October 16, 2018 - Dark red, very perfumed nose of violet, olives, spices, black pepper, tobacco & grilled meat after more time in the glass, young but delicious, medium bodied, 12.5% alc only, traditional & classic, excellent wine!
January 30, 2018 - light to med body; a little on the tannic side, but some dark fruit and spice. at 8 yrs old, maybe i waited too long?
January 14, 2017 - This is a general note over 6 bottles. Love love Neil Rosenthal wines and these did not disappoint. Very classic French Syrah. Wanted to save a few to see how they aged beyond 6 years but couldn't do it. Highly recommended but/and very traditional.
August 5, 2012 - Very nice wine. Dark fruit but the dominant characteristic on the nose is leather and on the palate is black pepper. An underlying minerality lingers on the long finish. Very smooth.
June 26, 2012 - Sommeliers Australia – Shiraz Benchmarking (Est. Restaurant, George Street, Sydney): Colour: Medium intensity purple, clear, legs
Nose: Clean, medium intensity, developing. Green peppercorn, black peppercorn, very perfumed.
Mouth: medium plus acid, green and black peppercorn, meaty, leather…lovely
May 21, 2012 - -- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind over approx. 4 hours --
NOSE: ripe red fruit (riper than the ’09 vintage of this bottling) along with a savory stemmy meaty quality; cigarbox; expressive. Smells very “N. Rhone” to me, albeit a ripe version thereof. The Nose really carries this wine from “very good” to “excellent.”
BODY: violet-tinged brick-red color of medium-deep depth; medium bodied.
TASTE: oaky cigar spice; savory ripe red fruits; not gloppy; nice acidity; 12.5% alc. not noticeable; almost no perceptible tannin; woodsy cigar; moderate concentration of fruit; dried herbs/stemmy; light pipe tobacco note on the finish. not as good as the ’09 vintage of this bottling – this ’10 is more ripe, it seems, and I found the ’09 to be gutsier – more capable of improving with age – but this is still a very good wine, and a great value. Drink now through 2015.
B: 50, 5, 13, 16, 7 = 91
January 20, 2012 - Light nose of black cherries, chocolate, mineral... in the mouth, light bitterness, a bit short and alcoholic
December 26, 2011 - perfectly balanced Syrah with peppery, black currents and a bit of funk ! really nice !
September 3, 2011 - I agree with Leonmania. OK, but poor QPR at $18.
August 10, 2011 - Poured through Vinturi and drank over the course of an hour. Initial attack has terrific wet stone mineral component and good flavors of blackberry, but it thins out quickly and a sour note becomes a bit too predominant. The finish is a bit weak as well.
An okay wine but I found it a bit disappointing, but will update this note if I find it drinking better tonight.