This wine went through quite a metamorphosis over the 3hrs on th table. Initially splash decanted, but a little cold. Nose became more expressive over time, with meat, white pepper, wile berries, and spice. Palate initially showed a little heat, but this blew off. Dark currants, spice cake and berry liquor on the palate, but better integrated and more elegant than the Saxum. Espresso, meat/game, and spice on a moderately long finish. WOTN for me. Concentrated, elegant and refine style without doing too much. Much enjoyed, though slight more closed than the last 2 bottles. 93-94.
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15.6% alcohol. from magnum. splashed into a riedel somm magnum decanter (an extremely worthy purchase!), kept in the cellar for two hours, and poured back into bottle for transport; then back into the decanter at an easter dinner with about 16 guests. terrific showing for this wine, and i credit the bottle prep. moderate tannin without an alcoholic stigma and complimentary oak; big backbone framing excellent fruit. expressive and delicious.
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Decanted for about 2 hours. Still a bit tight in the glass. Very integrated; nice mouth feel. Deep, rich and smooth. The berries are very much in the forefront. Pepper has faded. No heat at all. Lovely.
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Notes of cherry and ham juices with some licorice and rhubarb. Palate is more of the same with more fruit and a lot of acidity throughout. Very nice, but I think some VA has snuck into the wine, hopefully with time will blow off.
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This was a replacement bottle and wow it delivered. It still amazes to me what the extra time in oak does to the wine, much more balanced than the '06 regular Lillian with additional creamy aspects to it. So yummy!
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Double decanted and drank with the wife and a friend. Was opened and consumed between one to two hours so there was little time for the wine to completely open up. With that, there was a slight waft of alcohol on the nose, but obviously with the time it took us to plow through this one, it was going down very very well. Ripe huckleberry bursting on the nose along with dried figs and cherries. Very mild vanilla on the palate along with gorgeous deep dark berries rounding out this fruit forward syrah with little to no tobacco, leather, or smoke that we routinely see in a lot of the variety. However, there is still a meaty elegance found in this one. Tannins are soft but distinct, and the acid balances this wine out to be great for years to come. Unfortunately this was the last bottle of this vintage. I will have to be more disciplined with our 2007s and 2008s.
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Popped and poured. Savory bacon, rich almost porty black cherry flavors. Very big and ripe, but there is an underlying minerality that keeps this in balance. Very young. A Cote Rotie on steroids.
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A true revelation for a Syrah lover. This wine is big, yet it is made in an elegant style with all components in perfect harmony. The nose expresses tons of cool dark fruits, flowers and an intriguing meatiness. There is also lovely minerals and luxuriously rich but elegant oak to be found. The palate is full-bodied with a very nice acidity intertwined with ample fruit and fine tannins. The finish is close to endless and lasts for well over a minute. Thanks to the acidity this is indeed a food friendly wine, but to rustic dishes like Boeuf Bourguignon. Do not be mistaken, this is an example of a "New World" style Syrah, but it is so meticulously made I am utterly impressed. (Decanted four hours before serving.)
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Consumed over two days. First night was tight with notes of dark fruit and sweet oak notes on the nose. After being in a decanter for 24 hours the nose became more finessed with finer layers of red and black fruit components, cassis, and more of the classic syrah notes that weren't there on the first night. Bones to age, or enjoy after an aggressive and long decant.
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Ripe fruits, leather, blood, beautiful sweet spices, firm acidity and bitterness. Some sweetness as well, but in beautiful balance with the acidity. A full bodied and very complete wine. Imho it will probably improve a bit over the next few years. Hope to taste this again around 2015.
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An evening with Sine Qua Non (Restaurant Bottles, Sas van Gent): Very powerful and sweet, nodding to jammy. Liquorice, black fruit, pipe tobacco, spicebox. The structure of this wine is not too fat, even rather graceful. Good fresh, mouthwatering acidity gives lift and drinkability. Needs some extra years to develop some rugged nuances of complexity and maturation. 18+/20
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Four hour decant, ink black in the glass. Aromas of roasted figs, spicy rose petals and black pepper, I could just smell this wine for hours. Flavors of plush black fruit and some bacon fat. Still a bit hot from the alcohol and the tannins need a bit more time but this will only improve over the next 4 - 5 years.
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No rating. Too young. Very difficult on a pop and pour. About an hour and a half in, it starts to let up a bit. I am going to try to leave these alone for a year or two.
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BerserkerFest NYC (Peking Duck House, NYC): A generous contribution to our table from another table so we could try this side by side with the 05 Blue Label. This showed more reserved, but still had quite a bit of fruit. Meat and black fruit. less complexity than the blue -- whether because of barrel age or vintage. long finish. lovely wine.
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Big big wine with lots of the characteristics I don't especially like...this wine finally settled down and opened in a way that I enjoyed on night 3. It had been corked and in the fridge following night 1. Last night actually very nice, rich classic syrah finish and no heat.....I had opened b/c of a BB comment that wine was good to go, but maybe they gave it hours and hours of air before drinking...I see no rush here at all
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Huge wine. Unlike prior vintages, at least for me, this wine was much more in your face - even after a two hour decant. Alcohol was front and center on the nose, but mixed with gorgeous dark fruit. Will revisit in a year or so.
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Tasted non blind. Opened and allowed to slow-O for several hours before serving.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of roasted meat, black pepper, currants, spices and plums. Flavors of berries, plums, cherries and minerals. Medium to bright acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied. Drink now with plenty of air or continue to hold.
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EWG goes blind for Syrah (Elements Kitchen, Pasadena,Ca): Served blind. Dense nose with reduction, wet rocks and heat. Mostly tight with rich, dense fruit showing a note of tar. Not interesting or tasty. Just dense and dark.
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Purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of dark currants, flowers, black berries and melted black licorice. Flavors of currants, blueberries and black cherries. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied. Drink or hold. Could use some air.
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DAWGS July 2011 Wine Dinner (Aboca's Italian Grill- Richardson, TX): Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Dark dense purple. Huge nose of blueberries, cola, spice and some other dark berries. No mistaking this for anything but Syrah. More of the same on the palate with cassis, sweet oak and a good bit of black pepper. Hugely bold wine with a lot of heat (15.6% ABV). Long finish of cassis, tobacco and rubber. Definitely not my style of wine but does seem to be well made for what it is. Very tannic, I would hold for another few years.
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Very expressive - quite a bit more open, spicy and powerful than the 2007 tasted recently. This bottle shows a lot more similarity to an SQN 06 Raven syrah tasted earlier this year than other tastings of this or other vintages of Lillian, with intense, concentrated fruit and peppery spice that's a bit too intense on night one. After this mellows on night 2, the floral side of this wine comes out more and becomes more enjoyable to me. Give this time, or lots of air. 93-94
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I'd have to say this bottle wasn't as good as past bottles, it had a small bitter streak to it (not alcohol) so it could have just been slightly off, but the fruit over-powered most of that. Still was a very good bottle!
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Popped and decanted for the first night, drank half after 2 hours in the decanter then closed up, back in the cellar for day 2. Grilled lamb chops went well with the big dark black raspberries boysenberries, smoke and olives this offered on day 1. The nose jumped out of the bottle when opened and carried on until capped and put back in the cellar. Day 2 the wine showed much more complexity as the black fruits faded a touch and there was a little cedary flavor mixed with the meaty flavors and smoke and a bit of almost chilli spice that came out on the palate. I want a bigger allocation!!!!!
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Nose of dark berries and black olives. Lots of swirling revealed a bit of pepper. Palate is unbelievably lush with a long long finish . . . needed just a touch more acidity but still so good; low tannins. Good with and without food but unlike most syrah's, it didn't need food. Still like this style but not for everyone.
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Great nose with ripe berries, spices and beef. The palate is very tight, thick in texture but not giving much. The nose, however is awesome so I expect this wine to be crazy good down the road.
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Intense concentrated dark fruit nose of currants, , smoke, white pepper, coffee and touch of game. Incredibly concentrated, complex fruit--raspberry, cherry, currants, and plum--with a liquor like quality, but impeccable balance no sense of heat. Leaves with an incredibly long finish of currants, vanilla, coffee, and spice--turning slightly sweet.Very primary and probably needs some time to settle down. Incredible wine in the super concentrated but balanced (SQN) style. Much better than a recent '05 regular Lillian, though from my note I can't tell if I like then better than the regular '06. Certainly much more concentrated and deeper fruit, but at the expense of the meaty-pepper note I love. Will need to try them back-to-back sometime.
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SQN Dinner (Lockkeepers): Added as a disciple of Manfred's and an extended aged wine. This seems shut down right now. Some black raspberries and spice on the nose which is very nice. Sweet black raspberry fruit/pie filling on the nose. Wound very tight. Outstanding wine, but lacks the smoothness/richness of the SQN's.
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I was not impressed with this wine last night. Drank after about 3 hours in the decanter. A big, rich wine with almost no varietal character at all, and it drank like a very modern style wine that could be from anywhere (in the New World). Some tannins. Nothing wrong with the wine, but nothing really right with it either: an amorphous 'wine cocktail' style without much soul. This bottle obviously didnt really impress me, and my fellow taster (it was his bottle) had the same disappointed impressions (B+).
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What a difference a year makes. Five of us tasted this over the course of 4 hours. Deep red color with a nose of black pepper and sweet dough and raspberry. Flavors of vanilla cream, cherry, blueberry and black pepper. This is extremely interesting and evolves in the glass. Midway through the bottle we had some pizza which made the wine much softer. I really liked this and have high hopes over the next few years.
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15.6% ABV. Slightly translucent rim, opaque dark garnet center. Sweet nose of black berry fruit with a touch of powdered sugar sweet oak. Sexy nose. Full bodied with sweet black fruit and a spicy notion of stems on the palate. Yum+.
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Notes similar to the previous bottle. Followed over a couple of hours and this was very nice. Remains quite structured, more so than the '05, and I think this still has substantial upside.
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Napa Offline and a whole bunch of wine, mostly Syrah (Napa Valley Wine & Cigar): I had not had this wine since release. At that time it was tight as a drum. Despite being a Magnum, this bottle was really quite open. Ruby/purple in color. The nose has raspberries, black raspberries, and anise (is there Whitehawk fruit in this?). Also some spice. On the palate, this is also soft and easy to drink. I did get to it later in the night after it had some air, so perhaps that helped. There is an nice layering of fruit, leather and charcoal that makes this really interesting. I guess it is five years from vintage, but I was surprised that ti seemed to be ageing fast than I thought it would. Not worry, this still is not yet at peak and has at least a decade or more to go. Great wine.
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California BYO (@ Terkel): Powerful blackberry nose with lost of freshly ground black pepper. The fruit is almost creamy and has beautiful notes of blood and dirt. Impressively intense palate with blackberry fruit, black pepper and a lovely creamy texture and a vibrating acidity in the long aftertaste. Beautiful wine.
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Just another fantastic showing by Lillian that was much better than the bottle I had six months ago. Opened two hours before consuming. Was the favoite of the group, with many commenting on how dark it was. Potent blackberry aroma and just a pure finish. Hard to not want to drink another soon, but need to ration to make them last.
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Upon opening this right out of the cellar the nose was revealing almost nothing. After a 2 hour decant there still was very little fragance. What this wine lacked on the nose more than made up for on the palate. A completly seamless wine with both power and finesse. Layer upon layer of fruit that was never heavy or coying. Rich, powerful and with a long elegant finish. Even better on day two. I'm not very good at predicting a wines peak, but this is so good right now it will be hard to keep my hands off the remaining bottles.
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Decanted 1 hr. Nose still fairly closed with dark fruits, pepper and coffee not giving up alot to start. 2hrs in the wine got alot better with ripe blackberries, spice and some chocolate notes. Well balanced and enjoyable.
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Did a PNP and enjoyed over a 4 hour period. Have half left that will be enjoyed 48 hours later. This started out ful power in the glass. Swirlling brought out the full aroma right from the start. Big and powerful. The taste was slightly at bey to start as it warmed to room temps and had time to breath. The dark fruit was outstanding, not to big and not to light. Tannins sneak up on you but don't interfer with the wine but let you know these have plenty of time left in the bottle if you want. I was surprised to see the alc was listed at 15.6% because I didn't notice it at all. OVerall a very enjoyable expericence that hit the spot. Well done Maggie. Enjoy!!!
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4th Saturday group "uptown" tasting (Joe P's): Decanted a few hours before the tasting. Inky opaque color. Notes of dark fruit, plum and pepper. Shows its alcohol too. Pepper and dark fruit tones on the palate. Full-bodied and intense. Finished first in the flight.
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Big, dense, rich, meaty, voluptuous, mouth staining blue and black fruits balanced out with pepper, smoke, acidity and sweet tannins. And it can only improve. Oh man.
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Very nice. This has put on weight since my last try in the spring. Reminds me of the 05 (a wine I loved). Remarkable purity, rich black fruit, layered with grahm cracker, a hint of mineral and violet. Dark brooding, slow to open. This wasn't decanted, but enjoyed over four hours. The last glass would've been a good starting point.
