| Community Tasting Notes (average 89.8 pts. and median of 90 pts. in 55 notes) - hiding notes with no text |
| | Tasted by wino121 on 6/17/2022 & rated 93 points: Sublime juice-
Drink now. (343 views) |
| | Tasted by gudetama on 9/8/2021 & rated 91 points: Great wine right after opening. I agree with the others that said it's peaking. I'll be drinking the rest soon. (370 views) |
| | Tasted by AllRed on 4/24/2021 & rated 90 points: 4th Saturday Group (M&R's): Double blind. Aromas of olive, pine, something a little smoky, and herbs, with abundant dark fruit underneath. Mixed red and black fruit qualities on the palate. Black fruit becomes more dominant as the wine sits. Guessed syrah. (R&D) (721 views) |
| | Tasted by wino121 on 6/30/2020 & rated 93 points: At peak or darn near it, fabulous wine, and this has continued to apex as it has aged.
I have one more and will drink in the next few months, as not to miss the bubble.
Drink now thru 2022. (573 views) |
| | Tasted by AllRed on 2/23/2019 & rated 91 points: Double blind. Red berry fruit, pepper and herbs in the bouquet. Nice peppery dark fruit with a lengthy finish. Very good. Guessed syrah. (889 views) |
| | Tasted by wino121 on 10/30/2017 & rated 92 points: Showing much better with age, a real focus on fruit to oak..nice.
Drink now - 2020 (974 views) |
| | Tasted by JBee on 10/3/2016 & rated 90 points: I really like the way this wine maker balances fruit and acidity. The wines are built to last, but not in a heavy handed way. Old world style restraining new world fruit.
I held this for many years, and somehow still missed the drinking window. There is enough fruit to last until tannins relax a little further, and an impromotu :25 minute decant at dinner didn't do the trick. The elements are there, but undeniably austere on both nose and palette at the moment, although it improved with time and secondary characteristics began to emerge.
For $25 several ago, I'm still extremely happy with what we got. But this wine is still evolving into something better and part of me feels like I should have known better. (1172 views) |
| | Tasted by iamandyc on 1/1/2016 & rated 90 points: Cool climate syrah that has excellent acidity but slightly drying, edgy tannins. Red fruited all the way with bitter cherry, plum and blood orange. Nice minerality. Paired very well with a dark chocolate mousse cutting through the sugar and dustiness of the excellent mousse. Not a sipping wine for me but food friendly. Long finish. Not much of a nose (1366 views) |
| | Tasted by GlassHalfFull on 12/14/2014 & rated 92 points: Outstanding value. Cool climate syrah notes of pepper and brush. Dark fruit in the background. Well balanced, and wide open. Wish I had more... (1952 views) |
| | Tasted by tahaus on 12/6/2014 & rated 93 points: Delicious, deep, complex...wonderful Syrah! (1765 views) |
| | Tasted by thelostverse on 11/22/2014 & rated 89 points: 4th Saturday group. Inky dark color. Notes of drywall dust, showing a slightly green with cherry on the tannic finish. (1260 views) |
| | Tasted by AllRed on 11/22/2014 & rated 89 points: Notes of dark fruit and spice; rustic. Flavors of dark fruit and mint with chewy tannins. Develops a red fruit quality and meaty note with air. Guessed domestic Rhone blend. (1545 views) |
| | Tasted by Ecoenophile on 11/5/2014 & rated 89 points: Follows my Jan 2013 tasting notes... fruit bomb on the nose. A touch of pepper on the finish... but otherwise the fruit dominates. Nice easy drinker. (1046 views) |
| | Tasted by raydawgone on 6/8/2014 & rated 92 points: Deep, black purple with slight haze. Nose of sweet oak, cedar & black cherry cola. Medium, round tannins Savory, flavorful raspberry compote, red currant with hint of caramel. Improved dramatically over first 2 bottles with laying down additional year. (816 views) |
| | Tasted by neighborbill on 3/16/2014 & rated 87 points: rather tart but good fruit and acid. (1086 views) |
| | Tasted by jmcnewjersey on 1/4/2014 & rated 88 points: Dark ruby color; menthol, cherry, and lots of oak on nose (too much); full-bodied and smooth with dark fruit on palate. Better than last bottle, but the oak overwhelms everything else. (1134 views) |
| | Tasted by Pluecht on 11/29/2013 & rated 90 points: Full bodied Syrah. Still very tight and closed, needs more time to develop. (1149 views) |
| | Tasted by Loren Sonkin on 9/15/2013 & rated 87 points: Lots of wines at Tommy's Clambake (Tommy's): Not sure how proper this bottle was. Purple/ruby in color. The nose had a dishwasher soap quality along with black raspberries. Very lean on the palate. (2047 views) |
| | Tasted by Thirsty1 on 8/11/2013: Great at 6 years old. White pepper, fantastic balance and lots of fruit up front. Broken stone and chalk. Holding up very well and has a lot of time ahead of it. (1205 views) |
| | Tasted by ogres3 on 6/15/2013 & rated 88 points: Don't think this lives up to its ratings.
Nose, fruit, finish not memorable. Not a bad wine but probably won't buy anymore. (1106 views) |
| | Tasted by tahaus on 3/1/2013 & rated 92 points: Great syrah. Needed to decant for about 2 hours before the flavors of big brambly fruit came out along with that luscious bacon fat I love in these wines. A bit of white pepper, but nothing over powering...a very nice wine and excellent for the price! (1131 views) |
| | Tasted by Winearch on 2/8/2013 & rated 88 points: A bit disappointed in this wine, like other reviews, expected more from 07 Santa Maria Sarah, so many other great wines from the SM valley. Decanted an hour, Not a lot on the nose, tobacco, light fruit. Palate was thin, even a bit astringent, a bit of spice and cherry, but totally lacking syrah notes of black fruit, meat, tar or any other clue to the region. Not corked, but seemed suspect with so little going on. (1061 views) |
| | Tasted by jmcnewjersey on 2/8/2013 & rated 85 points: Night 1: Dark ruby color; tight and not much on nose; slightly thin with green/vegetal flavors on palate - - quite disappointing. Night 2: more open now, but oak predominant; little by way of fruit. Sorry that I have 3 more bottles sitting in cellar. Bought wine based on JJB raves. (1104 views) |
| | Tasted by Thirsty1 on 1/22/2013: Dark red and brooding. Light smoked meat and hint of white pepper. I enjoyed this very much and believe it's in a good window. (993 views) |
| | Tasted by Ecoenophile on 1/17/2013 & rated 90 points: P & P; an expected CA fruit bomb syrah... but nice complexity, well integrated, good balance. It opened up with more flavors (agree with comments on leather and tar...) but also hint of dark berries and smoke... - enjoyed by my sister-in-law and I. (920 views) |
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