4/6/2024 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

Excellent, even though it was far beyond the recommended DRINK BY DATE. Deep, dark violet, rich with lasting glow. Moderate sediment.

11/28/2018 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

Probably a little too young.

11/26/2017 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

Perfect cab.

1/9/2017 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

Deep red burgundy. Rich and sharp on the palate, fruity and almost explosive.

5/1/2014 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

A steal for $10. I'm always a sucker for a good GSM.

4/24/2014 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

Deep purple, floral jasmine nose, with powerful tannins and black fruit on the palate.

4/14/2014 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

Excellent, intriguing. Beautiful burgundy color, marvelous bouquet and a balanced richness worthy of a much more expensive Bordeaux blend.

1/26/2014 - Syrogr wrote:

I was highly impressed by this dirt cheap Trader Joe buy. Would buy more.

1/20/2014 - Syrogr wrote:

Cherry red-violet. Cool-climate Syrah, or underripe, not sure. Ok for $6, but nothing special.

1/2/2014 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

Deep, dark, rich and mellow. You wouldn’t guess anything “Trader Joe” would be this good.

12/30/2013 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

Delightfully peppery. A good, inexpensive, cold-climate Syrah.

12/26/2013 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

Dark purple, heavy ripe plum, a bit murky, deep and abundant.

12/20/2013 - Syrogr wrote:

Unusual and very likeable blend. I would try it again.

11/30/2013 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

Perfect with turkey and all the trimmings at Thanksgiving dinner.

11/11/2013 - Syrogr wrote:

A blend rather than a simple Shiraz or Syrah: 83% Syrah, 12% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Unlike the 20008, there is no Zinfandel in this vintage. Rich and dark, passable.

10/27/2013 - Syrogr wrote:

Lighter than expected, given the blend. (navarrowine.com: 33% Zinfandel, 29% Syrah, 26% Pinot Noir; 12% smaller amounts of Carignan, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon.) Fresh, fruity.

10/17/2013 - Syrogr wrote:

Certified organic is not easy. This doesn't achieve high praise compared to other PS's, but it's a significant and commendable effort. Beautiful color and a full round aroma, but a bit light, thin. One would expect a deeper darker body with a PS.

10/5/2013 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

Modest bouquet, but a deep reddish purple and an explosive ambrosia of bitter plum and soft ripe blackberry.

9/24/2013 - Syrogr Does not like this wine:

Chocolaty-red-purple hue. Subtle aromatics. Black licorice and cinnamon candy - Aussie sweet jam.

9/22/2013 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

Deep plum purple. Soft and subtle aromas. Explosive bittersweet spice.

9/21/2013 - Syrogr wrote:

A deep brilliant red-velvet purple. Heady fruit aromas. Surely too jammy for some, but bursting with ripe black cherry and tobacco.

9/17/2013 - Syrogr wrote:

Unimaginative, despite the flamboyant label. Muddy red; no nose (um, a bit of a nose “dive”); and flat in character, even though it is a powerful hot burst on the tongue.

9/16/2013 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

Great that it is made from certified organic fruit sourced 78% from Mendocino County and 22% from Lake County. Not remarkable, but decent. Deep purple, ripe fruit.

8/27/2013 - Syrogr wrote:

Sweeter than I’d like, very little of the expected Syrah spice.

8/24/2013 - Syrogr wrote:

Brownish hints; very little bouquet; a bit harsh and one-dimensional.

8/21/2013 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

A not-half-bad Spanish version of a Grenache-Syrah Rhone blend. For $4.99 a steal!

8/19/2013 - Syrogr wrote:

Floral aromas of tropical ocean breeze. Soft red. Sweeter than anticipated, but a lovely everyday wine for $8.

8/12/2013 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

Black fruit and leather, dark, rich, savory. Not too sweet - which is great in a Merlot / Bordeaux blend.

8/9/2013 - Syrogr wrote:

Deep violet, deep overtones of blackberry and current.