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Another great showing from this wine. Splash decanted, and finished over the following 3 hrs. Initially quite closed upon opening but eventually showed deep dark currants and boysenberry, with a slight sweetness. Plenty of lovey syrah character: meat, pepper, and smoke. Lengthy complex finish. WOTN for me. Still needs several years to come together. Needs several hours in the decanter to drink now.
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violets & blackberries on the nose. big lush blackberries & cassis on the palate. crushed velvet in the mouth, with a hint of oak on the finish. well made & holding the 15.6% alcohol fairly well. lacking the funk & savory aspects I prefer but this is delicious to taste.
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All fruit, all brawn with a huge licorice hit. We struggled to actually drink this although it was certainly impressive to the taste. Given the '05: I'd imagine this just needs time to settle down and for the parts to come together. 2015(?)(+?)
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Had open in bottle for 4hrs. WOW, first taste, and I knew this was going to be good! Beautiful nose of creme de cassis, dusty white pepper, coffee. Big, yet smooth and polished in the mouth....gobs of crushed blackberries, cherries, cassis, blueberry fruit...intense dusty spices, florals(cherry blossom, lavender, creme de cassis), creamy sweet smoky oak, licorice, some meat as well. I love the darkness of the fruit, and the spicy florals....well balanced, with a great feel. Should gain even more with a few years. Love this!
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Tight tight nose, not much of anything. The palate is thick with beef, chocolate and some dark fruits, but totally masked by the chocolate. As you might imagine, this was a pop and pour fest, and this wine needs a ton of air. Still very very young.
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Roy’s: This too I felt was very tannic and over-extracted. This needs lots of time. I could only hope that the two above might age as beautifully as the 2002 Copain.
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15.6% alcohol. decanted, and again, don't even think about not giving this wine some air. i'd have poured it down the drain if only tasted in the first hour. i'm happy to say that this bottle showed some development. i still don't think it's all that complex, but i didn't get the rough alcoholic edges and brittle tannin from previous tastes. ground pepper, black cherry, truffle. another plus, i didn't notice any heat, regardless of how long the decanter was out of the cellar. i'm gonna take a stab at staying away from future bottles for one year. let's see how i do.
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Just a few short notes; beautiful bouquet with a lot of black fruits and sweetness. Same in the taste. Some white pepper as well. 15.6% alcohol… It did not bother me. Great wine!
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Hedonistic Diner, Part 2 (Restaurant Le Défi, Sprang-Capelle): Man, was I impressed by this wine. Laser-like focus mixed with very pure, deep and mouthfilling flavors. A gorgeous take on New-World Syrah. Spicy fruit mix, topnotch acidity, just the faintest hint of RS (or is that alcoholic sweetness?). Have to buy this wine.
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Blackish red color with aromas of coffee and raspberry. Flavors of red fruits, spice and chocolate? Needs about an hour to blow off some alcohol and open a bit. Enjoyable.
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After two days as a pretty, slightly floral but muted syrah, on day 3, this has opened up beautifully and is showing menthol underbrush, lavender, slightly meaty aromas and peppery spice on the nose - ultimately framed by sweet fruit that portends juiciness. On the palate, the initial flavors of this deep purple (but ruby-tinged at the edges) wine are minty, peppery amd savory, but the lasting impression is the long, sweet, juicy fruit. There's just enough oak here to round this out into a luscious wine that benefits from the slight vanilla/caramel notes added by the barrels; to me, this is like a New World answer to the Tardieu-Laurent Rasteau I had yesterday. First two days, this showed like a 90-91 point wine, with the tangy acidity not feeling integrated; now that it has opened up (after two days in fridge, no argon), this is gorgeous, juicy, and showing in the 94-95 point range. If you are on this mailing list, be patient and have faith.
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Up for the syrah of the year for me. Palate was seamless with blue fruit and a richness that drew you to want to have more. I was speechless. Just silly. Not a lot of funkiness that I typically like but the intense flavors worked.
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An hour of air. The nose has a dark brooding character. Chocolate, coffee, dark and purple fruits. The palate is a little closed still but shows some dark berries, some oak, a few savory elements and a bit of salinity that is very interesting. When swished in the mouth, some red berries emerge as well. Its not fully open, but even so, I dont think it will ever catch the 05 in voluptuousness and ripeness. Some tannins in the finish which lasts for a long time. Very good wine.
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Straight out of the bottle, this one comes on like a rampaging bull looking for the red and its matador - a big and brawny beast of a wine, filled with a big chocolate, almost brandied/syrupy black raspberry character, and in some ways almost more like a cab in its profile than a syrah. It has an extraordinary nose as well, with more blackberry compote and abundant simple sugar compunds, but the "oak monster" pushes the envelope against the compote to create a nice balance on the nose. But like a mad bull it tires rapidly, with a midpalate that somewhat underwhelms (where's the hoped for tar and forest underbrush?) and a finish that is left wanting. It has so much oomph now that I don't see it lasting much longer than 4-6 years at best, but for now its one that will give a great fight and entertain the lucky few who have a ticket for the show.
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I liked this. Just sort of got out of the way, complementing the rack of lamb well without being overpowering. Black olive and dark fruit nose. Dark violet. Dark fruit, sweet tannins, ceder, licorice, yet seemingly a bit tight and wound up. This may have a good future if it can loosen up a bit and gain some complexity. Drank moderately cool, no apparent heat.
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This is a really well made wine, lots of fruit, not overly estracted, and not over-oaked. However, it was huge compared to an Alban Patrina we opened first.
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Positively requires 4-5 hours of air to give up anything. The first little pour showed nothing but acid and alcohol. Eventually, the wine losened up enough to reveal serious complexity and a fine wine in waiting. Subtle notes of incense and sandlewood lend a bit of spice to the dense, scorched black fruit. Finishes with a refined talcum flavor and tannic structure. Hints of pork fat in the finish. Whereas the 05 was quite approachable at 4 years from vintage, this one demands another year or three. Tight, backward and tense, but you can get an impression of the quality, complexity and pedigree with enough coaxing. I'd wait at least another year on this one,and even then, I suspect a multi hour decant will be required. Great, but a tease to drink it today.
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realy enjoyable bottle and more appraochable in the context of tasting some pretty good syrahs including Saxum James Berry, Kosta Browne and others. This was not nearly as massive but very enjoyable with some bbq...pepper, black olives and bacon fat.
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Audouzed for for an hour or two, then one-half an hour in the glass before tasting. Inky purple and opaque. I agree with some that the aroma was a bit reticent at first, but it gave way quickly into aromas of blackberry, cedar, with high notes of black pepper and violet, and a touch of smoke and leather. On the palate, this was very full-bodied: blackberry, pepper, the subtle note of violets and a soft smokiness on the long finish. A deeply extracted style, but beautiful complexity, even this early. I will keep the rest for a of couple years, then check in again to see how they have developed. BTW- tasted and written before reading professional reviews.
15.6% alcohol. decanted, and you must. really. candidly, i am drifting further offshore from wines like this. about six weeks ago, i tasted/shared this within the context of a wine group that is VERY empathetic to the ethos. and i've been a part of that, too. however, see my note, i wanted to like it more than i did. tonight, it's just jane and me slugging this down over time. initially, there is heat, heat, heat, on the finish. bleh. that reduced over time. good. but the alcoholic nose, and the wave of ETOH on the palate lingers. bad. very bad. there is a plethora of fruit, dark raspberry and blackberry, bouncing around, planting a flag on the finish. good. tannins are chewey, which is fine with such a young wine. i noticed a small window where i thought, ok, this is getting better, but it was short lived. also, i hate it when you have to watch the serving temperature so carefully. if it starts to creep over 62, the heat comes back. fast. i guess if you like big, fat, super ripe syrah, this is a wine for you. i wish it were dialed back a couple of notches. i'm comfortable with the score. good, but too many reservations.
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Two 2006 Syrahs: Lillian and Relentless: Shows some ripeness on the nose, with a touch of vanilla. Palate is rich, bold, dark fruit, quite lush and forward, but fairly well balanced. More acidity than tannins in structure, with a bit of savory oak on the finish. Very well made and enjoyable for its style, though I don't find any Rhone-ness to the wine as some have described. At 15.6 ABV on the label (and the medium body suggests that it's been watered down by a percent or so as well), with its bright, focused, juicy, lush fruit, I would treat this as an enjoyable cocktail wine.
This was popped and poured but then enjoyed over 8 hours. Purple in color, with some ruby at the rim. The nose is very tight. With lots of coaxing it shows black raspberries and graphite. On the palate, this is smooth, well made, but never really showed a lot of anything. Great texture and seems like it is just asleep right now. After being open for 8 hours, it was very enjoyable. Juicy, smooth, deep fruit but not as explosive (for lack of a better word) as I would have hoped. Still, it is quite good, but I would wait for a few years before opening another.
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Opened to celebrate the passage of the health care bill. It was our back-up wine to the corked 1999 Guigal Chateau d'Ampuis Cote Rotie.
Decanted for an hour, then consumed over two nights. Borderline opaque purple. A surprisingly reticent nose for a CA Syrah. Showed dark fruits and minerals. Nothing floral. No blood. More on day two, but still holding back. More interesting when consumed. Highly tannic, full bodied, with plenty of dark fruit. And a dark core of tension. I swear this wine is just mocking me, waiting to unwind with an abundance of aromas and flavors. That tension reminds me of a young Clos des Papes, in which the mourvedre keeps the wine in check for a few years. Fascinating. I am optimistic, but will wait a year for the next one.
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pretty good. i must admit my expectations were guarded. i haven't been quite as nuts about this wine as many expressing their undying love for it on the wine boards. but, new vintage, new hope. the winemaking process is being honed? i'm looking for more complexity and expression. i see this as a rather narrowly focused, but well done syrah.
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Dark purple/black color. Spicy blueberry fruit nose. Tastes of blackberry, raspberry, currant and earth. Medium to full bodied. Well balanced.. Spicy finish with nice depth.
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Decanted for 3 hours. Tasted this when I first opened it and I thought it was great, but the tannins were present. After three hours I don't think it showed as well as when tasted right after opening. If I could do it again, I would decant for only one hour.
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Lillian/Antica Terra Lunch with Maggie Harrison and Nate Ready (NYC (Eleven Madison Park)): My first taste of Lillian syrah (I haven't opened any of my bottles yet) and my first sniff makes me very happy: violets, pleasing dark fruits, oak is very present at this stage but not obtrusive. Very complex nose with hints of meat, caramel as well. It's the violet thing that captivates me and pushes this into the "smells expensive" category. On the palate, this is terrific - generous dark fruits, some pepper - what you'd expect from a premium American syrah, very well executed. I fight the urge to finish what's in my glass too quickly, but the juicy fruit pulls you back for more. This wine is the star of today's fan appreciation lunch with Maggie Harrison and Nate Ready of Lillian and Antica Terra; I am thrilled to own this. It's starting to show quite nicely, and I expect that I will surrender to the urge to open my first bottle of this later this year. By coincidence, I am having this a day after having my first taste of SQN (Raven Grenache '06) which didn't blow me away; this was everything I had imagined and hoped my first taste of SQN would be (though to be fair, I am more of a syrah guy than a grenache fan). Based on a small taste today, 95+.
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Probably too young, not enough decant time, yadda yadda, but never really rounded into shape. Muted nose of underbrush, tar, plums, good fruit, just a touch hot, still a bit angular and disjointed. Probably should have resisted the urge. See you next summer, '06 Lillian.
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Rhone Rangers tasting (Vinens verden, Odense): Black color with a purple hue. Ripe, warm raspberry and cherry fruit, boiled candies, licorice and pepper on the inviting, intense nose. Great fill on the palate with loads of ripe, juicy cherry fruit. Some licorice and tobacco on the midpalate and finish. Drinking very easily due to a superb balance between the sweetness of the fruit and the fresh acidity as well as the tannic grip on the end.
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Wine, skiing, and snowboarding; 2/20/2010-2/26/2010 (Telluride, CO): 15.6% ABV. Popped and poured. Translucent dark garnet in the glass. Coffee bean aromatics. Rich and full bodied but a bit disjointed and hot. Maybe suffering from travel shock/altitude. Not a great showing. Judgment reserved.
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Occasional tasting group: "Terroir or bottles with a story" (@ TBa): Creamy and soft expressive bouquet. Same on the palate. Dark berry fruits. Enormously concentrated with a very good balance between sweetness and acidity. The tannin is soft but powerful. An elegant blockbuster with very good complexity. Now already a great pleasure and it can last easily another 5+ years.
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Very dark purple color, amazingly it doesn't seem like it's 15.6% alcohol. Very full bodied, brooding wine that is much more drinkable than I thought it would be...blackberries and beef blood, sweet oak, sourced from WHite Hawk vineyard fruit, not as massive as a SQN but very enjoyable
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yea, i read the notes - too early. but still a wonderful bottle. black fruits - blackberry - with plenty of smoke, tar, licorice and a subtle floral nuance. despite the bigness, it does remain feminine due to lushness and seamless trip through the mouth. very nice full but soft mouth feel. finishes a little hot at this time but that should smooth out.
