{screwcap, 13.5%} Pretty much as for last year’s note, with warm, slightly spirity and drying cranberry fruit, medium weight, gentle acid... I didn’t note tannins especially, but the finish became increasingly astringent as time wore on. Medium weight; sound spicy Shiraz but time to drink.
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Maybe a bit past prime, but lots of blackberry, dark fruits, cassis, and smoke on the nose; still plenty of fruit and solid tannins, make for a medium to long finish.
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{screwcap, 13.5%} Somewhat developed, but still rich with ripe red fruit. Liquorice and vanilla aromas, chocolate, a touch of spice, along with a jammy, sarsparilla/soft drink/creaming soda quality on the nose. The palate is medium/full-bodied, well-enough balanced although tasting hotter than 13.5% alcohol. The tannins are medium/dusty, but there's still fresh acid. Despite the exotic and even confected nature of the flavours and aromas - in line with the nose - it doesn't feel fake at all. Perhaps it's the resolutely dry nature of this that helps. All by new world standards, I hasten to add. The finish is only just medium length though; I think this is about ready to drink now. Odd to find an American wine with a back label all in French, but I guess that fits with the name of the wine...
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Dark and inky. Rich blackberry fruit, licorice, wet stone, a hint of spice. Meat and leather on the palate. Food friendly. Doesn't at first blow your socks off the way some of the high alcohol syrah will do, but at 13.5% alcohol this wine pairs beautifully with food.
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Just back from 3 days of 12 tastings in the N Rhone and happy to report Randall's $25 syrah does CA proud. (PS - Randall - they love you over there.)
at 13.5% alcohol, Mostly/all Neutral oak (thats my guess), solid acid/pH numbers, and most importantly, great flavor profile, BDV delivers the CA syrah goods at an every day price point.
To The Eye: inky deep purple, reminiscent of Cornas, no light shall pass! On The Nose: Smoked meat, black olive tapenade, modest black fruits. In The Mouth: Well balanced. Dark black fruit, bacon notes, savory notes, good texture and soft tannins.
This is a rock solid syrah. BDV "Doon' Members get this at a meager $21. Thats Syrah you can enjoy on a weeknight and feel great about. _______________________________________________________ Notes from Randall: How can you not love this man's words: "La syrah," the French say—syrah is deeply and elementally feminine—is perfumed elegance. Enchanting and capitvating rather than overpowering, it disarms by its strangeness. Like Borge's Zahir, syrah makes an indelible impression. One will wander the world till the end of one's days, its sublime, haunting fragrance gradually displacing all thoughts and memories, including the knowledge of one's own name.
Oh those Europeans and European-styled wines! Initially very closed when you first meet them. Air (and time) lures them out of their protective cocoon. Nose of anise, raw meat, leather, plum, and wet stone. In the mouth, what is most noteworthy is the texture - sleek, almost oily. Then there is the enormously savory, umami-intensive, almost saline aspect of the wine. Palpable acidity, medium tannins and discreet fruitiness evocative of confiture of fraises de bois.
Our ’09 Syrah “Le Pousseur” is named for an alchemist and trickster, but is withal an incredibly accessible wine, great by the glass but also a felicitous partner to all manner of roasted meats, poultry, game, wild mushrooms, and well aged cheeses.
Vital Statistics Varietal Blend: 100% syrah Appellation: Central Coast Vineyards: 56% Alamo Creek, 32% Bien Nacido, 12% Chequera Alcohol by Volume: 13.5% TA: 0.58 g/L pH: 3.73 Serving Temp: 55-60ºF Cellaring: 5+ years from release (May 2012) Production: 1200 cases
ps Jason - 'wine geek notes ' looks familiar :)
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10/19/2019 - graemeg wrote:
{screwcap, 13.5%} Pretty much as for last year’s note, with warm, slightly spirity and drying cranberry fruit, medium weight, gentle acid... I didn’t note tannins especially, but the finish became increasingly astringent as time wore on. Medium weight; sound spicy Shiraz but time to drink.
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2/26/2019 - SPfromTX Likes this wine: 89 Points
Maybe a bit past prime, but lots of blackberry, dark fruits, cassis, and smoke on the nose; still plenty of fruit and solid tannins, make for a medium to long finish.
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5/29/2018 - graemeg wrote:
{screwcap, 13.5%} Somewhat developed, but still rich with ripe red fruit. Liquorice and vanilla aromas, chocolate, a touch of spice, along with a jammy, sarsparilla/soft drink/creaming soda quality on the nose. The palate is medium/full-bodied, well-enough balanced although tasting hotter than 13.5% alcohol. The tannins are medium/dusty, but there's still fresh acid. Despite the exotic and even confected nature of the flavours and aromas - in line with the nose - it doesn't feel fake at all. Perhaps it's the resolutely dry nature of this that helps. All by new world standards, I hasten to add. The finish is only just medium length though; I think this is about ready to drink now. Odd to find an American wine with a back label all in French, but I guess that fits with the name of the wine...
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4/16/2013 - mlwhitfi Likes this wine: 88 Points
Dark and inky. Rich blackberry fruit, licorice, wet stone, a hint of spice. Meat and leather on the palate. Food friendly. Doesn't at first blow your socks off the way some of the high alcohol syrah will do, but at 13.5% alcohol this wine pairs beautifully with food.
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1/6/2013 - SonomaWilliam wrote: 90 Points
Just back from 3 days of 12 tastings in the N Rhone and happy to report Randall's $25 syrah does CA proud.
(PS - Randall - they love you over there.)
at 13.5% alcohol, Mostly/all Neutral oak (thats my guess), solid acid/pH numbers, and most importantly, great flavor profile, BDV delivers the CA syrah goods at an every day price point.
To The Eye: inky deep purple, reminiscent of Cornas, no light shall pass!
On The Nose: Smoked meat, black olive tapenade, modest black fruits.
In The Mouth: Well balanced. Dark black fruit, bacon notes, savory notes, good texture and soft tannins.
This is a rock solid syrah. BDV "Doon' Members get this at a meager $21. Thats Syrah you can enjoy on a weeknight and feel great about.
_______________________________________________________
Notes from Randall: How can you not love this man's words:
"La syrah," the French say—syrah is deeply and elementally feminine—is perfumed elegance. Enchanting and capitvating rather than overpowering, it disarms by its strangeness. Like Borge's Zahir, syrah makes an indelible impression. One will wander the world till the end of one's days, its sublime, haunting fragrance gradually displacing all thoughts and memories, including the knowledge of one's own name.
Oh those Europeans and European-styled wines! Initially very closed when you first meet them. Air (and time) lures them out of their protective cocoon. Nose of anise, raw meat, leather, plum, and wet stone. In the mouth, what is most noteworthy is the texture - sleek, almost oily. Then there is the enormously savory, umami-intensive, almost saline aspect of the wine. Palpable acidity, medium tannins and discreet fruitiness evocative of confiture of fraises de bois.
Our ’09 Syrah “Le Pousseur” is named for an alchemist and trickster, but is withal an incredibly accessible wine, great by the glass but also a felicitous partner to all manner of roasted meats, poultry, game, wild mushrooms, and well aged cheeses.
Vital Statistics
Varietal Blend: 100% syrah
Appellation: Central Coast
Vineyards: 56% Alamo Creek, 32% Bien Nacido, 12% Chequera
Alcohol by Volume: 13.5%
TA: 0.58 g/L
pH: 3.73
Serving Temp: 55-60ºF
Cellaring: 5+ years from release (May 2012)
Production: 1200 cases
ps Jason - 'wine geek notes ' looks familiar :)
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