Dark fruit. If you're looking for that fix, this is it. 'tis indeed a dark one. but more balanced than such an absolute statement might imply. The darkness yields a very unique dryness. Hot on the tongue, warm in the throat, i recommend a soft-ripened bleu to pair. Such a comforting wine. I will be coming back for this one. Hot, dry, warm, robust, smooth... not always do i find a wine that hits this pentfecta.
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Ahh... what a terrifically dry finish! One of the most ecstatic dry finishes I have ever experienced. The tannins are so sophisticatedly balanced that it is almost more of an impression of a bitter fruit that is leaving the pallet. The fruit notes themselves were in a perfect balance - not in front, and not lacking either... While this wine really hit the mark with all things I love about Pinot Noir, it didn't quite have an outstanding element of it's own. While the finish was astoundingly exceptional, and the mouthfeel and fruits were of perfect balance, it just didn't quite have it's own unique element. However, it did everything a good Pinot should do, so exceptionally that I had to give it just a little above a 90.
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Mmm, it's been a while since I've rated this high. Such a wonderful body. Thick, but without that saccharinity that can follow such a bodacious presence. The consistency of this wine alone is enough to have you reminiscing fondly between sips. Take another and the fruit notes hit you, just after that heavenly body makes itself known to the palette. Cherry, I want to say? With aromas of blackberry, perhaps. Perfectly sweet, in my opinion... I don't care for sweet reds, but I love a distinct profile of fruits, and this one strikes it with a subtle grace not commonly found at this price-point of roughly $50. The way the fruit notes fade into the tannic profile is just mesmerizing.
I suppose I'll go down from a 97 to a 95, realizing the complexity and depth weren't the most astonishing... but it is such a beautiful scene in the foreground that it almost doesn't matter. While complexity and depth may lack just a bit, it is astonishing what pleasant aromas, flavors, and tannic impressions come forth. It is that post-finish evolution upon the palette that I suppose may lack a little... Regardless, what is going on in the foreground makes this well worth the price-point. The cherry on top is that this is a widely-appealing wine. Dry enough to satisfy a dry craving, while not being so dry it turns off those who do not like dry wines. Somehow. The fruit profile and finish are enough to intrigue those with evolved palettes and please those without. Thus, I dare say it's a great party wine even ;) just a great all around wine!
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2011 Sparkman Cellars Syrah Darkness
8/8/2017 - Shlar47 wrote: 90 Points
Dark fruit. If you're looking for that fix, this is it. 'tis indeed a dark one. but more balanced than such an absolute statement might imply. The darkness yields a very unique dryness. Hot on the tongue, warm in the throat, i recommend a soft-ripened bleu to pair.
Such a comforting wine. I will be coming back for this one. Hot, dry, warm, robust, smooth... not always do i find a wine that hits this pentfecta.
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2014 The Four Graces Pinot Noir Reserve Dundee Hills
8/8/2017 - Shlar47 wrote: 92 Points
Ahh... what a terrifically dry finish! One of the most ecstatic dry finishes I have ever experienced. The tannins are so sophisticatedly balanced that it is almost more of an impression of a bitter fruit that is leaving the pallet. The fruit notes themselves were in a perfect balance - not in front, and not lacking either...
While this wine really hit the mark with all things I love about Pinot Noir, it didn't quite have an outstanding element of it's own. While the finish was astoundingly exceptional, and the mouthfeel and fruits were of perfect balance, it just didn't quite have it's own unique element. However, it did everything a good Pinot should do, so exceptionally that I had to give it just a little above a 90.
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2011 Pahlmeyer Jayson Red Wine
8/3/2017 - Shlar47 wrote: 95 Points
Mmm, it's been a while since I've rated this high.
Such a wonderful body. Thick, but without that saccharinity that can follow such a bodacious presence. The consistency of this wine alone is enough to have you reminiscing fondly between sips.
Take another and the fruit notes hit you, just after that heavenly body makes itself known to the palette. Cherry, I want to say? With aromas of blackberry, perhaps. Perfectly sweet, in my opinion... I don't care for sweet reds, but I love a distinct profile of fruits, and this one strikes it with a subtle grace not commonly found at this price-point of roughly $50.
The way the fruit notes fade into the tannic profile is just mesmerizing.
I suppose I'll go down from a 97 to a 95, realizing the complexity and depth weren't the most astonishing... but it is such a beautiful scene in the foreground that it almost doesn't matter. While complexity and depth may lack just a bit, it is astonishing what pleasant aromas, flavors, and tannic impressions come forth. It is that post-finish evolution upon the palette that I suppose may lack a little... Regardless, what is going on in the foreground makes this well worth the price-point.
The cherry on top is that this is a widely-appealing wine. Dry enough to satisfy a dry craving, while not being so dry it turns off those who do not like dry wines. Somehow. The fruit profile and finish are enough to intrigue those with evolved palettes and please those without. Thus, I dare say it's a great party wine even ;)
just a great all around wine!
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