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Very good. Decanted for about an hour before pouring a glass and then drank over the next two hours. From what I recall, the flavor profile on this is similar to the '05 - nice fruit, a little of the smokiness on the nose (which is very SQN-ish). Although this is a bit tight/young right now, this is outstanding and beautifully made. 93+ pts. right now but this has serious upside potential (I could see this eclipsing the '05 and being at 95+ in a year or so when this opens up).
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Opened at a family gathering although I thought it was going to be too young. I gave it about 2 hours of air prior to drinking and could clearly have given it more, but it delivered a layered, interesting taste of dark fruits, some stone, and some meaty notes. I didn't take specific notes, but felt it was interesting and very tasty. I was not blown away by it, but will be interested to see if it develops into something really noteworthy. Maybe a 91+ point wine now.
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Once again, a bottle sourced for the holidays, and popped and poured way too early! But when traveling and having to source, this is one of he few times that I don't mind committing the act of "infantcide," especially when there are more at home in the cellar and I am not tapping into that stash. This wine is definitely going to need some time to come around, but will be every bit as good as the '04 and '05. In the glass, this is a nice dark, purplish inky color. Very dark, and very attractive...I MEAN DARK! On the nose, some alcohol and oak as I expected with oodles and oodles of black fruits: blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, and boysenberry. Also has nice hints of raspberry and spice. On the palate, big and young is an understatement. Again, THIS WINE NEEDS some serious bottle time for it to come together, but even after an hour in the glass, it opens up nicely with blackberry, black cherry, and raspberry on the palate. Nice subtle spice and white/black pepper round out the palate. There are some hints of alcohol and acidity, and there are definitely some tannins on this wine, but this will round out in time. Our remaning 3 will sleep for a good 3-5 years before revisiting, but once again, Maggie has created yet another baby Sine Qua Non here, and this is going to be incredible with some age. 92 points now with some air, but it'll definitely gain a few more points based on complexity alone once everything integrates and comes together. Another winner! Kudos to Maggie! Decant 4-6 hours before consumption, but I would hold for 3-5 years unless you have many to play with. Cheers!
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Start off by agreeing with other notes that this may be too young to see its full potential. I can see improvements in its future. Feminine complexity in terms that it is big fruit underneath but subtle at the same time. A few different floral notes in the background. You keep expecting the pepper to take over but it stays integrated as well. Nothing really overpowers another on the nose. Mud, earth, and slight game are also present. The acidity really sings at this point. Long finish. The best thing about this is the craft in its making. You get the feeling, she really focused on intermixing as many flavors as possible w/o sacrificing any one aroma or subtlety.
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Fantastic black pepper, smoke and sausage nose with some toast and scorched earth that came out with air and a little blackberry in the background. Massive wine on the palate with blackberry and boysenberries, tar, meaty with impressive complexity and concentration. Long finish, with a touch of vanilla, dark chocolate, heavy tar and chalky dry tannins. Massively built, well balanced with layers of complexity.
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Cheers to the Record Snowfall (Roberts House): lots of black fruit, sitting on top of some meat and saltiness. the best part of this wine is the really lovely mint note on the nose and early in the palate -- it just makes this so light and feminine, even when there is such a powerful wine underneath. The interplay is remarkable. Long finish. I may have been conservative in scoring this. It developed nicely on day 2.
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Random Wines on Snowbound Night (Our House (2033 Brandywine St., Philadelphia)): Good juice. Deep purple color. Blood, generous amount of saline and some smoke on the nose. Herbal minty note develops. Dense and concentrated on the palate. Good fruity core complemented by the saline and mint. A nip of heat. That should hopefully settle. Nose focused finish. I've had the 04 and 05 and right now, both are better than this but this is very good.
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Popped/poured. This reminds me a fair bit of the '04. Similar notes on the nose....dark fruit and a bright acidic note I'll call dill for lack of a better descriptor, maybe a touch more prominent in this vintage than it was in the '04...difficult to tell from memory. The palate is also similar, though (again from memory) perhaps a bit higher toned in the mid-palate and finish. Powerful yet precise. There's nothing flabby about this. In fact, if I had my way, it would carry just a tad more weight. Fine tannins on the finish....a very long finish. Across the board, this is brighter than I remember the '04, maybe less concentrated?? Though, similar to the '04, the finish seems to go on and on. This appears as though it could have a lot of elegance hiding under a bit of youthful awkwardness. In some ways. this reminds me more of a Penfold's Grange than it does an SQN, with the potential for similar elegance and balance. I love this winery and it's approach to its customers. Some day I'm gonna get there for a visit!
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Nice wine, still to early to see what is going to come. Not sure what the this past taster was drinking when he scored it 98 points??? Smooth, good structure, solld black fruit, still tight, wait 3-5 years.
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Wow--popped and poured and this was still awesome. Had with BBQ chicken, and it actually worked pretty well, because it's rich and ripe, but isn't ponderous or heavy by any stretch. Had some SQN-esque character to it. Will be interesting to see this in a year or two, but it's very nice right now. (PE: 95)
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pleasant nose, velvety mouth feel, smooth and unctuous floral burst of dark fruit followed by long delicate finish, its a classic, in my top 10, opened a couple hours before drinking, cellar this time of year is chilly
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11/15/2023 - hanasowner wrote: 91 Points
Another broken cork...decanted through cheesecloth...still plenty of dark fruit...drink up.
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9/20/2023 - Hamersly wrote: 94 Points
Remains vibrant and intense, years to go.
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5/27/2023 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Both cuvées side-by-side. Also wonderfully fresh for its age. Bigger black fruits here with very good density. Robust structure is still very present while not obtrusive. I think there is still further upside here! The best this wine has ever shown to me.
Second 1/2 of the bottle was finished the next day, when it was more expressive, balanced, and complete vs Day One.
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5/27/2023 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
Both cuvées side-by-side. Rich and very fun tonight, maybe even more fun than Blue, but also warmer and less refined. Lots of ripe black fruit, liqueur and dark chocolate. So much fun, and I would have thought 5+ years younger if served blind.
Second 1/2 of the bottle was finished the next day, when it was almost as good, but lacking some of the freshness of Day One.
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12/31/2022 - hanasowner wrote: 90 Points
Cork broke...poured into decanter...more earthy than fruit...paired well with steak, though perhaps on the decline.
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12/11/2022 - jkoenen wrote: 95 Points
Alas, my last bottle of this wine...
Rich but cool in texture. Not hot nor jammy.
Wonderful balance. Fresh black fruit, touches of c]black olive, damp earth, dark chocolate and black pepper.
Have followed this particular wine and vintage for over 12 years now, and I loved every bottle for its balance, complexity, hedonism and ability to deliver FUN.
Excellent QPR, as well.
Shafer's Relentless, SQN, Bedrock and Lillian were my introduction to, and jumpstarted my fascination for American Syrah back then... and I am so glad to say that many more bottles and labels have found their way into my cellar.
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4/27/2022 - jnewman77 wrote:
This was solid; fruit from Bien Nacido vineyard; ripe blackberry and blueberry on the nose, hints of smoke; I found the nose a bit muted overall; the palate is decadent and rich while remaining reasonably balanced.
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9/18/2021 - seaninbrooklyn Likes this wine: 94 Points
Phenomenal wine which should improve with age. This was juicy and fruit forward - almost like a California Cabernet - but spice and earth notes added provided a backbone and let you know this was a Syrah. While it was singing after 90 min in the decanter I suggest giving it some lore air. In short: if you want bloody, meaty Syrah this isn’t it, though I wonder if age will introduce these flavors.
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7/5/2021 - tcarter Likes this wine: 93 Points
Night 1 was pretty tight but Night 2, after being Vacuvin'ed, was much smoother and more balanced. Great wine with barbecue meat!
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6/11/2021 - ews3 wrote: flawed
Corked
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6/2/2021 - Cote d'Or wrote:
Slow ox 4 hrs
-opaque purple
-restrained dark plummy fruit
-low acidity, med+/heavy weight though not as unctuous as last time tasting, faded plum dark berry and an almost old world earthiness capped off by distinct bitter licorice but no overt savory elements, still finishes with prominent heat and a bit of caramel oak though the med- tannins have largely resolved
-this has aged a bit better than expected, I don't think it will do anything but gradually decline from this point forward as the heat will likely be more prominent as the fruit further fades
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5/21/2021 - JRockEsq Likes this wine: 90 Points
Method: Grassl 1855; pop and pour (Coravin); 56 degrees (and up as it sat out)
Look: deep ruby/purple; very slow legs
Nose: Green olive, bacon fat, potting soil, beef jerky, cherry, dark cherry, tar
Palate: tart cherry, potting soil, green olive brine, dried herbs; long finish of dried herbs, leather, pepper; dry; full body; medium+ acidity; medium tannin
Overall: When I first opened this, it couldn't really find its stride. There was a brief moment where the temperature and air exposure aligned and it was fairly great, but most of the time it was a bit rough around the edges. When I finished this a month after I first Coravined it (notes above don't reflect this final tasting), it was as if it aged very gradually and nicely and was in a much better spot. I feel like this needs a good decant to show well and shows better at about 62 degrees. If you catch this in the right spot, it's pretty great, but if not, it's good but a bit rough around the edges.
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10/23/2020 - jfkwines wrote: 91 Points
1st night aired for one hour plus and it was still too much, lush gigantic black fruit with plums and berries but a wild ride of iron and typical Syrah fat.vvWe let it sit in the fridge for an extra night and it came out singing . Complete integration, berries were calm and a forward wine that maintained the fruit and now had a hint of white pepper to go with the lovely silk of the smooth wine. This wine has time no reason to rush Into it.
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7/9/2020 - SineQuaNon Likes this wine: 94 Points
This bottle was really in a good place! Lovely rounded by the the ageing, but perfectly fresh and not showing any signs of oxidation. Smoky, dark fruited, warm clinate expression of Syrah, but very well balanced with a high drinkability factor despite the big proportions.
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4/21/2020 - pgb67 wrote: 95 Points
Spring 2020 Memorial (Golf, Illinois): Impressive wine with lots of finesse and class. Overpowering, perfumed aromas of violet laced with fresh berry fruit. Flavor profile shows lots of secondary character, with dark berry fruit accented by mushrooms. Notes of spice, forest, bramble also present. This was a pricy bottle but worth the wait.
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3/13/2020 - Nanda wrote: 90 Points
Covid-19 Intro/Retro (Chez Hughes): The nose has sweet, creamy black fruit aromas with some toast and spice accents. The palate is plum and juicy with plenty of sweet black fruit. Sufficiently fresh with nice black pepper in the finish. Clearly California. Was guessing Pax. My #2, Group #3.
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10/21/2019 - Acohen Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark and brooding with meaty rich dark fruit
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9/21/2019 - Paul Lin wrote: 83 Points
A bit disappointing, to be honest. Opens with some funky, gamey, beef blood notes, which blow off after an hour. The rest of the time, however, the wine just shows some very simple black fruit, nothing more. Quite one-dimensional IMO.
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7/26/2019 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
Rich black plum and berry aromas and flavors with an modern, New World character but made me think this would be too fat, but this is so clearly well balanced throughout. Very good length with a persistent charm through finish. Better tonight vs a magnum opened a few years ago.
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6/19/2019 - Chrisinroch wrote:
Passive cellar, direct from winery. PnP, served predinner and w ribcap
Pretty delicious right from go. One of the better “ripe” syrahs I’ve tasted. Not jammy or overripe, nicely balanced and fully integrated. More saline than savory on the secondary flavors. Drinking at peak.
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2/7/2019 - winedals wrote: 94 Points
Surprised so few have remarked on the salinity... first note of first sip out of the gates. Let it sit for 2+ hours and really opened up and balanced out. Benchmark example of larger style Cal Syrah as some have said. Typically prefer more more traditional syrah profile now than when this was orderied years ago, so surprised to find it so enjoyable. First of the 06s opened with a few more left. Will see where it goes.
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12/29/2018 - fitchbuck Likes this wine: 93 Points
From auction purchase [cracked capsule, half-saturated cork]. Quick decant, this drank a bit funky at first due to the suspect prior ownership. While that never fully blew off over the couple hours drunk: the underlying, telltale foundation that makes Lillian syrah brilliant still [thankfully] shone through.
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12/14/2018 - hanasowner wrote: 93 Points
From magnum...opened at the restaurant...poured off a little and then came back to it after a couple hours...really opened up with smoked meats, earth tones and blue and dark fruit...some mild tannins to finish it off...went down smooth...drinking well.
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8/10/2018 - Rusty1488 Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is drinking great. Well balanced. Fine tannins. Good fruit and earth notes. Outstanding nose.
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5/26/2018 - hanasowner wrote: 93 Points
Seemed a bit lighter in both color and body than what I have experienced from previous bottles...needed a full hour to open up and deliver...notes of smoked meat and earthy with dark fruit in the background...finish was on the short side, but went down smooth.
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4/8/2018 - BGK810 wrote: 93 Points
Blackberry, earth, black currant, plum. Medium+ length finish. Excellent!
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3/31/2018 - JoeDwine wrote: 92 Points
Birthday Dinner. Showing well at just start of peak. Earthy touch of funk.
