I have to admit I was slightly disappointed by this wine. Although Colson Canyon is a warm sight, I would have liked to have seen a great effort to lower the sugar/alcohol in this wine. After 14 years this wine still lacks any balance; it’s overly jammy fruit and almost young port-like on the nose is nausea inducing. I would have preferred this wine closer to 13.5% abv and with more acidity to balance. This was drank after a superb ‘21 domaine vincent paris St. Joseph ‘Les Cotes’ and did not compare well at all. Major headache incoming! Overall: 83 (and going down quickly)
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Purchased from winery. Second bottle that tastes like grape juice. No structure. Just sweetness and a bit of canned cranberry sauce tartness on the finish. Bleech.
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I opened this first bottle from my case tonight at The Oven. Decanted the wine and did not notice much evolution over the two hours Charlie, Jim Harris, and I drank it. Dark fruit, cassis, sweet, slowly emerging olive, lush, dense, new world style. Alcohol is very present at 15%, and the full body, very extracted style will no doubt appeal to some, just not me. Mid palate isn't terribly interesting, and I thought the finish was nothing out of the ordinary, with some heat. Kind of reminds me of a plump, buxom woman, falling out of her dress, while loudly doing shots of goldschlager at a party. Man I miss college.
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Dropping some tannins but still a big wine. Plenty of brambly dark fruit along with crushed rock and a hint of violet on the nose. In a very good place but still has time. 92 points
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PnP. This is amazing for the age as its just great. Sage, herbs, black fruit in a full bodied, smooth wine. Long finish. Just awesome. Unfortunately, last 2 bottles.
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This was throwing a huge amount of sediment and absolutely needs to be decanted off of it. That said, this really is showing no signs of slowing down. This bottle was very rich and fruit forward, but outside of a healthy dose of pepper, was lacking some of the meatier and smokier notes I had expected. This didn't make it lesser than previous bottles, just a bit different. Oak, tannins and alcohol were totally integrated and made for a texturally rich wine that, while very full bodied, wasn't plodding or fatiguing to drink. This is a full throttle take on syrah, but is a very good example of the style. It wasn't showing many tertiary notes, so I'm not sure what this evolves into, but this has the structure to age for 5+ years. Tired perfectly with grilled tri-tip.
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PnP. Dark purplish red. Strawberry, raspberry, and prunes on the nose. Wine is thick. Tar, prunes, plums, and a little chocolate. Decent length finish. A nice change from what we typically drink.
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This really benefitted from 30-60 minutes of air, particularly on the nose. There are also a fair amount of solids, so I would stand this up for a day prior and / or run it through a filter. I preferred it through filter and it certainly didn't feel like the flavor was somehow compromised.
The color on this wine is ridiculous, effectively being black with garnet hues. You have to hold this directly in front of a strong light source to get any measure of transparency.
The nose is a little reluctant at first, but rounds into a solid medium with some air. This really screams CA Syrah, with maybe a slight nod to Cornas... ripe, slightly jammy, blackberries, plums, blueberries, brambly raspberries... then the BBQ shows up... smoked meat, smoke, somewhere between tree bark and cedar, pepper.
The palate directly reflects the notes on the nose, except for a good dose of graphite on the finish. There is a bit of tannic grip, but it is pretty well integrated, massive concentration of flavor, full bodied, high alcohol, although the acid is more to the medium end, which will probably keep this from being a long aging wine. Very well made within the style, but expect a measure of heat and the finish probably doesn't match up to the overall scale of the wine. A lot of wine for $38, but I probably prefer the Turner and the Noir to the Colson.
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I would call this a super deep garnet, which is probably code for a nearly black core with bricking at the edges. The nose really wades through a haze of alcohol, but once you get past that, it waffles between brambly blackberries and pepper then BBQ meats, smoke and a bit of iron. The palate really reflects the nose, but the heat does show up again. This is a complex mix of blackberry, plum, smoked meat, pepper, blood, dark chocolate / mocha and some cedar. This has as many secondary and tertiary notes as I've had in a Tensley wine. The tannins are well integrated, but make their presence known at the end. Relative to the overall concentration of flavors, the finish is a little bit short. If the alcohol were dialed back a bit, this would be pretty pretty epic. Tolerance to heat aside, this is a hugely concentrated wine with a nice degree of tannin, so this has a lot of room to evolve. 92+
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Casually dranked this bottle at a party, no formal notes. Continues to drink very well. This wine is in a very good place everything you expect from this wine is there with a lot more smoothness than previous bottles. I'm looking forward to my last bottle.
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WoW! Very big wine! Dark black with texture and ample sediment. Black and purple fruit with plenty of emerging savory aspects. Long finish with good balance throughout. Recommend an hour secant. Wonderful Cali Syrah! Tensley seems to "nail" this every year!
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Popped and poured. Second glass much better than first so probably should decant. This just keeps getting better. Red berry cobbler all the way. Not sweet but savory. Cherry, raspberry. Full bodied, looooong finish, well integrated tannins. Really great. May still be some upside here but definitely no hurry to drink.
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Dark purple. Big nose that is full of dark fruits, grilled meat and minerals. Rich starting off with black raspberry , blackberry, and finishing with sweet blueberry preserves. Throwing lots of sediment. Still young and not yet fully integrated. Tannins are still there big time. Will be fun to follow its evolution.
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Pop and pour. Black fruit and a little jammy on the front end with a meatier mid palate and tongue gripping tennis on the back. Would give it some air if drinking soon.
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Drink now, I don't think this wine will improve with more time. The wine felt fully developed and ready for prime time. Developing some nuances, you can feel some age now. Very enjoyable now.
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Let's start with, this wine is freakin' delicious. Granted my teeth will be stained for a bit but I am really sorry I only purchase 1 bottle of this a few years back. Blackberries, sugary sweetness, herbs (I think). It reminds me exactly of a food I cannot place. Way to go.
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Sweet and lush, this evoked blackberry pie and toasty oak notes. Stoney minerality is what keeps this from being just a fruit bomb, but it is still a decadent adventure.
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What a difference 18 months makes. Last bottle was still very acidic. Popped and poured as I forgot to decant. Immediately noticed the acidity was now well integrated to give the wine just the right sparkle. Dark berries, some herbs coming through in a dense, full bodied wine. I think this still has some aging to do and it looks like it will turn into a blockbuster. Now I'm glad we went big on this vintage.
