2006 Big Basin Vineyards Syrah Fairview Ranch

Community Tasting Notes (25) Avg Score: 88.8 points

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View BVal's profile
  • Report Issue

  5/11/2016 - BVal wrote: 93 Points

  11 barrels made, or about 275 cases; 14.7% alc.
  
  Color: medium-deep ruby core -> diffuse medium ruby rim; no noticeable bricking. Simply gorgeous bouquet that unfurled right on PnP and developed positively over the course of 2+ hours. Reminiscent of a Cote Rotie transplanted to SLH: roasted game meat, leather, earth, some barnyard, blackberries, smoke and a touch of black pepper. Killer nose and shows the pedigree of the Fairview Ranch (AKA KW Ranch now) to my mind. Palate is, as others have noted, softer than the nose would lead you to think it would be. Fully mature for sure, savoury elements abound along with the smoky - barnyard-y - leathery accents. Silky smooth with nice acidity and to my palate no notable alcoholic burn, this has a long, well developed finish that would be the envy of most 10 year old Cali Syrahs. Delicious, complex, lovely; drink now and for the next few years.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View WineVirtue's profile
  • Report Issue

  12/4/2012 - WineVirtue wrote: 92 Points

  Popped and poured. Excellent example of syrah with pepper and black fruit nose. Spicy and rich finish. Not tannic and drinking well now. Slight metallic or iron oxide taste but part of interesting and complex pepper, smoke, fruit finish. Long finish that lingers like black licorice long after its swallowed. Very interesting and enjoyable wine.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View glaze3's profile
  • Report Issue

  9/16/2012 - glaze3 wrote:

  Last bottle of this and it's drinking really nice. Ripe fruit has toned down considerably and has picked up some really nice earthy and minty notes. Medium+ weight, but nicely balanced with no heat.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View HenryW's profile
  • Report Issue

  12/1/2011 - HenryW wrote: 89 Points

  This wine has pulled itself together quite a bit since I last tried it almost three years ago. The metallic notes are still prominent on the palate, but not as painfully so as previously. This allows the dark fruit and nice earthy note on the finish to express themselves more fully. The nose features a hint of smoke. My guess is that some additional positive evolution lies ahead.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View glaze3's profile
  • Report Issue

  10/15/2011 - glaze3 wrote:

  Decanted 1 hour and drank over 3. Nose of black fruit, hint of bacon, and turned earth. The palate has shed it's ripe primary fruit and has started to turn to a more savory earthy wine with black fruit, sage, fresh mushroom and damp earth. Drinking very well right now with a nice velvety texture and integrated Big Basin signature oak profile that sometimes shows a small hint of tomato but frames the wine well. Fully resolved tannins and should probably be consumed within the next couple years. Very nice.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

View all 25 Community Tasting Notes

Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.