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2/28/2018 - Bardamu Likes this wine: 97 Points
A masterful and beguiling wine that is just hitting it's stride now.
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12/29/2017 - Cow Town wrote: 90 Points
Based on my previous bottles (and notes), I think this is on a slow downward descent. Fruit seemed to take a back seat to more savory notes, with a fairly prominent olive/tapenade nose. Strong alcohol notes from prior bottles seemed to be gone, but the result was a bottle with nothing to distinguish it. Fine wine, but not great.
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12/29/2017 - BGK810 wrote: 92 Points
Delicious. Blackberry, earth, dark fruits. Medium length finish.
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11/7/2017 - RPerro Likes this wine: 91 Points
P&P. Amazing nose of black raspberry, makes my mouth water smelling this. Flavors are aligned with the nose. Slightly flat on the mid-palate, showing it's age I think. Flat out delicious tasting though. Will be interesting to see if this fleshes out a bit with more air. At 11 years old, I'm thinking it's held up very well. Drink now.
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10/20/2017 - jkoenen wrote: 94 Points
Gobs of blue fruit, cocoa nibs, warm cherry pie, caramel, vanilla, ink and sandalwood. Well balanced, good acidic punch, very long and persistent finish. This is simply gorgeous..
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8/29/2017 - ews3 wrote: 94 Points
first time checking in on this in 18 months. continues to be a phenomenal wine. still very youthful at 11 years of age, this shows ripe blackberry, black plum, licorice, tar, smoke, black pepper, spicebox, and dark flowers. really great intensity of flavor. shines on a deep and long finish. such a great wine, and i can't believe that there isn't more attention paid here.
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7/24/2017 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 94 Points
Intense, focused syrah with quite a funky nose at this age. Drinking great now and I don't see any reason to hold further.
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6/1/2017 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 94 Points
Popped and poured. Started off delicious and put on a bit of weight with air. Somewhat funky nose but fruity, balanced, feminine style. These Lillians seem to drink great upon release, then go into a confused phase, then come out more refined on the other side.
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4/29/2017 - Mr T wrote:
Better with age
Shared with multiple friends and gone before you know it
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3/4/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 90 Points
BYO Blind Tasting and Dinner (House of Nanda - Chicago IL): Magnum. Decanted 3 hours, served blind to the tasting group. Super concentration and technically very good and well balanced. I like the power here, but find it slightly one dimensional, so simpler than it should be as a "reserve" wine.
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2/22/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 90 Points
Opulent black and blue berry aromas, flavors with dark chocolate and liqueur. Good concentration, but a sense of heat that detracts from overall harmony for me. Certainly enjoyable, but I did not enjoy this quite as much as another bottle from a year ago.
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2/15/2017 - dsgris Likes this wine: 91 Points
Inky dark purple with a prevalent nose of violets and elderberry. On the second night opens with some tart purple fruit having a slightly bitter tannin component. This combined with high alcohol, I find off putting. I will give a few more days to see where this goes, but now it is very disjointed and a great disappointment considering the high praise others have given this wine. Starting to improve with more open time, loosing the bitter and starting to integrate the cane tannins with the fruit. Another night with continued improvement, more bright berry which I like, but the alc is a little sharp on the tongue.
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2/5/2017 - hrazdiiv Likes this wine: 94 Points
This producer has truly emerged as one of the greatest makers of Rhone varietals in the US. I am just always amazed at the consistency and complexity of these wines. Out of the bottle it displays a bright purple, medium dark color, already evident the weight of the wine is just about perfect. Great cacophony of competing layers on the palate: dark berry, sandalwood, leather, cherry with polished tannin. As the previous reviewer noted, I also thought there was no way this wine was 11 years old. Definitely has another 10 years or so ahead of it as the various elements will continue to integrate, likely with great results. Finish was beautiful - espresso, more dark fruit with just a hint of saline. Can't get enough, buy buy buy.
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2/3/2017 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 97 Points
This effort has without the slightest doubt matured into one of those "Grand Vins" which is so meticulously well made I am left in an endless state of joy for the whole tasting. The 2006 Lillian reveals rich dark, clean and totally crisp fruit accompanied by layer after layer of flowers, orange zest, truffles, dark chocolate, deep profound spice and a whiff of saddle leather. The palate adds superbly and with immense power to the first impressions with a silky and almost velvety like balance. There is not a hard edge to this effort. Tannins are integrated and the whole effort just boasts of pure pleasure. Actually one of the of the more experienced guests said this was 100 % "first class Grenache" - and I am quite inclined to agree (though the wine was of course not served blind to me). There is a deep rich velvety fruit and mouth coating experince one would normally just find in a Grenache... Just as with the wines from Sine Qua Non, Lillian need time and this is time with capital letters. After 10+ years tannins have integrated - but there is still massive fruit which is quite impressive. Still, there is no chance anyone would have guessed this was a 2006. Although this is indeed a powerful wine, the elegant backbone of this effort cannot be highlighted enough. The acidity, texture and structure just adds to this backbone. A truly magnificent wine!
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11/24/2016 - dsgris wrote:
Dark ruby, significant acid on opening, restrained fruit with chewy tannins, was popular with the group and none left for a proper tasting.
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11/24/2016 - LongViewCellars Likes this wine: 94 Points
PnP- Bad idea. Much better on day 2. These still need a healthy decant. 94 points, but likely better if I gave it more time in decanter.
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10/3/2016 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine:
drinking very well
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9/21/2016 - Kemo Sabe Likes this wine: 93 Points
Brief note - rich and lush. Blew away the Saxum blend it was pair against. Just another level. More complexity and balance. Very good.
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9/16/2016 - Hollowine wrote:
A great bottle as usual, but served amongst a bunch of aged old world and it was sticking out as an outlier. Love the fruit and structure on this bottle.
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8/28/2016 - Mr.Overhill Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very rich, interesting flamboyance of creamy red fruits and blackberry cheesecake. At ten years old it's still almost over the top, but has become somewhat more tamed. The white hawk flavor profile shines through on this one, a very full midpalate and some nice acids show themselves after a few hours of air. Great finish of tar and olive tapenade. This one should really be interesting in another five-seven years.
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7/11/2016 - tomlee wrote: 96 Points
Ruby red in color. 15.6% ABV. Spellbinding nose of blue fruits, molten licorice and violets. Medium to full body with exceptional balance. Amazing texture and presence on the palate. Flavors of cherry liqueur, blueberries, iron and milk chocolate. The finish is long, seamless and silky. Stunning, sexy and extremely well crafted Syrah. Drink over the next 2-3 years.
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6/14/2016 - RPerro Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pop & pour. Amazingly rich, impenetrable black-purple color. Nose of spicy blackberry, oak and a slight burn of alcohol. Flavors of oak, sweet black fruit, espresso and a touch of vanilla on the finish. Perhaps a touch too much oak still apparent. It sort of overshadows the rest of the experience. I like the wine very much, but as it sat open, the oak took on more and more of a presence. Started out as a 95-96 level wine, and ended up more of a 93 after being open for 3+ hours. Drink now.
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5/4/2016 - gotfunk wrote:
Ripe, powerful and polished, but reasonably fresh and balanced with some nice secondary elements complementing the exuberant fruit. Went well with Texas pulled pork. A night on the counter was not kind to it though, yielding a goopy mess that paired better with my son's waffles and maple syrup than my venison vegetable soup.
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3/31/2016 - Cote d'Or wrote:
PopnPour, tasted over 1 hr
-opaque dark red-purple minimal clearing at edge
-rich dark fruit wet stone and some new oak
-med/med- acidity, fading dark fruit but not much else on the fairly simple though still dense mid-palate, some heat and oak but not much tannic structure linger on the finish, no real mature elements
-very nice nose but the fruit has fallen off of the alcohol and oak scaffolding leaving a bit of a hot mess; it seems like it is not really evolving but just fading, this wine is styled to be better in its youth to enjoy its voluptuous fruit
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2/27/2016 - wurzel68 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dunkles purpurrot; intensive Aromen von Beerenkompott, Pflaumenmus, Pfeffer, Menthol und Barbecuesoße, Rauch und Holz; am Gaumen vollmundiger, weicher, trotz seines Alkoholgehalts nicht überkonzentriert oder heiß wirkender Wein mit langem Abgang. Hat noch viele Jahre vor sich.
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2/6/2016 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Dark color with powerful dark berry aromas and flavors with hints of liqueur and dark chocolate. While is a little on the flamboyant side, it retains balance without showing obtrusive heat on the finish despite 15.6% alcohol as indicated on the label. I find this very enjoyable, and think it will continue to drink nicely through the decade.
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11/30/2015 - rwstorer wrote: 94 Points
Similar note to previous. In a really good place right now.
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11/26/2015 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 93 Points
4yrs from my last bottle. Needed a couple hours to really show well. Exposing wine of pepper and spice and a bit of coffee. Early in the evening the oak notes were mixed up with the fruit, but with some time this receded and the fruit seemed much more pure. Plenty of purple fruit, with oak spice. Lengthy finish with pepper, spice, and mocha. Smooth and integrated, with a nuanced polished style.
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10/11/2015 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 92 Points
Silky smooth. Little to no rough edges or finishing tannins. Well balanced, not overly extracted. Probably at peak in my opinion.
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6/22/2015 - lopaka wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured, big mistake. This needed an hour of decanting at least to reach its potential. Even at this age there is still primary brambly dark fruits, a massive dark core and well integrated alcohol with little heat.
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5/21/2015 - Mr T wrote:
very nice...this has aged well...still needs some air
really enjoyed
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4/19/2015 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 93 Points
The 2006 was a beast of a wine with incredible richness and intensity. The deep and layered nose showed dark fruits, olive, tomatoes on the vine, cherry liquor, sweet florals and dusty spice. On the palate, I found rich, velvety textures giving way to ripe fruit, balsamic tones, and dark chocolate. It turned more spicy and confectionary with time in the glass and finished with saturating black fruits and hints of bitters. This is a big and intense wine, yet it’s balanced to the core.
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2/23/2015 - rplumbo wrote: 97 Points
Spectacular. Everything about this was exceptional. Beautiful blue fruits and silky resolved tannins. If I had more of this, I'd be curious to see where it goes, but it'd be hard to resist popping because it's in such an amazing spot right now. WOTY candidate for me!
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2/2/2015 - dave smigielski wrote: 93 Points
Huuuuuuuuge wine. Tasted a splash from the bottle and this wine screams DECANTER. as we finished up the boneless leg of lamb on the grill, the wine rested in the magnum decanter for another 45 mins. We drank over 2.5 hours and it got better as it continued to soften the edges just a bit on the palate. Dark Berries are primary, oak an d pepper secondary. Really paired well with the lamb.
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1/31/2015 - ChrisR Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great wine. Blackberry flavors predominate, with licorice, black pepper, spice and earthiness mixing in. Smooth, voluptuous, quite rich and dense, but still fresh. Not a hard edge anywhere. It reminded me quite a bit of a Sine Qua Non, which should not have surprised me given the source, but nonetheless did.
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12/7/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 94 Points
A day of lots of SQN and a few more!; 12/7/2014-12/9/2014 (Loretta Paganini School of Cooking and the Woods of Newbury): This is in a nice place right now. So often I have had these and found them young. This seems to be, while not at peak, at least showing its stuff. Smooth, complex and layered complexity on the palate. Black raspberries, black pepper, slight earthiness on the nose. Great texture. Beautiful.
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12/7/2014 - Stumpy wrote: 90 Points
Was drinking well but not sure it isn't on the downside.
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10/25/2014 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Domestic (err.... sortof) Syrah (... well, mostly...) (The Apt): Opened and let sit for a few hours, then decanted. After two Washington funky wines this was a bit of a change. Get a lot more smoke here, still a bit of meatiness, some hints of fruit (mostly plum). It was an interesting wine. Initial reactions were very positive to this one, but was generally not in the list of favorites at the end of the night.
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10/17/2014 - wormfarmer Likes this wine: 94 Points
Slow-oxed an hour, decanted for thirty, commenced. Silky, integrated tannins. Smoke! Black pepper, graphite, blackberries, gunflint, hints of baking spices. So, so, lovely right now. Will last another 2-3 years easy, though I don't see how as how it has much room for ascent....
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10/12/2014 - cos65 Likes this wine:
Gorgeous. Very ripe dark fruited syrah flavor. Served blind next to the Texier Cote Rotie, this was obviously the California wine. But avoids much of the over ripe jamminess of some similarly big New World syrahs. Beautiful and in a lovely place right now.
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9/19/2014 - Uglypinga Likes this wine:
Big smooth and full of dark fruits. I need to learn to let these rest to develop that slim Jim, BBQ thing I like so much. As it is, very balanced and satisfying. Good wine.
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9/10/2014 - rwstorer wrote: 94 Points
Still a pleasure to drink! Similar notes to previous.
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8/2/2014 - hanasowner wrote: 94 Points
Gave this a quick decant when we arrived at the table and let it sit for perhaps 15 minutes before pouring…deep purple color with an elegant floral nose mixed with blue fruit and pepper…just glorious with the first sip…will let remaining bottles age as I think this will improve.