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A big wine that is starting to change from jammy to fruit-forward. Starting out with a powerful, meaty aroma, it later opened to a luxurious blackberry and cream profile with a matching nose. I recall previous vintages having more raspberry as well as a more subtle elegance; this one is competing to be best in show.
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Big and powerful with dark fruit that finishes with a hint of strawberry and blueberry and is then followed by toasty spice notes and a long long finish. The fruit and spice are well balanced and this is not a fruit bomb. The tannins are well resolved. This paired very nicely with duck l'orange. my only bottle.
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There was a quite distinct aroma on the nose - I'm not entirely sure how to describe it, but the closest I can think of is sweet pickle relish. On the palate this was bright and lively, belying the relatively high abv. Sweet red/black fruits with a spicy, floral element. Still young, and the flavors broadened and deepened with air.
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OMFG! I'm over the moon. Tensley always impresses me. He is a true artist...this wine/vintage is superb! Dark cherry oak notes with a chocolate finish. Yum. The wine stands on its own... I wouldn't recommend eating anything rich while consuming since the wine itself is so complex. I keep coming back to Tensley syrahs to remind me how full-bodied syrahs should taste. Make sure to wait until they blossom....3.5-5 years is the sweet spot.
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Joey Tensley is a freaking Sy-Rock Star in my opinion. I don't think I've ever had a bottle of his wine that didn't sate my primal needs when it comes to wine. His wine in general, and this one in particular was and is, extraordinary. Thanks Joey!
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Decant and enjoy. Similar notes as previous, substantial tannin on opening will help it age. Delicious ripe fruits, hope I can hold 5 years to see the flavors develop.
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Really good syrah! For me, this wine is getting richer, greater depth of flavors as it ages. Not sure when that time line starts turning the other way, but it was excellent tonight! In a group with a mid range Napa cab and a Dry Creek zin - - this Tensley was by far and away my favorite!
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One of the stars of the evening as part of a 7-bottle Syrah tasting. Excellent to say the least. Much more life on this one, I am giving my remaining bottles at least another year. The wine remains vibrant and volomputuous, very drinkable, but want to see how it evolves. Patience is needed because this one is irresistably good.
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Slow ox 6 hrs, ready to go. Surprising, most Tensleys i've had need a little more coaxing but it was full throttle sweet blue and black fruits. Not super complex, but so clean and ripe. There's more to say but the fruit domination leaves me at a loss for words, and longing for more.
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Popped and poured a sample - deep teethstaining bluish purple with high viscosity - almost chewy. Nose rich with fruit and a slight hint of meat. Exciting electric flavors on palate -- concentrated red and dark brambly berries. Juicy with nice acidity to keep it clean and exciting. A bit of heat initially (15% alc), but that burned off quickly. Over a few hours, the juicy verve diminished some, and the earthy components (stemmy flavors) became a bit more evident, adding some complexity to the juicy frame.
While I think this could last for a few more years, why wait? Just enjoy over multiple hours with friends. Each sip brings pleasure, so take your time - this is no guzzler. Yum!
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Decanted 8 hours prior to drinking. Huh. Intense blue and black fruit core that feels tightly strung followed by substantial tannic structure. Clearly well made, maybe it needs more time for my taste or maybe I am just not a big fan of cool climate syrah.
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Tasted blind against 2009 K Vintners Sundance Deal. This wine is KILLER. At first it gave off very rustic and dirty aromas which blew off the longer it was open. From the first sip, though, this wine is full throttle and ready for action. It just got better over the six or so hours it was consumed with no sign of stopping. Big, upfront dark fruit with zero heat and lots of underlying substance. This is the kind of wine those with old school tastes can't help but appreciate because despite it being nowhere near subtle or small, the depth of flavor and overall profile is just splendid. Will be buying more. By comparison, the Sundance Deal just seemed one dimensional and boring. 94+
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Deep magenta/ruby color. Excellent. I'm like 92 Points on that (93+ Nose; 91 Palate) Like many of the better Cali Syrah's I've tasted, a better nose then palate (mostly) because of a slight lack of intensity in the mouth, especially the mid-palate. Nose > Big, aromatic, with very pretty, fresh (mostly) dark (blue, purple, black) fruits. Black cherry, mulberry & black plum. White pepper, rare beef & some nice smoky oak. Palate > Rich, spicy, fruity, smoky, lush & luscious. Black cherry, black raspberry & wild, dark forest berry fruit. Medium intensity. 15% ABV on label; no undue heat on nose or palate.
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Beautiful dark purple in the glass. Nose of dark fruit and spice. Hint of mild pepper on the tongue. Blackberry, blueberry as well. Nice body. Without any decanting, tannins are soft, very approachable. Medium finish. Never disappointed by Tensley Syrahs. Colson Canyon vineyard my favorite, though Turner gets better each year.
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This hasn't moved much from the last bottle. Popped and poured. High acidity and bright red fruit. Almost like a Pinot Noir. The acidity did die down over time with the last glass at 2 hours more enjoyable. Next bottle will decant for hour or two. If I remember.
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A blast of heat. On the nose: alcohol, hand sanitizer. On the palate: alcohol, kirsch, port. Drink enough of it and eventually one is desensitized to the heat and some of the fruit bomb favors poke through. Can be enjoyable under those circumstances, at least until the next morning rolls around.
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Flawed - I have had 7 bottles of this so far. They have all been pretty great, however this bottle was horribly oxidized. After re-examination, it would appear the cork was compromised in this instance. Bummer!
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The color is dense and opaque on this one with purple to ruby shades. The smells are blackberry, tar, eucalyptus, and jammy dark fruit. The taste is sweet blueberry and blackberry, peppery spice, tar, and a hint of olive. This wine tastes rich and is what you might call a fruit bomb... I don't mean that as a pejorative as many wine drinkers might. It is quite simply delicious. The tannins are robust, tooth staining, velvety, and mostly fruit driven. The finish is extraordinarily long. There is a little heat which might be the only complaint I could have about this wine. I want more!
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Very big and Aussie like. Not as much complexity as I remember in previous vintages. Great fruit, dark, blue and black notes. Very dark and tannic on the finish. Must have used stems? Starting to really prefer the true Rhone's.
