Community Tasting Note

• Cristal2000 Likes this wine: 96 points

  May 3, 2023 - Bottle shock be damned, I opened this immediately. For those familiar with the bottled up beasts known as Kinsman, rest assured this definitely doesn't fall into that territory. PnP and while it certainly can use some air, it's fully approachable. The most striking thing about this wine is the energy and building length. It's got good depth, but not mind numbing power, and I find it incredibly enjoyable to drink as it displays crisp acidity, a wonderful flavor profile that vacillates between fruit, savory and meaty while consistently driving the palate towards a long and mineral driven finish. Great effort, as expected!
  
  Little Day 2 update for those that care: The tannins have come out to play today, clamping down fairly hard. The profile is way meatier, the concentration has really picked up and the finish is more massive. All in all, just proving how well made these wines are and the long life ahead. Man, that finish...

  9 people found this helpful 4,199 views

29 Comments

• csimm commented:

  5/3/23, 9:59 PM - And there it is. Nicely done sir!

• NickRut commented:

  5/4/23, 8:15 AM - Love that people are popping these early. I was able to score a couple of the 3 packs so will have to open these sometime soon. Looks like the Chenin and the other Syrah are getting similar reviews. Definitely a bit different than Galloni's take on them.

• gymnastpro commented:

  5/4/23, 9:27 AM - What was Galloni's take?

• MJP Hou TX commented:

  5/4/23, 9:35 AM - Thanks for taking one for the team. Not surprised this moved the needle for you given who made it. Chenin Block on deck for the weekend.

• csimm commented:

  5/4/23, 9:41 AM - AG gave it 93. Said it was brooding and packs a punch. The review reads good and positive all the way through, so as usual, it's hard to gauge what the pros actually mean. The summary is positive the way I read it and could have a 90 point or a 100 point numeric.

• bsumoba commented:

  5/4/23, 10:07 AM - Thanks Cristal! All these wines that came this week caused me to reorganize my fridges. Been deciding which one to pop this weekend, Abbero Syrah or Chenin? La Pelle Chardonnay or Syrah? Domaine De La Cote Pinot? Decisions, decisions...

• Cristal2000 commented:

  5/4/23, 11:37 AM - B: it's a rough life. Not sure how we do it...

• gymnastpro commented:

  5/4/23, 12:29 PM - @cristal someone has to do it hehe

• blarmston commented:

  5/4/23, 2:23 PM - Nice TN, thanks for sharing.
  
  My GF and I will be up there next weekend, and wlil be tasting with Nigel. Hopefully this bottling is on the list to try out.
  
  I'll report back with thoughts on what we get to taste...

• gymnastpro commented:

  5/4/23, 2:45 PM - I was told they weren't tasting until late summer due to the 21's needed time. I should of asked to taste Aberro! Let us know how it goes!

• Cristal2000 commented:

  5/4/23, 4:36 PM - FYI, threw in a little day 2 update

• csimm commented:

  5/4/23, 4:39 PM - Now I gotta open mine sooner to check them out. Hate you.

• Cristal2000 commented:

  5/4/23, 4:44 PM - Then I have achieved my goal :)

• Decanting Queen commented:

  5/5/23, 3:33 AM - Tha ks for the TN. I was going to open the White Hawk first at Shae’s suggestion . But now maybe I need to try BN soon too!!!

• Cristal2000 commented:

  5/5/23, 7:16 AM - If I'm not mistaken, the Syrah's from Aberro are one and done, and they only made like 80 cases, so I doubt there will be any tasting of them.

• MJP Hou TX commented:

  5/5/23, 7:25 AM - I feel like I should know that answer but then again, I might be getting it crossed with the Keplinger project which I believe might be ongoing. Matt Morris pivoted to Syrah's in 2020 as well. Those wines are worth checking out. A lot of experience palates on Rhone night (men who wine) liked that MM White Hawk Syrah in a incredible lineup.

• gymnastpro commented:

  5/5/23, 7:28 AM - I thought they decided to continue making the syrah and chenin but could be completely wrong lol.

• csimm commented:

  5/5/23, 7:32 AM - The Chenin will be ongoing.

• Cristal2000 commented:

  5/5/23, 7:37 AM - I think the Chenin is the only one, but certainly that may have changed.

• gymnastpro commented:

  5/5/23, 7:53 AM - Certainly makes sense on the chenin since they planted it. Guess we will hear more on the syrah in the future.

• I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:

  5/10/23, 1:03 PM - Curious Mike,
  Did this drink more like an Aussie Shiraz, or a Rhone or Paso Robles or something else? Enquiring minds wanna know! (oh, and mine too!)

• Cristal2000 commented:

  5/10/23, 7:11 PM - Hi IRBDW: I'd say stylistically it was more Rhone than Paso, and not in the Shiraz ballpark. It was more energetic and less opulent than a great Paso wine, with some of those old school peppery notes to go along with excellent building length. Not quite as reserved as a young Rhone and showed more fruit, so it spanned that old and new world gap fairly well.

• Cristal2000 commented:

  5/10/23, 7:12 PM - Now that I think about it, the most direct comparison I can think of is a Paul Lato Il Padrino from the same source.

• I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:

  5/10/23, 10:17 PM - Thanks...was wondering if Nigel's Aussie background would have influenced the way he makes Syrah.

• gymnastpro commented:

  5/11/23, 3:14 AM - looks like there's a 22 syrah!

• MJP Hou TX commented:

  5/11/23, 5:30 AM - Don't forget a good about the Syrah Nigel made at Araujo. I've always enjoyed that bottling. I'm happy to hear they've decided to keep making Aberro Syrah.

• MJP Hou TX commented:

  5/11/23, 5:36 AM - Nigel just posted a picture of a wine barrel labeled River Rock Syrah from the 2022 vintage. I wonder if that is a new vineyard source?

• I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:

  5/11/23, 6:47 AM - Sounds like the Rocks region on the Oregon/Washington border...

• gymnastpro commented:

  5/11/23, 7:03 AM - Glad I was right!

Add a Comment