April 18, 2020 - I have been a fan of Richard Arrowood since he started at Chateau St. Jean.
I consider him one of the foremost winemakers in Napa and Sonoma. Sadly, I waited too long to open this wine. It was way past it's prime.
The wine looks purple colored. The legs are slow. There is heavy sediment in the bottle.
May 19, 2017 - Nice mature disposition with vibrant fruit, quite peppery palate, and soft acidity. Interesting and well made, but I had a little trouble mustering much excitement about it.
May 19, 2017 - Tasted blind. Mineral-laden nose accompanied by rich cherry Airhead candy, jerky, and espresso. Smoke and espresso up front, then you dive deep into variants of velvety texture. Juicy concentrated fruit that seems to be at peak. So satisfying. My favorite of the lineup.
January 29, 2016 - At 20 years of age, this is still a beauty. Fresh, vibrant, complex, soft and filled with ripe, sweet, spicy fruits, this is a perfect wine to serve blind to your friends. And if you're able to find a bottle with good provenance, it sells for a song!
October 2, 2015 - The best old California Syrah I have had yet. Still going strong, with full body and good concentration. Nice nose of black fruit, smoked meats and spices. Nice balance. A little understated flavor wise.
October 23, 2014 - This was once great, and it was still at least good, but I think I held this last bottle a few years too long. Even though it still shows dark color, it is a little tired, but still decent. B
May 27, 2012 - CA Syrah; 5/27/2012-6/5/2012: Candy, smoke, oak, and plum nose. Fairly light, bright and simple in comparison to the other wines tonight. The fruit has a Fun Dip kind of confection to it and there's some astringency I don't like. Decent.
February 7, 2012 - Huge tutti-fruity cotton candy nose. Ripe, intense, artificially sweet and confected. There is decent acidity and tannic spine here but the fruit takes a backseat to the oak. A fair pairing for powerful food but on its own this just flopped.
March 6, 2011 - Napa Offline and a whole bunch of wine, mostly Syrah (Napa Valley Wine & Cigar): What a real treat to taste this wine. Fifteen years old, from Napa, and still drinking quite well. Ruby in color. The nose is beautiful. Meaty, raspberries, and bit of leather. This is mature and probably a bit past prime. It was a bit monolithic and I had hoped for some more complexity. Probably didn't help being tasted in this setting. Very solid.
September 4, 2010 - Past its prime, but did open up to reveal a glimmering of the sappy blackberry. Alas, all that is truly left of this wine is a tannic, woody shell. Possible bottle variation may reveal a slightly more alive wine.