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PnP at Gazala's. This bottle had more of the young profile I recall from a year ago. Some heat, fruity, and as Phillyboy racy and intense. Gracious for its young age but with time it will vastly improve, all the elements are there for a fabulous wine down the road. If you drink now, decant for 1-hour otherwise, let it rest at least another year. Low 90s
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Tar-like color with dark red rims (some sediments appear), attractive bouquet of smoked meat and dark blackberries, beautifully harmonious entry with tannins only emerging at the end, complex and ripe berry textures a full body, some sweetness is noticed, with a dry light-to medium finish.
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Needs a year, at least! Big, Vivid, Intense, Racy. Hopefully it will reach the 07s grace and opulence...... Time will tell. 5 more in the stash. 91 now.
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This time I did feel the alcohol - and I still liked it. Unfortunately, it was all fruit bomb, which wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I opened it up. It is balanced for a 15% wine, but really needs about two years before it can start to show itself beyond the fruit. On day two I liked it much better and was glad I had some left to sample. Blueberries and fig paste with some flinty undertones. Am much in agreement with The Lonz's assessments at this time.
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Inky dark, complex and explosive. Opaque, dark very purple color; beautiful old worldish nose, with dark fruit, a touch of earth, and gobs of tapenade; a sweet explosion of lush dark flavors, including blueberries, more black olives and baking spices; chewy but very well-integrated tannins, and a long, juicy, potent finish, with tangy fruit, spearmint and indian spices. Syrah is my favorite grape, and I like Cali syrahs best of all.
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If fruit bomb is your style this wine rips it. It pours in a thick, glass staining inky purple that coats the glass. Dark fruit on the nose with little to no oak. This wine has balance with nice acidity and a 30-45 second finish. Mouthfeel is great and really hits all partsd of the pallete. I opened this and let decant in bottle for about 4 hours and I can honmestly say I feel no alcohol even though this is 15%. Seek this out if you like structured fruit bombs I really think you will enjoy this. Cheers.
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This will please those with a sweet tooth. Very much like grape soda without the carbonation. Not their best effort, but it beats the 2008 Colson by a country mile, since with a plate of cheeses and figs I can find some pleasure with this wannabe port. Wish I had more of the 2007-would have bought more of it had I known that the next three Colson vintages wouldn't produce a similar experience. Disappointing.
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Popped, aerated and drank over 2 nights. Dark red fruit on the nose. This bottle was a bit too candy-like for me. Very tasty, but almost dessert-like. Some heat on the finish.
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Popped and poured. Restrained nose of dark fruit. Very concentrated, inky, soft tannins upon introduction. Thick mouth feel. A few sips later, wood notes on the nose and palate became apparent. Smidge of graphite. Finish is on the shorter side. Not too complex. Tensley's Colson Canyon has been a favorite of mine, this vintage is just not there. Just saw my last tasting note, probably blew it by not having w/food with it, definitely be better, oops.
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Modern-style wine, with a fair balance, fruit-forward but maintains a sense of place. Great tannic structure, acid, and fruit profile. Should age well, and improve with a couple of years laying down.
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Restrained, more of an old world style. Boysenberry and black currant. Needs extended decant at this point- at least two hours. Was better on the second day.
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I don't have the exact tasting note on this one. Plum, boysenberry, raspberry, vanilla, and a little earth on the nose. Similar on the palate. Full, rich, and tasty. Good acidity that keeps this from getting cloying. Not very complex at this point, but quite good. Could benefit from some aging. Gave the remainder to a friend who has raved about it for weeks. 89-90
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Big and heavy with prominent wood and tannins. A food wine for sure. Before having my next bottle I'll give it some time and have it with dinner. I'd suggest anyone reading this do the same.
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Dark purple, throwing a heavy sediment. Ripe purple fruit nose. Big and bold in the mouth; rich and full-bodied but in no way alcoholic. Very young, showing more potential than current appeal. The antithesis of charming. 4-12-15-7: 88/100.
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Los Olivos Tasting: Still so young. Big rich Syrah. Fruity on the nose and palate - dark fruits of plum, blackberries, etc. Earthiness I like too. Needs time, tannins too powerful.
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Tensley tasting room in Los Olivos. Last wine of the tasting and the tasting room was closing so I didn't get a chance to evaluate it very well. What I remember is big, rich, and smooth showing a bit of French oak vanilla. I'd guess that this one should be laid down for a while.
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Popped and poured. Opened up as we drank the bottle but never quite got there. Fruit forward with blackberry, plum, some earth somewhat overpowered at this point by the tannins. Full bodied, strong finish. I believe this will improve with age as it better integrates. No score yet.
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The 2009 Colson Canyon (as well as the Turner for that matter) offer tremendous quality and value at this price level and exhibit a great degree of complexity at this early stage. Highly recommended.
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Gonna have to get on the baggio bandwagon for my sentiments on this newbie - @ 90 pts Laube was HUGELY underrating what I think is a classic wine in the making. It might even be better than the '08 was at this early stage. With first opening (no decant, would suggest doing so for a good 1-2 hours before drinking) the wine was a big fat tar baby sitting in the glass - it didn't seem like a wine at all but more like a real scoop of sildy muck from a tar pit, and the nose was almost as messy. Fortunately this gloppy beast blew away in less than ten minutes and began to blossom into a wonderfully layered specimen of a syrah - huge bright blueberry compote with nice brushy, almost sagelike undertones, and a creamy, white chocolate finish. Very rich and complex midpalate. It reminds me much of the Lillian in style, more like the '06 than anything else, but Joey did an awesome job of reigning in this beast. You won't be fooled into thinking it's a petite l'enfant but for a wine of these proportions it really fits into the package without spilling over. If you like this kind of syrah try and get at least a six pack to enjoy over a long period of time, This one's gonna be a keeper.
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Excellent at this young stage. Opened the bottle without decanting an hour prior to drinking, initially the wine was fiery and overwhelming in the palate, a bit all over the place but could see the potential. At the 2 hour mark the wine settled down to showcase a bold and massive melange of dark berry fruits interlaced with espresso and soft leather notes, all of it packaged in a robust muscular body yet very restrained to the point of being elegant and silky smooth. Drinkable now with a 2-3 hour decant, but prefer to cellar this one 1-2 years. Excellent regardless of price, great QPR at the low $30s. Loved it!
