Lacking in complexity, possibly because it's on the downswing of its prime, but super pleasant. Loose tannins and soft vanilla oak on this one - but what got me was what I picked up on the finish: black forest cake. Anything that reminds me of canned cherries and chocolate frosting is a-o-k with me. Just learned that this is a super limited production winery, and that I am not going to be able to get this wine again. At least they are but an hours drive from me. May this be a reminder to myself to RESEARCH BEFORE I OPEN.
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On first sip, you get smacked in the face with a cloud of smoke. Sure, there's earth, and, dare I say tannin, on the nose, but for such a young wine - where on earth is all this smoke coming from? Did they use a "smoke" oak insert in with the French oak? Don't get me wrong, it's not unpleasant, I prefer this wine to any fruit bomb. It's dry enough to be drinkable, in my book, but for crying out loud - the color says Syrah blend, but the primary flavor implies that it wants to be a Pinot Noir or something - very, very badly. There is a little crushed autumn leaf on the finish, which is what I love out of certain (Willamette) Pinots, but this is a weirdo. I think that this wine and smoked black cod would be two peas out of the same pod. Maybe even too similar. Still tasty.
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I was shocked by the color - nearly pitch black; hardly any light getting in there. It threw me off - had me expecting a dense, rich perhaps Syrah dominating blend - but it actually does go quite light mid-palate. I agree with the wet earth, a slight dose of tannin, but the finish is quite nice. It almost reminds me a little of an Amarone; with a little raisination tapering out to the end. This wine was a gift, and I rather enjoyed it.
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2007 Dusty Cellars Winery Spartan Stoneridge Vineyard
2/1/2013 - Stellaris wrote: 90 Points
Lacking in complexity, possibly because it's on the downswing of its prime, but super pleasant. Loose tannins and soft vanilla oak on this one - but what got me was what I picked up on the finish: black forest cake. Anything that reminds me of canned cherries and chocolate frosting is a-o-k with me. Just learned that this is a super limited production winery, and that I am not going to be able to get this wine again. At least they are but an hours drive from me. May this be a reminder to myself to RESEARCH BEFORE I OPEN.
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2011 Boekenhoutskloof The Wolftrap
1/29/2013 - Stellaris Likes this wine: 81 Points
On first sip, you get smacked in the face with a cloud of smoke. Sure, there's earth, and, dare I say tannin, on the nose, but for such a young wine - where on earth is all this smoke coming from? Did they use a "smoke" oak insert in with the French oak? Don't get me wrong, it's not unpleasant, I prefer this wine to any fruit bomb. It's dry enough to be drinkable, in my book, but for crying out loud - the color says Syrah blend, but the primary flavor implies that it wants to be a Pinot Noir or something - very, very badly. There is a little crushed autumn leaf on the finish, which is what I love out of certain (Willamette) Pinots, but this is a weirdo. I think that this wine and smoked black cod would be two peas out of the same pod. Maybe even too similar. Still tasty.
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2009 Les Arbousiers Coteaux du Languedoc
1/28/2013 - Stellaris Likes this wine: 85 Points
I was shocked by the color - nearly pitch black; hardly any light getting in there. It threw me off - had me expecting a dense, rich perhaps Syrah dominating blend - but it actually does go quite light mid-palate. I agree with the wet earth, a slight dose of tannin, but the finish is quite nice. It almost reminds me a little of an Amarone; with a little raisination tapering out to the end. This wine was a gift, and I rather enjoyed it.
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