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5/31/2014 - BinVA Likes this wine: 95 Points
From magnum, delicious fruit
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5/16/2014 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 96 Points
This is a wow wine and an effort so meticulously made I am totally impressed. The 2006 Lillian exhibits abundant dark, clean, razor sharp fruit adjoined by complex layers of orange, lemon zest, cacao, truffles, saddle leather and an intriguing spiciness. The palate is just as gorgeous with a silky and almost velvety like balance. There is not a hard edge to this effort, although tannins still speak up quite loudly. Just as with the wines from Sine Qua Non, Lillian comes across as a "slow ager". There is no chance anyone would have guessed this was a 2006 without knowledge of the wine and the winemaker. Although this is a truly powerful wine, there is striking elegance further elaborated on by the acidity, texture and structure which tells me further aging is not a problem. Well, there might just be one problem: this effort is so lovely and drinks so well at present I see absolutely no reason to wait. Bravo!
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5/7/2014 - Cow Town Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nearly three years since I last drank this wine, and time has been its friend. Not as big or alcoholic, the wine had wonderful nuance and complexity - some wonderful earthy and savory notes to go with the dark fruit profile. Each glass seemed to develop with air, providing a wonderful evolution over the two hours I drank this.
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3/31/2014 - dkstar1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Day one - tightly wound and not letting anything show.
Day two - skipped
Day three - Eureka. Beautiful nose of many different dark red fruits, maybe even a little cinnamon, lovely. Excellent on the palate as well. Finally showed what its all about. Relatively short finish though and a touch of heat (alcohol) but that only makes me think this will age quite well for a few more years. I really liked it. Want more. But if drinking now, keep open for like 36 hours + first.
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3/27/2014 - B Paul wrote: 93 Points
Notes similar to previous bottles. This is in a good spot right now - definitely worth trying one now IMO.
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3/13/2014 - f22nickell wrote: 89 Points
Seattle Wine Group - Mar 2014 Tasting - Theme: Syrah "4X" (Amaroso Room - Wine Storage Bellevue): Bottle "G"
Tasted single blind. Pop 'n Poured.
Dark color depth, ruby hue, 1/4" to the meniscus. Nose of licorice, blue fruit, plum, and some chalk. Primary palate of black fruit, very soft intensity with some bitter, astringent characteristics. No attack, soft across the board, ending in dry heat. Tannins are fine. Finish is short and not complex.
Final thoughts: I think this wine was a bit overwhelmed by the previous extracted Lagier Meredith wine. This one just seemed to get lost. Nothing great, nothing bad ... Nothing memorable. This was a "middle of the pack" wine for most of the group, with only two outliers, one high, one low.
My Ranking: 6th out of 8 wines
Group Ranking: 4th out of 8 wines
Middle-Tier (47 total points out of 88 possible points)
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3/2/2014 - jbposell Likes this wine: 94 Points
Amazing syrah, needs at least an hour decant, was really singing at hour two... No hurry to drink this, will be great for another 2-4 years at least...
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1/30/2014 - tomlee wrote: 94 Points
The wine is opaque purple in color. 15.6% ABV. Cool dark fruits, iron, violets and anise on the nose. Exceptionally well balanced with great acidity. Rich and unctuous. Blueberries, vanilla, leather, pepper and saline on the palate. Still somewhat tannic. The finish is endless. Drink over the next 2-4 years.
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1/25/2014 - rwstorer wrote: 93 Points
- Purple color with medium forming legs and aromas of blackberry, black pepper and coffee. It's somewhat balanced and has flavours of blackberry and cherry with a medium/full body. Polished texture - Popped and poured which was a mistake. It needed about an hour which we discovered on the last few sips. By that time a terrific, well balanced and flavorful wine emerged
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11/16/2013 - Tel007 wrote:
Really tasty wine. Nice balance and pretty silky on the palate.
Has plenty of life ahead of it.
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9/7/2013 - hanasowner wrote: 94 Points
Drank beautifully with pop and pour. Great fruit, hint of spice and weight.
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9/5/2013 - rwstorer wrote: 94 Points
Solid wine! Similar notes to previous.
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8/23/2013 - rwstorer wrote: 94 Points
Getting better and better with time. This is a solid wine. Similar tasting notes to previous.
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8/21/2013 - norsktorsk wrote:
great wine gift from Jon Halper
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7/20/2013 - goofy Yno Likes this wine: 93 Points
big full wine, lots of fruit- blackberries, raspberries, good depth.
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4/6/2013 - jc-mmb Likes this wine: 91 Points
nice load of fruit with some hint of meat, blood and earth. little spicy. but overall not as lush and dense as i recall. missing some complexity and wow factor. little astringent on finish.
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3/31/2013 - 83AJ wrote: 85 Points
If you dare, this wine is BIG and ugly. I'm not sure what the plan long term would look like. I respect this winemaker very much, and still want to jump in for the future.
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3/29/2013 - brynmair Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was a very enjoyable wine. It had very upfront fruit that was well balanced and worked wonderfully with the meal at Pastaria.
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3/3/2013 - etherscreen wrote:
a little disjointed from the get go. less expressive than my last experience. it started to kick in after a few hours in the decanter. see previous note for descriptors.
hold for now.
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2/7/2013 - deltacop wrote: 93 Points
Didn't give this much of a chance to breath. Poured right into glass and tasted. A slight bitterness followed the powerful fruit. About 2 hours later the bitterness was gone and the massive flavors showed themselves to be extremely enjoyable. I have a little more than half a bottle left so I hope to see it showing itself to be as good or better tonight. Will update otherwise.
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2/1/2013 - arniec wrote: 92 Points
Perhaps needs another year. Nice, but not memorable. Blown away by a 2006 Saxum Booker tonight.
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1/6/2013 - cpsmith33 wrote: 94 Points
First Lillian. Decanted 5 hours. This was awesome and exceed my expectations. Kept smelling it over and over. Big and complex as others have noted but not over the top and very easy to drink. Still could use a few more year to tone down the alcohol and tannins a bit more.
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12/31/2012 - arniec Likes this wine: 95 Points
It's in a really good place right now. Well integrated, no tannins and a sweet finish. Paired wonderfully with spaghetti and sausage tonight.
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12/30/2012 - psirah Likes this wine:
Always wondering if some wines live up to their hype? This does. Had with BBQ beef ribs. This has a perfumed nose of mixed red/blue fruit with flowers and damp wood. Huge fruit wine, that seems light on its feet, wonderfully balanced and food-friendly.
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12/26/2012 - lopaka Likes this wine: 92 Points
One hour decant this time. The notes are the same as previous bottle except the alcohol and tannins are getting wrapped up and are not as pronounced. A lovely bottle.
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12/24/2012 - Redwonk Likes this wine: 94 Points
It is not often that a bottle exceeds my expectations. This is one. It is a feminine wine, beautiful integrated, no rough edges. Just a delight to drink.
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12/1/2012 - tp096255 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Solid, like the 2005 in most respects. Fruit-driven.
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11/23/2012 - Christoffer78 wrote: 95 Points
This is such a beautiful wine. Tonight it shows as very fruit forward, with a crisp and almost "clean" experience - despite present and rather non-subtle oak. Beautiful acidity and a lovely Syrah nose without the traditional Old-World impurities which sometimes are referred to as "typically Syrah". There is a rather large dose of elegance to be found in this effort too, but tonight the fruit and acidity speak up a bit more loudly compared to a year ago. For sure, this is an example of a "New World" style Syrah, but it is so meticulously made I am still as impressed as last time I tasted it.
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11/10/2012 - WildeMeeuw wrote: 93 Points
Kleur: Diep ondoordringbaar donkerrood Aroma / bouquet: Heftig aroma. Een complexe explosie van donker fruit, zwarte bessen, kersen, speculaaskruiden, nieuw hout, potloodslijpsel. Pepertje. Smaak / Afdronk: Bijpassende smaak, verleidelijk: dik, geconcentreerd, prachtig rijpe tannines, zacht-zoete drop, kersenbonbons (Mon Cherie). Algemeen / potentieel: Wow, geweldige en geweldig heftige wijn. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 13 + Smaak / Afdronk: 17 + Algemeen / potentieel: 8 = 93/100
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10/29/2012 - Mr.Overhill wrote: 93 Points
If this wine was an oil, its viscosity would be something like a 20W/50, it's that thick of a purple beast. And it's still feeling young at this time, with bracing tannins and solid blackberry fruit characteristics. Once it's been open for approaching six hours, a nice pepper and black licorice component starts to overtake the dark fruits and gives me additional hope that this wine will continue to experience an interesting evolution over the next five years. Niney three plus and climbing....
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9/30/2012 - Knicksfan wrote: 94 Points
Love. Powerful and intense even after 2 hours in the decanter
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9/21/2012 - macker100 wrote: 93 Points
Great nose of spice, olives, and black raspberry. Palate very seemless with deep black fruits, violets, smoke, rocks. Outstanding persistence on black fruited finish.
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9/21/2012 - Nutty08 wrote: 93 Points
From a bottle opened the night before. No detailed notes. Had a nice berry driven nose, with black currants, almost cab-like. Palate was loaded with purple fruit, white pepper and spice, vibrant acidity. Lengthy mocha on the finish with loads of pepper and dark fruit. This has integrated nicely , smooth and seamless. Has a touch of "high toned" fruit that I get in higher alcohol wines, but no real heat. Very nice.
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9/16/2012 - caeleric wrote:
my first blue label and I was pretty underwhelmed compared to how much I've loved the regular label. it was tasty, and everyone else loved it, but it didn't do much for me. maybe in an awkward phase? decanted 4 hours and it just never came around for me to meet my lofty expectations. if scoring, 88-90.
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9/9/2012 - ews3 wrote: 94 Points
Absolutely delicious. I continue to love each bottle I open. Dark nose, with meat, black fruit, and spice. Similar on palate with a long finish. Extremely young, even with a 2 hr decant and watching the bottle open up over 3 hours. Slight heat on late midpalate.
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9/8/2012 - drycab wrote:
Everything you'd want in a young Syrah...but let it air for a while first!! Great with the steaks at Capital Grill and was the WOTN for all. Last one, boo hoo!
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9/2/2012 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Got a couple nice pours of this. Bigger syrah, with the blue and black coat of fruit showing. Some heat in the aromatic but not overpwering, with iron, too.
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7/14/2012 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION Likes this wine: 94 Points
100% White Hawk Vineyard. Huge nose, big fruit, and 15.6 Abv.
See more detail at
http://maximumsatisfaction.tumblr.com/post/26987609803
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7/5/2012 - OneLastSyrah wrote: 92 Points
15.6% ABV. Opened this yesterday and found it to be kind of an oaky mess. Left overnight in the cellar it improved quite a bit. Slightly translucent rim, opaque dark garnet center. Aromas of oak, black cherry, and an elemental mineral quality. The aromatics reminded me a bit of some Saxum wines. Full bodied on the palate with sweet black fruit and some additional oak. Probably better with some more time in bottle.
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6/21/2012 - jeff nowak wrote: 92 Points
not decanted. shortly after opening i watched in horror as a clueless guest poured a good 6 oz into a glass right after i mentioned it was a fairly rare wine. jesus. probably the best wine i poured all night and the least drunk despite this gaff. oh, well...more for me at the end of the night. typical spice and pepper and pleasing licorice. this needs more air/cellar time, but i keep opening them. doe!
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6/18/2012 - bobpsi wrote: 92 Points
Similar to previous bottles. sad to see the last one go.
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6/18/2012 - Pling wrote: 93 Points
Just as good as I remembered it. Purpur color with the distinct Syrah smell and flavour without the jam hint that you sometimes get from new world syrah. Did not feel the alcohol despite being 15.5%.
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6/6/2012 - caeleric Likes this wine:
decanted 1.5 hours, consumed over 4 hours.
if you don't have these wines in your cellar, stop reading this and go buy them now. at $85 on the secondary market, these still offer fantastic qpr. right out of the gate this was singing with massive roasted blackberries, black cherries, plums, and raspberries, with smokey/peppery nuances and sweet spice all swirling out of the glass. in the mouth, this is huge, plush, weighty but balanced, and a black-fruit explosion. the finish brings in some cream and maybe licorice flavors to complement all the ooey gooey black fruits. this wine is worth the tariff, and i am so happy to have more in my cellar. if scoring, 95-96 points. no rush to drink these, but if you have a few go ahead and open one to check in. you won't be disappointed!
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5/25/2012 - etherscreen wrote:
ridiculous good.
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5/19/2012 - garambler wrote: 94 Points
I opened this when friends came over for leg of lamb on 5/19/12. Wow, what a treat! The bouquet was dense, ripe and alluring with smoked meat, blackberry, plum, mocha, coffee, licorice, black olive and spice aromas. The palate was rich, hedonistic and simply incredible with flavors of blackberry, plum, mocha, coffee, licorice and spice. It was the unanimous WOTN.