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Popped and poured as this was the last bottle of the evening. Right out of the bottle this had a great nose with cassis and dark plum flavors. Full bodied with a good mouthfeel and fairly long finish. Great QPR here - I just wish that we would have been able to get it some more air time to see if it would open up further.
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Memorable, inky colored Syrah with brawny character and muscle. For all it's power, the black fruit gracefully announces itself on the palate followed by hearty, mouth coating, cracked black pepper, oaked tannins. Enormously complex and layered, this Colson Canyon will develop into a real show stopper. Drinking now, but best over time. Hospice du Rhone Grand Tasting.
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Brooding black purple color. Huge grapey fruit, alcoholic nose. Massive concentration of fruit in the mouth, with a boatload of stiff,mouth-puckering tannins. Truly infanticide to drink this now, so I will stop and revisit tomorrow. For now, 5-12-16-8: 91/100
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Big, spicy, grapey nose. Eventually adds chocolate, vanilla, and black plum replaces the grape. Extremely young, needs time to mellow but lots of potential.
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Sanibel Vacation. This was quite young and needs time for the oak to integrate. It was better after a few hours of air but really needs more than that. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is oak, vanilla, raspberry milkshake. On the palate, this is big, plenty of tannins. It has a lushness about it but could use more depth. I suspect that will come with some time. There is some heat showing on the finish. I liked this wine, but if I were home, I would cellar it.
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This wine really suits my preferences. Very pure expression of syrah, intense but not heavy-handed. Hard to imagine what the Spectator was thinking in giving it 90 points.
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still a baby--nice big fruit with a beam of vanilla running thru the post palate. tannns are fairly well integrated--especially considering the age of this bottle. Agree with the reviewer on here that mentioned the "restraint" of the wine--(iron-fist in a velvet glove)-i do think its needs a year or so more in bottle to totally come toghether. Overall a good qpr--look forward to following it's evolution over the next few years
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11/22/2023 - WillRepstad wrote: 83 Points
I have to admit I was slightly disappointed by this wine. Although Colson Canyon is a warm sight, I would have liked to have seen a great effort to lower the sugar/alcohol in this wine. After 14 years this wine still lacks any balance; it’s overly jammy fruit and almost young port-like on the nose is nausea inducing. I would have preferred this wine closer to 13.5% abv and with more acidity to balance. This was drank after a superb ‘21 domaine vincent paris St. Joseph ‘Les Cotes’ and did not compare well at all. Major headache incoming!
Overall: 83 (and going down quickly)
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10/1/2020 - SICILIAN-SOLE Does not like this wine: 82 Points
Sweet, flabby and hot. No upside.
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12/25/2019 - Fredbreiden wrote: 70 Points
Could not drink it. Dumped it down the sink
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12/22/2019 - eljugo wrote: 79 Points
Purchased from winery. Second bottle that tastes like grape juice. No structure. Just sweetness and a bit of canned cranberry sauce tartness on the finish. Bleech.
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9/27/2019 - Magnum PI Does not like this wine: 88 Points
I opened this first bottle from my case tonight at The Oven. Decanted the wine and did not notice much evolution over the two hours Charlie, Jim Harris, and I drank it. Dark fruit, cassis, sweet, slowly emerging olive, lush, dense, new world style. Alcohol is very present at 15%, and the full body, very extracted style will no doubt appeal to some, just not me. Mid palate isn't terribly interesting, and I thought the finish was nothing out of the ordinary, with some heat. Kind of reminds me of a plump, buxom woman, falling out of her dress, while loudly doing shots of goldschlager at a party. Man I miss college.
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2/23/2019 - sastewart wrote: 92 Points
Dropping some tannins but still a big wine. Plenty of brambly dark fruit along with crushed rock and a hint of violet on the nose. In a very good place but still has time. 92 points
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10/18/2018 - HOS Likes this wine: 93 Points
PnP. This is amazing for the age as its just great. Sage, herbs, black fruit in a full bodied, smooth wine. Long finish. Just awesome. Unfortunately, last 2 bottles.
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9/3/2018 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 93 Points
waves of blue and black fruit with wet rock underneath, finishes with a hint of cranberry. A hedonistic treat.
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7/4/2018 - Seafoam Manor wrote: 93 Points
This was throwing a huge amount of sediment and absolutely needs to be decanted off of it. That said, this really is showing no signs of slowing down. This bottle was very rich and fruit forward, but outside of a healthy dose of pepper, was lacking some of the meatier and smokier notes I had expected. This didn't make it lesser than previous bottles, just a bit different. Oak, tannins and alcohol were totally integrated and made for a texturally rich wine that, while very full bodied, wasn't plodding or fatiguing to drink. This is a full throttle take on syrah, but is a very good example of the style. It wasn't showing many tertiary notes, so I'm not sure what this evolves into, but this has the structure to age for 5+ years. Tired perfectly with grilled tri-tip.
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5/19/2018 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 91 Points
PnP. Dark purplish red. Strawberry, raspberry, and prunes on the nose. Wine is thick. Tar, prunes, plums, and a little chocolate. Decent length finish. A nice change from what we typically drink.
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9/29/2017 - Seafoam Manor wrote: 93 Points
This really benefitted from 30-60 minutes of air, particularly on the nose. There are also a fair amount of solids, so I would stand this up for a day prior and / or run it through a filter. I preferred it through filter and it certainly didn't feel like the flavor was somehow compromised.
The color on this wine is ridiculous, effectively being black with garnet hues. You have to hold this directly in front of a strong light source to get any measure of transparency.
The nose is a little reluctant at first, but rounds into a solid medium with some air. This really screams CA Syrah, with maybe a slight nod to Cornas... ripe, slightly jammy, blackberries, plums, blueberries, brambly raspberries... then the BBQ shows up... smoked meat, smoke, somewhere between tree bark and cedar, pepper.
The palate directly reflects the notes on the nose, except for a good dose of graphite on the finish. There is a bit of tannic grip, but it is pretty well integrated, massive concentration of flavor, full bodied, high alcohol, although the acid is more to the medium end, which will probably keep this from being a long aging wine. Very well made within the style, but expect a measure of heat and the finish probably doesn't match up to the overall scale of the wine. A lot of wine for $38, but I probably prefer the Turner and the Noir to the Colson.