8/7/2013 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

Very nice for the price. I am often not impressed with Zinfandel. With this wine, the Syrah adds spice, the Cabernet gives character, and the Petite Syrah deepens and darkens the color and bouquet.

8/2/2013 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

Too sweet for a Cabernet Sauvignon, almost jammy. I searched and found this vintage “is actually a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Tempranillo, Alicante Bouchet and Petit Syrah grapes from all over California, including Monterey, Paso Robles and Lodi.”
[http://ifoundmythrilloverthehill.blogspot.com/2013/05/leese-fitch-cabernet-sauvignon-2011.html]. As a Cabernet, I’d give it 80 points at most, but as an intriguing blend, maybe 88 points.

7/30/2013 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

Well past the recommended drinking window, a dark wine, with brownish hints, unlike most Grenache I’ve had. So I thought maybe too old for this easy Rhone? But no - a rather thick mouthfeel, rich and deep, luxurious. The Carignan saves the soft Grenache, and the Syrah and Cincault offer a background of spice and plum.

7/29/2013 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

Royal burgundy magenta; plum and tobacco; mature, complex, a little thin.

7/14/2013 - Syrogr Does not like this wine:

Unimpressed. Don't buy again. Thin syrup with no Syrah spice, no complexity, no tannin.

7/5/2013 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

I missed the drinking window by a mile, but opened it tonight and it was near-perfect. Velvety smooth chocolate aromas, dark charcoal red, smokey and sexy, heavy legs, not much spice. The oak is soft - this is a Syrah that has aged with grace and vigor.

6/27/2013 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

Again, excellent inexpensive Santa Barbara County Syrah. Buy for every day.

6/18/2013 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

An incredibly unusual blend. I am a fan of Syrah plus a touch, maybe 1%, of Viognier or Malvasia, but I never heard of anything like this: a total of 6% white blended with a slightly atypical blend of bordeaux reds (44% Merlot, 42% Syrah, 8% Petite Sirah). The three whites - 4% Chardonnay, 1% White Riesling (!!), and 1% Malvasia Bianca - create a softer than soft red that goes down like silk. Certainly not my preference, but for $4.99, it served a purpose, and my spouse liked it!

6/15/2013 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

Syrah does not get any better - a perfect rich, spicy cool-climate power pack.

6/14/2013 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

Decent for a cheap everyday wine. Mild but pleasant aroma: berries and currants. Reddish purple. Soft, fruity, and only a hint of earth and vine.

6/12/2013 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

Excellent - I love the Rhone style of blending 1% Viognier.

6/14/2013 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

The 2010 vintage is highly unusual - this from kj.com: “99% Syrah, 1% Chardonnay.”

6/4/2013 - Syrogr wrote:

Again, excellent for the price. Buy again!

5/25/2013 - Syrogr Does not like this wine:

The blend promised dark and fruity: Carignane, Syrah and Zinfandel. But this was harsh, thin, acidic. Organic should not have to be this bad. 70 points.

5/5/2013 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

I've tried a number of organics with no sulfites, usually not impressed. But this was an excellent California cool-climate Syrah.

4/22/2013 - Syrogr wrote:

Bouquet of black anise; opaque deep burgundy. Full bodied deep rich overtones of plum and licorice.

4/15/2013 - Syrogr wrote:

Beautiful bouquet. Deep maroon. Blend must be strong on Syrah. A bit rough, with legs. Good value. 87 points.

4/5/2013 - Syrogr Likes this wine:

A beautiful blend. Floral bouquet; perfect royal velvet red; cherries and honeydew, a hint of spice, yet smooth as baby skin.

3/29/2013 - Syrogr wrote:

Unusual blend: Mourvédre 36%, Grenache 28%,Cinsault 19%, Syrah 17%. Pleasant bouquet; dark and brooding; flavor bomb.

3/11/2013 - Syrogr wrote:

Green aroma, and not much of that. Dark red, a bit harsh but not bad for $5.

3/9/2013 - Syrogr wrote:

A ten-dollar Syrah doesn’t get much better than this. Floral aromas; purple rust; a bit of pepper, lots of fruit and a little bite.