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5/10/2012 - Nutty08 wrote: 94 Points
This wine went through quite a metamorphosis over the 3hrs on th table. Initially splash decanted, but a little cold. Nose became more expressive over time, with meat, white pepper, wile berries, and spice. Palate initially showed a little heat, but this blew off. Dark currants, spice cake and berry liquor on the palate, but better integrated and more elegant than the Saxum. Espresso, meat/game, and spice on a moderately long finish. WOTN for me. Concentrated, elegant and refine style without doing too much. Much enjoyed, though slight more closed than the last 2 bottles. 93-94.
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5/5/2012 - Knicksfan wrote: 94 Points
Killer juice. Intense, complex and sophisticated tasted with an array of hot and spicy southwestern dishes. Amazing.
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4/8/2012 - jeff nowak wrote: 93 Points
15.6% alcohol. from magnum. splashed into a riedel somm magnum decanter (an extremely worthy purchase!), kept in the cellar for two hours, and poured back into bottle for transport; then back into the decanter at an easter dinner with about 16 guests. terrific showing for this wine, and i credit the bottle prep. moderate tannin without an alcoholic stigma and complimentary oak; big backbone framing excellent fruit. expressive and delicious.
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3/14/2012 - arniec wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for about 2 hours. Still a bit tight in the glass. Very integrated; nice mouth feel. Deep, rich and smooth. The berries are very much in the forefront. Pepper has faded. No heat at all. Lovely.
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3/5/2012 - pakabear wrote: 94 Points
Notes of cherry and ham juices with some licorice and rhubarb. Palate is more of the same with more fruit and a lot of acidity throughout. Very nice, but I think some VA has snuck into the wine, hopefully with time will blow off.
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2/23/2012 - ADwivedi wrote: 95 Points
RJ reference point tasting (Chez himes): Excellent nose. Deep purple color. Very berry flavor. Medium to full finish. Big boy wine!!
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2/6/2012 - bobpsi wrote: 92 Points
Similar to previous bottle. Taking on a little more weight.
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1/29/2012 - pakabear wrote: 95 Points
This was a replacement bottle and wow it delivered. It still amazes to me what the extra time in oak does to the wine, much more balanced than the '06 regular Lillian with additional creamy aspects to it. So yummy!
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1/16/2012 - jmjwalt1 wrote: 95 Points
Double decanted and drank with the wife and a friend. Was opened and consumed between one to two hours so there was little time for the wine to completely open up. With that, there was a slight waft of alcohol on the nose, but obviously with the time it took us to plow through this one, it was going down very very well. Ripe huckleberry bursting on the nose along with dried figs and cherries. Very mild vanilla on the palate along with gorgeous deep dark berries rounding out this fruit forward syrah with little to no tobacco, leather, or smoke that we routinely see in a lot of the variety. However, there is still a meaty elegance found in this one. Tannins are soft but distinct, and the acid balances this wine out to be great for years to come. Unfortunately this was the last bottle of this vintage. I will have to be more disciplined with our 2007s and 2008s.
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1/3/2012 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured. Savory bacon, rich almost porty black cherry flavors. Very big and ripe, but there is an underlying minerality that keeps this in balance. Very young. A Cote Rotie on steroids.
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12/31/2011 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 95 Points
A true revelation for a Syrah lover. This wine is big, yet it is made in an elegant style with all components in perfect harmony. The nose expresses tons of cool dark fruits, flowers and an intriguing meatiness. There is also lovely minerals and luxuriously rich but elegant oak to be found. The palate is full-bodied with a very nice acidity intertwined with ample fruit and fine tannins. The finish is close to endless and lasts for well over a minute. Thanks to the acidity this is indeed a food friendly wine, but to rustic dishes like Boeuf Bourguignon. Do not be mistaken, this is an example of a "New World" style Syrah, but it is so meticulously made I am utterly impressed. (Decanted four hours before serving.)
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12/19/2011 - H.W. Crabb wrote: 93 Points
Consumed over two days. First night was tight with notes of dark fruit and sweet oak notes on the nose. After being in a decanter for 24 hours the nose became more finessed with finer layers of red and black fruit components, cassis, and more of the classic syrah notes that weren't there on the first night. Bones to age, or enjoy after an aggressive and long decant.
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12/11/2011 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
Ripe fruits, leather, blood, beautiful sweet spices, firm acidity and bitterness. Some sweetness as well, but in beautiful balance with the acidity. A full bodied and very complete wine. Imho it will probably improve a bit over the next few years. Hope to taste this again around 2015.
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12/10/2011 - jkoenen wrote: 93 Points
An evening with Sine Qua Non (Restaurant Bottles, Sas van Gent): Very powerful and sweet, nodding to jammy. Liquorice, black fruit, pipe tobacco, spicebox. The structure of this wine is not too fat, even rather graceful. Good fresh, mouthwatering acidity gives lift and drinkability. Needs some extra years to develop some rugged nuances of complexity and maturation. 18+/20
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11/28/2011 - lopaka wrote: 92 Points
Four hour decant, ink black in the glass. Aromas of roasted figs, spicy rose petals and black pepper, I could just smell this wine for hours. Flavors of plush black fruit and some bacon fat. Still a bit hot from the alcohol and the tannins need a bit more time but this will only improve over the next 4 - 5 years.
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11/22/2011 - jaylew1 wrote:
No rating. Too young. Very difficult on a pop and pour. About an hour and a half in, it starts to let up a bit. I am going to try to leave these alone for a year or two.
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11/19/2011 - drycab wrote:
Another amazing bottle of Lillian.
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10/22/2011 - ews3 wrote: 94 Points
BerserkerFest NYC (Peking Duck House, NYC): A generous contribution to our table from another table so we could try this side by side with the 05 Blue Label. This showed more reserved, but still had quite a bit of fruit. Meat and black fruit. less complexity than the blue -- whether because of barrel age or vintage. long finish. lovely wine.
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10/17/2011 - Tel007 wrote:
Good but expected more, especially at these prices.
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10/11/2011 - Mr T wrote:
Big big wine with lots of the characteristics I don't especially like...this wine finally settled down and opened in a way that I enjoyed on night 3. It had been corked and in the fridge following night 1. Last night actually very nice, rich classic syrah finish and no heat.....I had opened b/c of a BB comment that wine was good to go, but maybe they gave it hours and hours of air before drinking...I see no rush here at all
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9/24/2011 - Cow Town wrote: 90 Points
Huge wine. Unlike prior vintages, at least for me, this wine was much more in your face - even after a two hour decant. Alcohol was front and center on the nose, but mixed with gorgeous dark fruit. Will revisit in a year or so.
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9/23/2011 - wineismylife wrote: 93 Points
Blending and Getting Blended in Las Vegas (Room 701, Marriott Grand Chateau, Las Vegas, NV): WIML93
Tasted non blind. Opened and allowed to slow-O for several hours before serving.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of roasted meat, black pepper, currants, spices and plums. Flavors of berries, plums, cherries and minerals. Medium to bright acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied. Drink now with plenty of air or continue to hold.
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9/13/2011 - ews3 wrote: 94 Points
dark fruit, black pepper. loads of fruit and a long finish.
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9/11/2011 - pakabear wrote: flawed
Corked...
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8/21/2011 - WetRock wrote:
EWG goes blind for Syrah (Elements Kitchen, Pasadena,Ca): Served blind. Dense nose with reduction, wet rocks and heat. Mostly tight with rich, dense fruit showing a note of tar. Not interesting or tasty. Just dense and dark.
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7/28/2011 - twelch wrote:
Big and needs more time to unwind
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7/16/2011 - wineismylife wrote: 91 Points
DAWGS August 2011 - Wines That Go With American Italian Food (Aboca's Italian, Richardson, TX): WIML91+/-?
Tasted non blind at a wine dinner.
Purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of dark currants, flowers, black berries and melted black licorice. Flavors of currants, blueberries and black cherries. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied. Drink or hold. Could use some air.
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7/16/2011 - floydtp wrote: 90 Points
DAWGS July 2011 Wine Dinner (Aboca's Italian Grill- Richardson, TX): Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Dark dense purple. Huge nose of blueberries, cola, spice and some other dark berries. No mistaking this for anything but Syrah. More of the same on the palate with cassis, sweet oak and a good bit of black pepper. Hugely bold wine with a lot of heat (15.6% ABV). Long finish of cassis, tobacco and rubber. Definitely not my style of wine but does seem to be well made for what it is. Very tannic, I would hold for another few years.
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7/2/2011 - amateurwino wrote: 93 Points
Very expressive - quite a bit more open, spicy and powerful than the 2007 tasted recently. This bottle shows a lot more similarity to an SQN 06 Raven syrah tasted earlier this year than other tastings of this or other vintages of Lillian, with intense, concentrated fruit and peppery spice that's a bit too intense on night one. After this mellows on night 2, the floral side of this wine comes out more and becomes more enjoyable to me. Give this time, or lots of air. 93-94
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6/18/2011 - ews3 wrote: 96 Points
Great Grapes for a Great Cause SQN Tasting -- 4th Annual; 6/17/2011-6/18/2011 (Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC): From magnum -- 1 of the 99... smoky black pepper. black fruit. very nice. med(+) finish doesn't have the same depth as the SQN. Still an awesome treat and a wine I am glad to have in the cellar.
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6/13/2011 - pakabear wrote: 92 Points
I'd have to say this bottle wasn't as good as past bottles, it had a small bitter streak to it (not alcohol) so it could have just been slightly off, but the fruit over-powered most of that. Still was a very good bottle!
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6/8/2011 - drycab wrote:
Popped and decanted for the first night, drank half after 2 hours in the decanter then closed up, back in the cellar for day 2. Grilled lamb chops went well with the big dark black raspberries boysenberries, smoke and olives this offered on day 1. The nose jumped out of the bottle when opened and carried on until capped and put back in the cellar. Day 2 the wine showed much more complexity as the black fruits faded a touch and there was a little cedary flavor mixed with the meaty flavors and smoke and a bit of almost chilli spice that came out on the palate. I want a bigger allocation!!!!!
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6/5/2011 - SUN-J wrote: 93 Points
Nose of dark berries and black olives. Lots of swirling revealed a bit of pepper. Palate is unbelievably lush with a long long finish . . . needed just a touch more acidity but still so good; low tannins. Good with and without food but unlike most syrah's, it didn't need food. Still like this style but not for everyone.
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5/15/2011 - Uglypinga wrote:
Great nose with ripe berries, spices and beef. The palate is very tight, thick in texture but not giving much. The nose, however is awesome so I expect this wine to be crazy good down the road.
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5/12/2011 - Nutty08 wrote: 94 Points
Intense concentrated dark fruit nose of currants, , smoke, white pepper, coffee and touch of game. Incredibly concentrated, complex fruit--raspberry, cherry, currants, and plum--with a liquor like quality, but impeccable balance no sense of heat. Leaves with an incredibly long finish of currants, vanilla, coffee, and spice--turning slightly sweet.Very primary and probably needs some time to settle down. Incredible wine in the super concentrated but balanced (SQN) style. Much better than a recent '05 regular Lillian, though from my note I can't tell if I like then better than the regular '06. Certainly much more concentrated and deeper fruit, but at the expense of the meaty-pepper note I love. Will need to try them back-to-back sometime.
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5/1/2011 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 93 Points
SQN Dinner (Lockkeepers): Added as a disciple of Manfred's and an extended aged wine. This seems shut down right now. Some black raspberries and spice on the nose which is very nice. Sweet black raspberry fruit/pie filling on the nose. Wound very tight. Outstanding wine, but lacks the smoothness/richness of the SQN's.
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4/24/2011 - Knicksfan wrote: 94 Points
Rocks. Decanted 2 hours. Beautiful fruit, pepper and a finish that keeps on going. Love it.
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4/17/2011 - shadow wrote: 94 Points
Good clean syrah nose, fruit, clean finish with just a touch of tanin to clean your teeth, top shelf
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4/9/2011 - JohnSh wrote: 88 Points
I was not impressed with this wine last night. Drank after about 3 hours in the decanter. A big, rich wine with almost no varietal character at all, and it drank like a very modern style wine that could be from anywhere (in the New World). Some tannins. Nothing wrong with the wine, but nothing really right with it either: an amorphous 'wine cocktail' style without much soul. This bottle obviously didnt really impress me, and my fellow taster (it was his bottle) had the same disappointed impressions (B+).
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3/21/2011 - rwstorer wrote: 94 Points
What a difference a year makes. Five of us tasted this over the course of 4 hours. Deep red color with a nose of black pepper and sweet dough and raspberry. Flavors of vanilla cream, cherry, blueberry and black pepper. This is extremely interesting and evolves in the glass. Midway through the bottle we had some pizza which made the wine much softer. I really liked this and have high hopes over the next few years.
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3/19/2011 - OneLastSyrah Likes this wine: 94 Points
15.6% ABV. Slightly translucent rim, opaque dark garnet center. Sweet nose of black berry fruit with a touch of powdered sugar sweet oak. Sexy nose. Full bodied with sweet black fruit and a spicy notion of stems on the palate. Yum+.
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3/19/2011 - B Paul wrote: 92 Points
Notes similar to the previous bottle. Followed over a couple of hours and this was very nice. Remains quite structured, more so than the '05, and I think this still has substantial upside.