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2/8/2017 - Griffeyfan04 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Super dark wine still but very smooth and enjoyable. Rich brambly blackberry fruits with some dried meat in the back end of the flavors. Nice one
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1/14/2017 - Seafoam Manor wrote: 92 Points
I would call this a super deep garnet, which is probably code for a nearly black core with bricking at the edges. The nose really wades through a haze of alcohol, but once you get past that, it waffles between brambly blackberries and pepper then BBQ meats, smoke and a bit of iron. The palate really reflects the nose, but the heat does show up again. This is a complex mix of blackberry, plum, smoked meat, pepper, blood, dark chocolate / mocha and some cedar. This has as many secondary and tertiary notes as I've had in a Tensley wine. The tannins are well integrated, but make their presence known at the end. Relative to the overall concentration of flavors, the finish is a little bit short. If the alcohol were dialed back a bit, this would be pretty pretty epic. Tolerance to heat aside, this is a hugely concentrated wine with a nice degree of tannin, so this has a lot of room to evolve. 92+
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11/25/2016 - PSKC Likes this wine: 90 Points
powerful red from California. very good structure and tannin. classic syrah white pepper aftertaste.
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9/24/2016 - vinomex wrote: 92 Points
Casually dranked this bottle at a party, no formal notes. Continues to drink very well. This wine is in a very good place everything you expect from this wine is there with a lot more smoothness than previous bottles. I'm looking forward to my last bottle.
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9/12/2016 - patwjr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Big smooth fruit. Drinking really well right now.
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7/22/2016 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 93 Points
Extremely lush, with big blackberry, blueberry, coffee, and smoked herb. Finishes with slightly drying tannins and zinging acidity.
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7/12/2016 - HOS wrote: 92 Points
PnP. Had with marinated grilled chicken. Inky black, intense, smooth, black fruit, herbs, truffle. Strong finish.
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12/31/2015 - papabluez wrote: 93 Points
WoW! Very big wine! Dark black with texture and ample sediment. Black and purple fruit with plenty of emerging savory aspects. Long finish with good balance throughout. Recommend an hour secant. Wonderful Cali Syrah! Tensley seems to "nail" this every year!
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9/1/2015 - HOS Likes this wine: 92 Points
Popped and poured. Second glass much better than first so probably should decant. This just keeps getting better. Red berry cobbler all the way. Not sweet but savory. Cherry, raspberry. Full bodied, looooong finish, well integrated tannins. Really great. May still be some upside here but definitely no hurry to drink.
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8/30/2015 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark purple. Big nose that is full of dark fruits, grilled meat and minerals. Rich starting off with black raspberry , blackberry, and finishing with sweet blueberry preserves. Throwing lots of sediment. Still young and not yet fully integrated. Tannins are still there big time. Will be fun to follow its evolution.
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3/6/2015 - Central Coast Wino wrote: 93 Points
This wine is in its prime. I don't think it can get much better, so decant for a short while and drink up. Absolutely delicious!
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2/27/2015 - PSUSteve wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour. Black fruit and a little jammy on the front end with a meatier mid palate and tongue gripping tennis on the back. Would give it some air if drinking soon.
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1/24/2015 - vinomex wrote: 92 Points
Drink now, I don't think this wine will improve with more time. The wine felt fully developed and ready for prime time. Developing some nuances, you can feel some age now. Very enjoyable now.
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12/19/2014 - HOS wrote: 91 Points
This has definitely hit its stride. May be some upside with additional age but it's ready to drink now.
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12/12/2014 - Billiken Likes this wine: 98 Points
This is a spectacular wine. Huge dark fruit, blue berries with hints of graphite and maybe a little leather. Very rich wine, still very young.
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11/22/2014 - wineslide Likes this wine:
Let's start with, this wine is freakin' delicious. Granted my teeth will be stained for a bit but I am really sorry I only purchase 1 bottle of this a few years back. Blackberries, sugary sweetness, herbs (I think). It reminds me exactly of a food I cannot place.
Way to go.
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9/29/2014 - phillyboyP wrote: 92 Points
Keeps rockin - 92
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9/25/2014 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 93 Points
Sweet and lush, this evoked blackberry pie and toasty oak notes. Stoney minerality is what keeps this from being just a fruit bomb, but it is still a decadent adventure.
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8/7/2014 - BobMilton Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good fruit (mix of red and black), smooth.
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7/24/2014 - HOS Likes this wine: 91 Points
What a difference 18 months makes. Last bottle was still very acidic. Popped and poured as I forgot to decant. Immediately noticed the acidity was now well integrated to give the wine just the right sparkle. Dark berries, some herbs coming through in a dense, full bodied wine. I think this still has some aging to do and it looks like it will turn into a blockbuster. Now I'm glad we went big on this vintage.
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5/17/2014 - WinePlanner Likes this wine: 94 Points
A big wine that is starting to change from jammy to fruit-forward. Starting out with a powerful, meaty aroma, it later opened to a luxurious blackberry and cream profile with a matching nose.
I recall previous vintages having more raspberry as well as a more subtle elegance; this one is competing to be best in show.
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5/11/2014 - sterin wrote: 93 Points
Way too early. Hold these for awhile.
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4/11/2014 - pmk wrote: 92 Points
Big and powerful with dark fruit that finishes with a hint of strawberry and blueberry and is then followed by toasty spice notes and a long long finish. The fruit and spice are well balanced and this is not a fruit bomb. The tannins are well resolved. This paired very nicely with duck l'orange. my only bottle.
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4/7/2014 - phillyboyP wrote: 92 Points
2 hours in the decanter. Loads of black fruit, tar, spice, smoke. Love these. 92
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3/21/2014 - hammie1234 wrote: 92 Points
Great drinking now but it could also use some cellaring to perhaps turn into the 2007 style with a great balance of fruit and structure.
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3/12/2014 - DSP Likes this wine: 91 Points
There was a quite distinct aroma on the nose - I'm not entirely sure how to describe it, but the closest I can think of is sweet pickle relish. On the palate this was bright and lively, belying the relatively high abv. Sweet red/black fruits with a spicy, floral element. Still young, and the flavors broadened and deepened with air.
