Some Syrahs (and an SB) on a Sunday Afternoon

Tasted Monday, July 26, 2010 by Loren Sonkin with 437 views

Introduction

I met up with my investor/partners in SonkinCellars yesterday to give them an update and to drink some wine. The wines were consumed over a few hours with Hummus, Bean Salad, Olives and other assorted foods.

Flight 1 (1 Note)

Went great with Habanero Bruschetta.

  • 2009 Grey Stack Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Rosemary's Block Dry Stack Vineyard 91 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley

    Glass closure. This is in a clear bottle and you see a lot of sediment in the wine. A cloudy green/gold/yellow in color. The nose is great with limes and white flowers. On the palate, this is crisp and delicious. My favorite Cal SB. Young of course but with a nice complexity. Tart pears and limes with cutting acidity.

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Flight 2 (1 Note)

This is a blend of Syrah from White Hawk and Alder Springs Vineyard. It will tentaively be bottled in March, 2011.

  • 2009 SonkinCellars Persona

    USA, California

    This was the second time my partners were able to taste the wine, so I was anxious to see what they would say. It is very inky purple, very pretty. The nose is very nice, the White Hawk Syrah dominates with black raspberries and some bacon fat. Just a hint of smoke. Also a yeasty note. On the palate, this is a big wine but it has a nice structure. A bit reticent in the mid palate, I hope that develops more over the next 8 months before bottling. Nice acidity. Overall I am pleased with direction this wine is taking. Blending different vineyards in a hope to create the wine I like is a risk of course, but so far so good.
    DISCLAIMER-I make this wine and am completely biased as it was intentionally made to score high points with me.

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Flight 3 (3 Notes)

And some other wines, just because.....

  • 2004 Agharta Wines Black Label 93 Points

    USA, California, North Coast

    My first time trying this wine. I believe it saw a long decant (5 hours) before pouring. Dark purple in color. The nose is very nice with black raspberries and leather and minerals. On the palate, this is a big wine I guess, but not a monster. Showing some youthful complexities. This may get better, but I liked this very much now.

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  • 2005 Pax Syrah Obsidian Vineyard 90 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

    Purple in color. The nose shows some black raspberries and grilled meats. On the palate, this is full bodied but lacking some oomph to really take it to the next level. Certainly an outstanding wine, but thats about it. It has shed its youthful fruit and perhaps is about to put on some nuances. A very good wine, but classed on the day.

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  • 1998 Sean Thackrey Orion Rossi Vineyard 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

    Always a pleasure to drink a mature Orion. This was not decanted and it took a few hours to hit its stride. Purple in color. The nose has boysenberries, grilled meats, black pepper and a gamey quality. On the palate, this is complex and layered. Great texture. Black raspberries and earth. Mature but just barely and lots of peak life left. A delicious wine.

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