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3/6/2011 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 94 Points
Napa Offline and a whole bunch of wine, mostly Syrah (Napa Valley Wine & Cigar): I had not had this wine since release. At that time it was tight as a drum. Despite being a Magnum, this bottle was really quite open. Ruby/purple in color. The nose has raspberries, black raspberries, and anise (is there Whitehawk fruit in this?). Also some spice. On the palate, this is also soft and easy to drink. I did get to it later in the night after it had some air, so perhaps that helped. There is an nice layering of fruit, leather and charcoal that makes this really interesting. I guess it is five years from vintage, but I was surprised that ti seemed to be ageing fast than I thought it would. Not worry, this still is not yet at peak and has at least a decade or more to go. Great wine.
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2/19/2011 - canan Likes this wine: 95 Points
California BYO (@ Terkel): Powerful blackberry nose with lost of freshly ground black pepper. The fruit is almost creamy and has beautiful notes of blood and dirt.
Impressively intense palate with blackberry fruit, black pepper and a lovely creamy texture and a vibrating acidity in the long aftertaste.
Beautiful wine.
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2/19/2011 - hanasowner wrote: 95 Points
Just another fantastic showing by Lillian that was much better than the bottle I had six months ago. Opened two hours before consuming. Was the favoite of the group, with many commenting on how dark it was. Potent blackberry aroma and just a pure finish. Hard to not want to drink another soon, but need to ration to make them last.
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2/5/2011 - Dale B. wrote: 96 Points
Upon opening this right out of the cellar the nose was revealing almost nothing. After a 2 hour decant there still was very little fragance. What this wine lacked on the nose more than made up for on the palate. A completly seamless wine with both power and finesse. Layer upon layer of fruit that was never heavy or coying. Rich, powerful and with a long elegant finish. Even better on day two. I'm not very good at predicting a wines peak, but this is so good right now it will be hard to keep my hands off the remaining bottles.
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1/23/2011 - rralls wrote: 94 Points
Really just a fanstastic syrah. A little tightly wound and showing its youth, but really good.
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1/22/2011 - pakabear wrote: 95 Points
Wow, this just keeps getting better. No formal note, but great balance and a nose that just explodes out of the glass and is very SQN-like...
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1/17/2011 - bobpsi wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 1 hr. Nose still fairly closed with dark fruits, pepper and coffee not giving up alot to start. 2hrs in the wine got alot better with ripe blackberries, spice and some chocolate notes. Well balanced and enjoyable.
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1/8/2011 - deltacop wrote: 94 Points
Did a PNP and enjoyed over a 4 hour period. Have half left that will be enjoyed 48 hours later. This started out ful power in the glass. Swirlling brought out the full aroma right from the start. Big and powerful. The taste was slightly at bey to start as it warmed to room temps and had time to breath. The dark fruit was outstanding, not to big and not to light. Tannins sneak up on you but don't interfer with the wine but let you know these have plenty of time left in the bottle if you want. I was surprised to see the alc was listed at 15.6% because I didn't notice it at all. OVerall a very enjoyable expericence that hit the spot. Well done Maggie. Enjoy!!!
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12/18/2010 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
4th Saturday group "uptown" tasting (Joe P's): Decanted a few hours before the tasting. Inky opaque color. Notes of dark fruit, plum and pepper. Shows its alcohol too. Pepper and dark fruit tones on the palate. Full-bodied and intense. Finished first in the flight.
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11/27/2010 - pakabear wrote: 94 Points
A definite improvement above the regular '06 IMO. Added to the regular is a vanilla toffee component and better balance.
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11/25/2010 - River Rat wrote: 93 Points
Big, dense, rich, meaty, voluptuous, mouth staining blue and black fruits balanced out with pepper, smoke, acidity and sweet tannins. And it can only improve. Oh man.
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11/21/2010 - Jody Smith wrote:
Very nice. This has put on weight since my last try in the spring. Reminds me of the 05 (a wine I loved). Remarkable purity, rich black fruit, layered with grahm cracker, a hint of mineral and violet. Dark brooding, slow to open. This wasn't decanted, but enjoyed over four hours. The last glass would've been a good starting point.
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11/14/2010 - Nutty08 wrote: 93 Points
Another great showing from this wine. Splash decanted, and finished over the following 3 hrs. Initially quite closed upon opening but eventually showed deep dark currants and boysenberry, with a slight sweetness. Plenty of lovey syrah character: meat, pepper, and smoke. Lengthy complex finish. WOTN for me. Still needs several years to come together. Needs several hours in the decanter to drink now.
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11/12/2010 - shadow wrote: 94 Points
fruit tea wrapped in dark leather, spice is mellowing, big sip California style
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11/11/2010 - celtic67 wrote:
violets & blackberries on the nose. big lush blackberries & cassis on the palate. crushed velvet in the mouth, with a hint of oak on the finish. well made & holding the 15.6% alcohol fairly well. lacking the funk & savory aspects I prefer but this is delicious to taste.
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10/31/2010 - ubercuvee wrote:
All fruit, all brawn with a huge licorice hit. We struggled to actually drink this although it was certainly impressive to the taste. Given the '05: I'd imagine this just needs time to settle down and for the parts to come together. 2015(?)(+?)
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10/22/2010 - DavidF90210 wrote: 92 Points
poor mans SQN. Good though!
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10/20/2010 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 94 Points
Had open in bottle for 4hrs. WOW, first taste, and I knew this was going to be good! Beautiful nose of creme de cassis, dusty white pepper, coffee. Big, yet smooth and polished in the mouth....gobs of crushed blackberries, cherries, cassis, blueberry fruit...intense dusty spices, florals(cherry blossom, lavender, creme de cassis), creamy sweet smoky oak, licorice, some meat as well. I love the darkness of the fruit, and the spicy florals....well balanced, with a great feel. Should gain even more with a few years. Love this!
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9/28/2010 - Uglypinga wrote:
Tight tight nose, not much of anything. The palate is thick with beef, chocolate and some dark fruits, but totally masked by the chocolate. As you might imagine, this was a pop and pour fest, and this wine needs a ton of air. Still very very young.
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9/26/2010 - peternelson wrote: 88 Points
Roy’s: This too I felt was very tannic and over-extracted. This needs lots of time. I could only hope that the two above might age as beautifully as the 2002 Copain.
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9/26/2010 - jeff nowak wrote: 91 Points
15.6% alcohol. decanted, and again, don't even think about not giving this wine some air. i'd have poured it down the drain if only tasted in the first hour. i'm happy to say that this bottle showed some development. i still don't think it's all that complex, but i didn't get the rough alcoholic edges and brittle tannin from previous tastes. ground pepper, black cherry, truffle. another plus, i didn't notice any heat, regardless of how long the decanter was out of the cellar. i'm gonna take a stab at staying away from future bottles for one year. let's see how i do.
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8/30/2010 - WildeMeeuw wrote: 92 Points
2006 Lillian Winery Syrah (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County) Kleur: Diep donkerrood Aroma / bouquet: Expressief, prachtige fruitexpressie met bramen en verse kersen, zacht kruidig, Smaak / Afdronk: Krachtig, friszuur, prachtig rijpe tannines, drop, kersenbonbons, zoethout en wat salmiak en peper. Algemeen / potentieel: Prachtig en krachtig glas, in deze fase boordevol fruit. Nu geweldig mooi drinken, veel potentieel… 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 12 + Smaak / Afdronk: 17 + Algemeen / potentieel: 8 = 92/100
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8/20/2010 - Zweder wrote: 94 Points
Just a few short notes; beautiful bouquet with a lot of black fruits and sweetness. Same in the taste. Some white pepper as well. 15.6% alcohol… It did not bother me. Great wine!
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8/20/2010 - jkoenen wrote:
Hedonistic Diner, Part 2 (Restaurant Le Défi, Sprang-Capelle): Man, was I impressed by this wine. Laser-like focus mixed with very pure, deep and mouthfilling flavors. A gorgeous take on New-World Syrah. Spicy fruit mix, topnotch acidity, just the faintest hint of RS (or is that alcoholic sweetness?).
Have to buy this wine.
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8/1/2010 - rwstorer wrote: 91 Points
Blackish red color with aromas of coffee and raspberry. Flavors of red fruits, spice and chocolate? Needs about an hour to blow off some alcohol and open a bit. Enjoyable.
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7/11/2010 - amateurwino wrote: 94 Points
After two days as a pretty, slightly floral but muted syrah, on day 3, this has opened up beautifully and is showing menthol underbrush, lavender, slightly meaty aromas and peppery spice on the nose - ultimately framed by sweet fruit that portends juiciness. On the palate, the initial flavors of this deep purple (but ruby-tinged at the edges) wine are minty, peppery amd savory, but the lasting impression is the long, sweet, juicy fruit. There's just enough oak here to round this out into a luscious wine that benefits from the slight vanilla/caramel notes added by the barrels; to me, this is like a New World answer to the Tardieu-Laurent Rasteau I had yesterday. First two days, this showed like a 90-91 point wine, with the tangy acidity not feeling integrated; now that it has opened up (after two days in fridge, no argon), this is gorgeous, juicy, and showing in the 94-95 point range. If you are on this mailing list, be patient and have faith.
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7/7/2010 - rdsboca wrote: 95 Points
Up for the syrah of the year for me. Palate was seamless with blue fruit and a richness that drew you to want to have more. I was speechless. Just silly. Not a lot of funkiness that I typically like but the intense flavors worked.
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7/3/2010 - Uglypinga wrote:
An hour of air. The nose has a dark brooding character. Chocolate, coffee, dark and purple fruits. The palate is a little closed still but shows some dark berries, some oak, a few savory elements and a bit of salinity that is very interesting. When swished in the mouth, some red berries emerge as well. Its not fully open, but even so, I dont think it will ever catch the 05 in voluptuousness and ripeness. Some tannins in the finish which lasts for a long time. Very good wine.
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6/28/2010 - Mr.Overhill wrote: 93 Points
Straight out of the bottle, this one comes on like a rampaging bull looking for the red and its matador - a big and brawny beast of a wine, filled with a big chocolate, almost brandied/syrupy black raspberry character, and in some ways almost more like a cab in its profile than a syrah. It has an extraordinary nose as well, with more blackberry compote and abundant simple sugar compunds, but the "oak monster" pushes the envelope against the compote to create a nice balance on the nose. But like a mad bull it tires rapidly, with a midpalate that somewhat underwhelms (where's the hoped for tar and forest underbrush?) and a finish that is left wanting. It has so much oomph now that I don't see it lasting much longer than 4-6 years at best, but for now its one that will give a great fight and entertain the lucky few who have a ticket for the show.
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6/26/2010 - cadamson wrote: 91 Points
I liked this. Just sort of got out of the way, complementing the rack of lamb well without being overpowering. Black olive and dark fruit nose. Dark violet. Dark fruit, sweet tannins, ceder, licorice, yet seemingly a bit tight and wound up. This may have a good future if it can loosen up a bit and gain some complexity. Drank moderately cool, no apparent heat.
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6/20/2010 - bruce61 wrote: 92 Points
This is a really well made wine, lots of fruit, not overly estracted, and not over-oaked. However, it was huge compared to an Alban Patrina we opened first.
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6/9/2010 - pakabear wrote: 93 Points
Good balance, a bit salty now in nature. Not as good as in the previous 2 years.
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5/16/2010 - Jody Smith wrote:
Positively requires 4-5 hours of air to give up anything. The first little pour showed nothing but acid and alcohol. Eventually, the wine losened up enough to reveal serious complexity and a fine wine in waiting. Subtle notes of incense and sandlewood lend a bit of spice to the dense, scorched black fruit. Finishes with a refined talcum flavor and tannic structure. Hints of pork fat in the finish. Whereas the 05 was quite approachable at 4 years from vintage, this one demands another year or three. Tight, backward and tense, but you can get an impression of the quality, complexity and pedigree with enough coaxing. I'd wait at least another year on this one,and even then, I suspect a multi hour decant will be required. Great, but a tease to drink it today.
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5/9/2010 - Ki Punwar wrote: 92 Points
realy enjoyable bottle and more appraochable in the context of tasting some pretty good syrahs including Saxum James Berry, Kosta Browne and others. This was not nearly as massive but very enjoyable with some bbq...pepper, black olives and bacon fat.
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4/30/2010 - inkana wrote: 94 Points
Audouzed for for an hour or two, then one-half an hour in the glass before tasting. Inky purple and opaque. I agree with some that the aroma was a bit reticent at first, but it gave way quickly into aromas of blackberry, cedar, with high notes of black pepper and violet, and a touch of smoke and leather. On the palate, this was very full-bodied: blackberry, pepper, the subtle note of violets and a soft smokiness on the long finish. A deeply extracted style, but beautiful complexity, even this early. I will keep the rest for a of couple years, then check in again to see how they have developed. BTW- tasted and written before reading professional reviews.