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2/8/2014 - montrose wrote: 98 Points
OMFG! I'm over the moon. Tensley always impresses me. He is a true artist...this wine/vintage is superb! Dark cherry oak notes with a chocolate finish. Yum. The wine stands on its own... I wouldn't recommend eating anything rich while consuming since the wine itself is so complex. I keep coming back to Tensley syrahs to remind me how full-bodied syrahs should taste. Make sure to wait until they blossom....3.5-5 years is the sweet spot.
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1/30/2014 - jrglm wrote: 94 Points
Joey Tensley is a freaking Sy-Rock Star in my opinion. I don't think I've ever had a bottle of his wine that didn't sate my primal needs when it comes to wine. His wine in general, and this one in particular was and is, extraordinary. Thanks Joey!
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1/19/2014 - Billiken Likes this wine: 95 Points
Unbelievable wine!
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11/29/2013 - wpiers wrote: 92 Points
Thick, dark, full in the mouth. Blackberry and cherry, nicely balanced with oak.
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10/28/2013 - Kdog wrote: 93 Points
Decant and enjoy. Similar notes as previous, substantial tannin on opening will help it age. Delicious ripe fruits, hope I can hold 5 years to see the flavors develop.
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9/23/2013 - phillyboyP wrote: 93 Points
Now it's starting to sing! Big and Bad Ass. 93
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9/7/2013 - JERB Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really good syrah! For me, this wine is getting richer, greater depth of flavors as it ages. Not sure when that time line starts turning the other way, but it was excellent tonight! In a group with a mid range Napa cab and a Dry Creek zin - - this Tensley was by far and away my favorite!
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8/4/2013 - vinomex wrote: 92 Points
One of the stars of the evening as part of a 7-bottle Syrah tasting. Excellent to say the least. Much more life on this one, I am giving my remaining bottles at least another year. The wine remains vibrant and volomputuous, very drinkable, but want to see how it evolves. Patience is needed because this one is irresistably good.
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8/4/2013 - Kdog wrote: 94 Points
Slow ox 6 hrs, ready to go. Surprising, most Tensleys i've had need a little more coaxing but it was full throttle sweet blue and black fruits. Not super complex, but so clean and ripe. There's more to say but the fruit domination leaves me at a loss for words, and longing for more.
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7/20/2013 - enovino Likes this wine: 93 Points
A powerhouse fruit-laden Syrah w verve.
Popped and poured a sample - deep teethstaining bluish purple with high viscosity - almost chewy. Nose rich with fruit and a slight hint of meat. Exciting electric flavors on palate -- concentrated red and dark brambly berries. Juicy with nice acidity to keep it clean and exciting. A bit of heat initially (15% alc), but that burned off quickly. Over a few hours, the juicy verve diminished some, and the earthy components (stemmy flavors) became a bit more evident, adding some complexity to the juicy frame.
While I think this could last for a few more years, why wait? Just enjoy over multiple hours with friends. Each sip brings pleasure, so take your time - this is no guzzler. Yum!
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7/19/2013 - jeagle wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 8 hours prior to drinking. Huh. Intense blue and black fruit core that feels tightly strung followed by substantial tannic structure. Clearly well made, maybe it needs more time for my taste or maybe I am just not a big fan of cool climate syrah.
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5/25/2013 - phillyboyP wrote: 92 Points
2 hour decant... Bam! Really good shit. Caramel coated blackberry goodness. Wifey's fave. 92
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4/17/2013 - junglejuice wrote: 94 Points
Tasted blind against 2009 K Vintners Sundance Deal. This wine is KILLER. At first it gave off very rustic and dirty aromas which blew off the longer it was open. From the first sip, though, this wine is full throttle and ready for action. It just got better over the six or so hours it was consumed with no sign of stopping. Big, upfront dark fruit with zero heat and lots of underlying substance. This is the kind of wine those with old school tastes can't help but appreciate because despite it being nowhere near subtle or small, the depth of flavor and overall profile is just splendid. Will be buying more. By comparison, the Sundance Deal just seemed one dimensional and boring. 94+
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3/11/2013 - btanz57 wrote: 94 Points
Simply outsdtanding!
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3/1/2013 - phillyboyP wrote: 91 Points
Patience..... I wish I had it. BIG and DARK and TENSLEY style. Hold off another year, at least...... 91
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2/26/2013 - Rob Hansult Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep magenta/ruby color.
Excellent. I'm like 92 Points on that (93+ Nose; 91 Palate)
Like many of the better Cali Syrah's I've tasted, a better nose then palate (mostly) because of a slight lack of intensity in the mouth, especially the mid-palate.
Nose > Big, aromatic, with very pretty, fresh (mostly) dark (blue, purple, black) fruits.
Black cherry, mulberry & black plum. White pepper, rare beef & some nice smoky oak.
Palate > Rich, spicy, fruity, smoky, lush & luscious. Black cherry, black raspberry & wild, dark forest berry fruit.
Medium intensity.
15% ABV on label; no undue heat on nose or palate.
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2/18/2013 - MLoscalzo Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for an hour. Opened beautifully. Big fruits.
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2/18/2013 - coreywb Likes this wine: 91 Points
Beautiful dark purple in the glass. Nose of dark fruit and spice. Hint of mild pepper on the tongue. Blackberry, blueberry as well. Nice body. Without any decanting, tannins are soft, very approachable. Medium finish. Never disappointed by Tensley Syrahs. Colson Canyon vineyard my favorite, though Turner gets better each year.
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2/5/2013 - DavidDay Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark fruit, flowers, and a hint of leather, this syrah is from a slightly warmer area, giving rich round flavors.
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2/3/2013 - gbbwino wrote: 85 Points
Not my style...big ripe, hot, extracted fruit and not much else.
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1/16/2013 - HOS wrote: 88 Points
This hasn't moved much from the last bottle. Popped and poured. High acidity and bright red fruit. Almost like a Pinot Noir. The acidity did die down over time with the last glass at 2 hours more enjoyable. Next bottle will decant for hour or two. If I remember.
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12/24/2012 - swayzeeee wrote: 86 Points
A blast of heat. On the nose: alcohol, hand sanitizer. On the palate: alcohol, kirsch, port. Drink enough of it and eventually one is desensitized to the heat and some of the fruit bomb favors poke through. Can be enjoyable under those circumstances, at least until the next morning rolls around.
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11/22/2012 - hackey37 wrote: flawed
Flawed - I have had 7 bottles of this so far. They have all been pretty great, however this bottle was horribly oxidized. After re-examination, it would appear the cork was compromised in this instance. Bummer!
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11/18/2012 - philipmac wrote: 94 Points
Very nice, actually. Decanted for 3.5 hours. Really opened at 4.5.
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10/21/2012 - hackey37 Likes this wine: 94 Points
The color is dense and opaque on this one with purple to ruby shades. The smells are blackberry, tar, eucalyptus, and jammy dark fruit. The taste is sweet blueberry and blackberry, peppery spice, tar, and a hint of olive. This wine tastes rich and is what you might call a fruit bomb... I don't mean that as a pejorative as many wine drinkers might. It is quite simply delicious. The tannins are robust, tooth staining, velvety, and mostly fruit driven. The finish is extraordinarily long. There is a little heat which might be the only complaint I could have about this wine. I want more!
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10/20/2012 - emdub wrote: 88 Points
Very big and Aussie like. Not as much complexity as I remember in previous vintages. Great fruit, dark, blue and black notes. Very dark and tannic on the finish. Must have used stems? Starting to really prefer the true Rhone's.
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9/30/2012 - vinomex wrote:
PnP at Gazala's. This bottle had more of the young profile I recall from a year ago. Some heat, fruity, and as Phillyboy racy and intense. Gracious for its young age but with time it will vastly improve, all the elements are there for a fabulous wine down the road. If you drink now, decant for 1-hour otherwise, let it rest at least another year. Low 90s
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9/20/2012 - farinas Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tar-like color with dark red rims (some sediments appear), attractive bouquet of smoked meat and dark blackberries, beautifully harmonious entry with tannins only emerging at the end, complex and ripe berry textures a full body, some sweetness is noticed, with a dry light-to medium finish.
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9/18/2012 - phillyboyP wrote: 91 Points
Needs a year, at least! Big, Vivid, Intense, Racy. Hopefully it will reach the 07s grace and opulence...... Time will tell. 5 more in the stash. 91 now.
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8/26/2012 - Mr.Overhill wrote: 92 Points
This time I did feel the alcohol - and I still liked it. Unfortunately, it was all fruit bomb, which wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I opened it up. It is balanced for a 15% wine, but really needs about two years before it can start to show itself beyond the fruit. On day two I liked it much better and was glad I had some left to sample. Blueberries and fig paste with some flinty undertones. Am much in agreement with The Lonz's assessments at this time.
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8/5/2012 - wahoo70 wrote: 92 Points
Inky dark, complex and explosive. Opaque, dark very purple color; beautiful old worldish nose, with dark fruit, a touch of earth, and gobs of tapenade; a sweet explosion of lush dark flavors, including blueberries, more black olives and baking spices; chewy but very well-integrated tannins, and a long, juicy, potent finish, with tangy fruit, spearmint and indian spices. Syrah is my favorite grape, and I like Cali syrahs best of all.
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5/20/2012 - vinomex wrote:
Last bottle I had about a year ago. maturing and much more mellow, not at its peak. wait another year.
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5/16/2012 - The Lonz wrote: 93 Points
If fruit bomb is your style this wine rips it. It pours in a thick, glass staining inky purple that coats the glass. Dark fruit on the nose with little to no oak. This wine has balance with nice acidity and a 30-45 second finish. Mouthfeel is great and really hits all partsd of the pallete. I opened this and let decant in bottle for about 4 hours and I can honmestly say I feel no alcohol even though this is 15%. Seek this out if you like structured fruit bombs I really think you will enjoy this. Cheers.
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4/13/2012 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good, better young than with age IMO
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4/10/2012 - greekwineaux wrote: 89 Points
This will please those with a sweet tooth. Very much like grape soda without the carbonation. Not their best effort, but it beats the 2008 Colson by a country mile, since with a plate of cheeses and figs I can find some pleasure with this wannabe port. Wish I had more of the 2007-would have bought more of it had I known that the next three Colson vintages wouldn't produce a similar experience. Disappointing.
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3/30/2012 - Arch57 wrote: 91 Points
Too bad I only have one of these puppies as I think some bottle age would soften the tannins. This was a deep, intense, purplicious, wine.
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3/28/2012 - The Wine Write wrote: 89 Points
Popped, aerated and drank over 2 nights. Dark red fruit on the nose. This bottle was a bit too candy-like for me. Very tasty, but almost dessert-like. Some heat on the finish.
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3/22/2012 - samiamx_1999 wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured. Restrained nose of dark fruit. Very concentrated, inky, soft tannins upon introduction. Thick mouth feel. A few sips later, wood notes on the nose and palate became apparent. Smidge of graphite. Finish is on the shorter side. Not too complex. Tensley's Colson Canyon has been a favorite of mine, this vintage is just not there. Just saw my last tasting note, probably blew it by not having w/food with it, definitely be better, oops.
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2/11/2012 - The Wine Write wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured, drank over 2 nights. Deep rich red fruit on the nose. Loads of cherries on the palate. Smooth finish, great mouthfeel. Hedonistic.
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2/1/2012 - jorgerunfast wrote:
Modern-style wine, with a fair balance, fruit-forward but maintains a sense of place. Great tannic structure, acid, and fruit profile. Should age well, and improve with a couple of years laying down.
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1/5/2012 - Hamilton1 wrote: 91 Points
Restrained, more of an old world style. Boysenberry and black currant. Needs extended decant at this point- at least two hours. Was better on the second day.
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12/31/2011 - johnwine Likes this wine: 95 Points
This is an inky, jammy and intense wine loaded with chocolaty, black fruit.
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12/5/2011 - rmh66 wrote: 89 Points
I don't have the exact tasting note on this one. Plum, boysenberry, raspberry, vanilla, and a little earth on the nose. Similar on the palate. Full, rich, and tasty. Good acidity that keeps this from getting cloying. Not very complex at this point, but quite good. Could benefit from some aging. Gave the remainder to a friend who has raved about it for weeks. 89-90
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12/4/2011 - samiamx_1999 wrote: 89 Points
Big and heavy with prominent wood and tannins. A food wine for sure. Before having my next bottle I'll give it some time and have it with dinner. I'd suggest anyone reading this do the same.