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4/30/2010 - jeff nowak wrote: 90 Points
15.6% alcohol. decanted, and you must. really. candidly, i am drifting further offshore from wines like this. about six weeks ago, i tasted/shared this within the context of a wine group that is VERY empathetic to the ethos. and i've been a part of that, too. however, see my note, i wanted to like it more than i did. tonight, it's just jane and me slugging this down over time. initially, there is heat, heat, heat, on the finish. bleh. that reduced over time. good. but the alcoholic nose, and the wave of ETOH on the palate lingers. bad. very bad. there is a plethora of fruit, dark raspberry and blackberry, bouncing around, planting a flag on the finish. good. tannins are chewey, which is fine with such a young wine. i noticed a small window where i thought, ok, this is getting better, but it was short lived. also, i hate it when you have to watch the serving temperature so carefully. if it starts to creep over 62, the heat comes back. fast. i guess if you like big, fat, super ripe syrah, this is a wine for you. i wish it were dialed back a couple of notches. i'm comfortable with the score. good, but too many reservations.
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4/6/2010 - alanr wrote: 92 Points
Two 2006 Syrahs: Lillian and Relentless: Shows some ripeness on the nose, with a touch of vanilla. Palate is rich, bold, dark fruit, quite lush and forward, but fairly well balanced. More acidity than tannins in structure, with a bit of savory oak on the finish. Very well made and enjoyable for its style, though I don't find any Rhone-ness to the wine as some have described. At 15.6 ABV on the label (and the medium body suggests that it's been watered down by a percent or so as well), with its bright, focused, juicy, lush fruit, I would treat this as an enjoyable cocktail wine.
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3/27/2010 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 91 Points
This was popped and poured but then enjoyed over 8 hours. Purple in color, with some ruby at the rim. The nose is very tight. With lots of coaxing it shows black raspberries and graphite. On the palate, this is smooth, well made, but never really showed a lot of anything. Great texture and seems like it is just asleep right now. After being open for 8 hours, it was very enjoyable. Juicy, smooth, deep fruit but not as explosive (for lack of a better word) as I would have hoped. Still, it is quite good, but I would wait for a few years before opening another.
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3/23/2010 - Brady D wrote: 93 Points
Opened to celebrate the passage of the health care bill. It was our back-up wine to the corked 1999 Guigal Chateau d'Ampuis Cote Rotie.
Decanted for an hour, then consumed over two nights. Borderline opaque purple. A surprisingly reticent nose for a CA Syrah. Showed dark fruits and minerals. Nothing floral. No blood. More on day two, but still holding back. More interesting when consumed. Highly tannic, full bodied, with plenty of dark fruit. And a dark core of tension. I swear this wine is just mocking me, waiting to unwind with an abundance of aromas and flavors. That tension reminds me of a young Clos des Papes, in which the mourvedre keeps the wine in check for a few years. Fascinating. I am optimistic, but will wait a year for the next one.
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3/20/2010 - goofy Yno wrote: 92 Points
there are some nice components here, but after the bossman, seems a little wimpy.
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3/20/2010 - jeff nowak wrote: 90 Points
pretty good. i must admit my expectations were guarded. i haven't been quite as nuts about this wine as many expressing their undying love for it on the wine boards. but, new vintage, new hope. the winemaking process is being honed? i'm looking for more complexity and expression. i see this as a rather narrowly focused, but well done syrah.
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3/20/2010 - kstoddard Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark purple/black color. Spicy blueberry fruit nose. Tastes of blackberry, raspberry, currant and earth. Medium to full bodied. Well balanced.. Spicy finish with nice depth.
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3/20/2010 - SMG Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. Tasted this when I first opened it and I thought it was great, but the tannins were present. After three hours I don't think it showed as well as when tasted right after opening. If I could do it again, I would decant for only one hour.
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3/8/2010 - amateurwino Likes this wine: 95 Points
Lillian/Antica Terra Lunch with Maggie Harrison and Nate Ready (NYC (Eleven Madison Park)): My first taste of Lillian syrah (I haven't opened any of my bottles yet) and my first sniff makes me very happy: violets, pleasing dark fruits, oak is very present at this stage but not obtrusive. Very complex nose with hints of meat, caramel as well. It's the violet thing that captivates me and pushes this into the "smells expensive" category. On the palate, this is terrific - generous dark fruits, some pepper - what you'd expect from a premium American syrah, very well executed. I fight the urge to finish what's in my glass too quickly, but the juicy fruit pulls you back for more. This wine is the star of today's fan appreciation lunch with Maggie Harrison and Nate Ready of Lillian and Antica Terra; I am thrilled to own this. It's starting to show quite nicely, and I expect that I will surrender to the urge to open my first bottle of this later this year. By coincidence, I am having this a day after having my first taste of SQN (Raven Grenache '06) which didn't blow me away; this was everything I had imagined and hoped my first taste of SQN would be (though to be fair, I am more of a syrah guy than a grenache fan). Based on a small taste today, 95+.
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3/5/2010 - ruddy wrote: 89 Points
Probably too young, not enough decant time, yadda yadda, but never really rounded into shape. Muted nose of underbrush, tar, plums, good fruit, just a touch hot, still a bit angular and disjointed. Probably should have resisted the urge. See you next summer, '06 Lillian.
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2/27/2010 - fisk15 wrote: 94 Points
I'm getting blackberry, pepper and very well concealed etoh. I touch less sophisticated than the 05 version, maybe time will round it out a bit more.
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2/26/2010 - Terkel wrote: 93 Points
Rhone Rangers tasting (Vinens verden, Odense): Black color with a purple hue. Ripe, warm raspberry and cherry fruit, boiled candies, licorice and pepper on the inviting, intense nose. Great fill on the palate with loads of ripe, juicy cherry fruit. Some licorice and tobacco on the midpalate and finish. Drinking very easily due to a superb balance between the sweetness of the fruit and the fresh acidity as well as the tannic grip on the end.
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2/23/2010 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
Wine, skiing, and snowboarding; 2/20/2010-2/26/2010 (Telluride, CO): 15.6% ABV. Popped and poured. Translucent dark garnet in the glass. Coffee bean aromatics. Rich and full bodied but a bit disjointed and hot. Maybe suffering from travel shock/altitude. Not a great showing. Judgment reserved.
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2/5/2010 - Zweder wrote: 95 Points
Occasional tasting group: "Terroir or bottles with a story" (@ TBa): Creamy and soft expressive bouquet. Same on the palate. Dark berry fruits. Enormously concentrated with a very good balance between sweetness and acidity. The tannin is soft but powerful. An elegant blockbuster with very good complexity. Now already a great pleasure and it can last easily another 5+ years.
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1/31/2010 - Ki Punwar wrote: 92 Points
Very dark purple color, amazingly it doesn't seem like it's 15.6% alcohol. Very full bodied, brooding wine that is much more drinkable than I thought it would be...blackberries and beef blood, sweet oak, sourced from WHite Hawk vineyard fruit, not as massive as a SQN but very enjoyable
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1/25/2010 - jc-mmb wrote: 93 Points
yea, i read the notes - too early. but still a wonderful bottle. black fruits - blackberry - with plenty of smoke, tar, licorice and a subtle floral nuance. despite the bigness, it does remain feminine due to lushness and seamless trip through the mouth. very nice full but soft mouth feel. finishes a little hot at this time but that should smooth out.
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1/21/2010 - B Paul wrote: 93 Points
Very good. Decanted for about an hour before pouring a glass and then drank over the next two hours. From what I recall, the flavor profile on this is similar to the '05 - nice fruit, a little of the smokiness on the nose (which is very SQN-ish). Although this is a bit tight/young right now, this is outstanding and beautifully made. 93+ pts. right now but this has serious upside potential (I could see this eclipsing the '05 and being at 95+ in a year or so when this opens up).
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1/16/2010 - T-Mac wrote: 95 Points
Double decanted 5-6 hours prior, which helped tremendously. Incredibly delicious and hedonistic Syrah. Wow! Definitely in for the '07s.
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12/27/2009 - koflaher wrote:
Opened at a family gathering although I thought it was going to be too young. I gave it about 2 hours of air prior to drinking and could clearly have given it more, but it delivered a layered, interesting taste of dark fruits, some stone, and some meaty notes. I didn't take specific notes, but felt it was interesting and very tasty. I was not blown away by it, but will be interested to see if it develops into something really noteworthy. Maybe a 91+ point wine now.
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12/27/2009 - markjahnke wrote: 92 Points
Once again, a bottle sourced for the holidays, and popped and poured way too early! But when traveling and having to source, this is one of he few times that I don't mind committing the act of "infantcide," especially when there are more at home in the cellar and I am not tapping into that stash. This wine is definitely going to need some time to come around, but will be every bit as good as the '04 and '05. In the glass, this is a nice dark, purplish inky color. Very dark, and very attractive...I MEAN DARK! On the nose, some alcohol and oak as I expected with oodles and oodles of black fruits: blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, and boysenberry. Also has nice hints of raspberry and spice. On the palate, big and young is an understatement. Again, THIS WINE NEEDS some serious bottle time for it to come together, but even after an hour in the glass, it opens up nicely with blackberry, black cherry, and raspberry on the palate. Nice subtle spice and white/black pepper round out the palate. There are some hints of alcohol and acidity, and there are definitely some tannins on this wine, but this will round out in time. Our remaning 3 will sleep for a good 3-5 years before revisiting, but once again, Maggie has created yet another baby Sine Qua Non here, and this is going to be incredible with some age. 92 points now with some air, but it'll definitely gain a few more points based on complexity alone once everything integrates and comes together. Another winner! Kudos to Maggie! Decant 4-6 hours before consumption, but I would hold for 3-5 years unless you have many to play with. Cheers!
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12/26/2009 - RMundell wrote: 94 Points
One of the best if not the best Syrah that I have had.
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12/23/2009 - aussie05 wrote: 93 Points
Start off by agreeing with other notes that this may be too young to see its full potential. I can see improvements in its future. Feminine complexity in terms that it is big fruit underneath but subtle at the same time. A few different floral notes in the background. You keep expecting the pepper to take over but it stays integrated as well. Nothing really overpowers another on the nose. Mud, earth, and slight game are also present. The acidity really sings at this point. Long finish. The best thing about this is the craft in its making. You get the feeling, she really focused on intermixing as many flavors as possible w/o sacrificing any one aroma or subtlety.
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12/20/2009 - Nutty08 wrote: 94 Points
Fantastic black pepper, smoke and sausage nose with some toast and scorched earth that came out with air and a little blackberry in the background. Massive wine on the palate with blackberry and boysenberries, tar, meaty with impressive complexity and concentration. Long finish, with a touch of vanilla, dark chocolate, heavy tar and chalky dry tannins. Massively built, well balanced with layers of complexity.
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12/19/2009 - ews3 wrote: 94 Points
Cheers to the Record Snowfall (Roberts House): lots of black fruit, sitting on top of some meat and saltiness. the best part of this wine is the really lovely mint note on the nose and early in the palate -- it just makes this so light and feminine, even when there is such a powerful wine underneath. The interplay is remarkable. Long finish. I may have been conservative in scoring this. It developed nicely on day 2.
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12/19/2009 - jrobs7777 wrote: 92 Points
Random Wines on Snowbound Night (Our House (2033 Brandywine St., Philadelphia)): Good juice. Deep purple color. Blood, generous amount of saline and some smoke on the nose. Herbal minty note develops. Dense and concentrated on the palate. Good fruity core complemented by the saline and mint. A nip of heat. That should hopefully settle. Nose focused finish. I've had the 04 and 05 and right now, both are better than this but this is very good.
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12/19/2009 - vanpe003 wrote: 92 Points
Popped/poured. This reminds me a fair bit of the '04. Similar notes on the nose....dark fruit and a bright acidic note I'll call dill for lack of a better descriptor, maybe a touch more prominent in this vintage than it was in the '04...difficult to tell from memory. The palate is also similar, though (again from memory) perhaps a bit higher toned in the mid-palate and finish. Powerful yet precise. There's nothing flabby about this. In fact, if I had my way, it would carry just a tad more weight. Fine tannins on the finish....a very long finish. Across the board, this is brighter than I remember the '04, maybe less concentrated?? Though, similar to the '04, the finish seems to go on and on. This appears as though it could have a lot of elegance hiding under a bit of youthful awkwardness. In some ways. this reminds me more of a Penfold's Grange than it does an SQN, with the potential for similar elegance and balance. I love this winery and it's approach to its customers. Some day I'm gonna get there for a visit!
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12/19/2009 - robertgoulet wrote: 91 Points
Nice wine, still to early to see what is going to come. Not sure what the this past taster was drinking when he scored it 98 points??? Smooth, good structure, solld black fruit, still tight, wait 3-5 years.
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12/18/2009 - pakabear wrote: 94 Points
wow, great balance, very SQN on the nose... very consistent from year to year!
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12/12/2009 - MarkC wrote: 93 Points
Wow--popped and poured and this was still awesome. Had with BBQ chicken, and it actually worked pretty well, because it's rich and ripe, but isn't ponderous or heavy by any stretch. Had some SQN-esque character to it. Will be interesting to see this in a year or two, but it's very nice right now. (PE: 95)
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12/11/2009 - shadow wrote: 98 Points
pleasant nose, velvety mouth feel, smooth and unctuous floral burst of dark fruit followed by long delicate finish, its a classic, in my top 10, opened a couple hours before drinking, cellar this time of year is chilly
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