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10/22/2011 - MicklethePickle wrote:
Dark purple, throwing a heavy sediment. Ripe purple fruit nose. Big and bold in the mouth; rich and full-bodied but in no way alcoholic. Very young, showing more potential than current appeal. The antithesis of charming. 4-12-15-7: 88/100.
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9/19/2011 - spidersva Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderfully round and full syrah flavor - more concentrated than a Washington syrah. Yum.
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8/29/2011 - Rcorrao wrote: 91 Points
Very good. Deep dark fruit, young. Will be a point or two better in a few years, but a nice big wine
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8/22/2011 - HOS wrote: 88 Points
Decanted for 1/2 hour. Definite down tick from earlier vintages. Black fruit with some harsh acidity. Hoping some bottle age does the trick.
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8/8/2011 - cpsmith33 wrote: 91 Points
Los Olivos Tasting: Still so young. Big rich Syrah. Fruity on the nose and palate - dark fruits of plum, blackberries, etc. Earthiness I like too. Needs time, tannins too powerful.
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7/30/2011 - PIntag wrote: 91 Points
Tensley tasting room in Los Olivos. Last wine of the tasting and the tasting room was closing so I didn't get a chance to evaluate it very well. What I remember is big, rich, and smooth showing a bit of French oak vanilla. I'd guess that this one should be laid down for a while.
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7/8/2011 - HOS wrote:
Popped and poured. Opened up as we drank the bottle but never quite got there. Fruit forward with blackberry, plum, some earth somewhat overpowered at this point by the tannins. Full bodied, strong finish. I believe this will improve with age as it better integrates. No score yet.
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7/4/2011 - pc1981 wrote: 92 Points
The 2009 Colson Canyon (as well as the Turner for that matter) offer tremendous quality and value at this price level and exhibit a great degree of complexity at this early stage. Highly recommended.
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6/2/2011 - Mr.Overhill wrote: 94 Points
Gonna have to get on the baggio bandwagon for my sentiments on this newbie - @ 90 pts Laube was HUGELY underrating what I think is a classic wine in the making. It might even be better than the '08 was at this early stage. With first opening (no decant, would suggest doing so for a good 1-2 hours before drinking) the wine was a big fat tar baby sitting in the glass - it didn't seem like a wine at all but more like a real scoop of sildy muck from a tar pit, and the nose was almost as messy. Fortunately this gloppy beast blew away in less than ten minutes and began to blossom into a wonderfully layered specimen of a syrah - huge bright blueberry compote with nice brushy, almost sagelike undertones, and a creamy, white chocolate finish. Very rich and complex midpalate. It reminds me much of the Lillian in style, more like the '06 than anything else, but Joey did an awesome job of reigning in this beast. You won't be fooled into thinking it's a petite l'enfant but for a wine of these proportions it really fits into the package without spilling over. If you like this kind of syrah try and get at least a six pack to enjoy over a long period of time, This one's gonna be a keeper.
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5/25/2011 - johnwine Likes this wine: 89 Points
The wine was delicious but the next day developed a balsamico aftertaste that was unpleasant.
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5/8/2011 - vinomex wrote: 92 Points
Excellent at this young stage. Opened the bottle without decanting an hour prior to drinking, initially the wine was fiery and overwhelming in the palate, a bit all over the place but could see the potential. At the 2 hour mark the wine settled down to showcase a bold and massive melange of dark berry fruits interlaced with espresso and soft leather notes, all of it packaged in a robust muscular body yet very restrained to the point of being elegant and silky smooth. Drinkable now with a 2-3 hour decant, but prefer to cellar this one 1-2 years. Excellent regardless of price, great QPR at the low $30s. Loved it!
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5/7/2011 - last chance wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured as this was the last bottle of the evening. Right out of the bottle this had a great nose with cassis and dark plum flavors. Full bodied with a good mouthfeel and fairly long finish. Great QPR here - I just wish that we would have been able to get it some more air time to see if it would open up further.
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4/30/2011 - wine maestro wrote: 94 Points
Memorable, inky colored Syrah with brawny character and muscle. For all it's power,
the black fruit gracefully announces itself on the palate followed by hearty, mouth
coating, cracked black pepper, oaked tannins. Enormously complex and layered,
this Colson Canyon will develop into a real show stopper. Drinking now, but best
over time. Hospice du Rhone Grand Tasting.
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4/21/2011 - MicklethePickle wrote: 91 Points
Brooding black purple color. Huge grapey fruit, alcoholic nose. Massive concentration of fruit in the mouth, with a boatload of stiff,mouth-puckering tannins. Truly infanticide to drink this now, so I will stop and revisit tomorrow. For now, 5-12-16-8: 91/100
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4/14/2011 - Giggs wrote: 90 Points
Big, spicy, grapey nose. Eventually adds chocolate, vanilla,
and black plum replaces the grape. Extremely young, needs time to mellow but lots of potential.
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4/3/2011 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 90 Points
Sanibel Vacation. This was quite young and needs time for the oak to integrate. It was better after a few hours of air but really needs more than that. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is oak, vanilla, raspberry milkshake. On the palate, this is big, plenty of tannins. It has a lushness about it but could use more depth. I suspect that will come with some time. There is some heat showing on the finish. I liked this wine, but if I were home, I would cellar it.
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3/26/2011 - Baggio wrote: 93 Points
This wine really suits my preferences. Very pure expression of syrah, intense but not heavy-handed. Hard to imagine what the Spectator was thinking in giving it 90 points.
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3/12/2011 - slmshdyms wrote: 91 Points
still a baby--nice big fruit with a beam of vanilla running thru the post palate. tannns are fairly well integrated--especially considering the age of this bottle. Agree with the reviewer on here that mentioned the "restraint" of the wine--(iron-fist in a velvet glove)-i do think its needs a year or so more in bottle to totally come toghether. Overall a good qpr--look forward to following it's evolution over the next few years
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2/26/2011 - Baggio wrote: 93 Points
Awfully good. Intense but somehow restrained. Tannins present but surprisingly drinkable. Ridiculously good QPR.
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11/22/2010 - duffer8008 wrote: 95 Points
Decanted in the cellar for 5 hours. Beautiful stand alone bottle of wine. You can't beat the QPR.
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9/19/2010 - wineguy58 wrote: 92 Points
fruit shows early with a candied toast jam finish. 92-95pnts
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