April 10, 2024 - S
February 9, 2024 - Still one of the best ever.
September 9, 2023 - Minnesota Valley Wine Group Syrah Tasting (Amy & Scott's - Eagan, MN): This wine was tied for my WOTN! I don't know why I don't own any of these, as I thoroughly enjoy them every time I have an aged one! The wine is well integrated and showing quite well!
Nose shows lots of sweet dark fruit, some black pepper, some baking spice and hints of menthol and cedar. Palate is awesome with plenty of creamy dark fruit, wrapped in some red fruit, with spice, eucalyptus and toast oak.
No hurry to drink these, but drinking quite well right now! I don't see this going down hill any time soon...the drinking window mentioned on CT is a joke! 95+ for my palate, and my co-WOTN!
September 9, 2023 - Minnesota Valley Fine Wine Tasting Group Syrah Tasting (Eagan, MN): Drinking well. Big wine as you might expect but not over the top. Spice, blackberries, Eucalyptus, black pepper and coffee beans. Medium plus finish. Might actually benefit from a few more years in the cellar. 8 points
May 12, 2023 - Even after several hours of air the tannins were still rather grippy, although greatly improved after the initial tasting. Loads of black and blue fruits with touches of dried herbs. A dense wine with an sugar level able to overcome the alcohol, but this wine still needs more time or a at least another hour or so of air time.
February 12, 2023 - This is drinking really well. Some of that heavy intensity has mellowed in favor of a really nicely integrated package.
January 1, 2023 - Last bottle....quick decant at midnight, new years eve. See previous notes. Dave K. And Larry S. were very impressed with the smoothness of this wine. It's a shame it's my last one. Drink up.
October 12, 2022 - Still dark garnet but with pronounced sweet black fruit and oak aromas. Lots of concentrated blackberries and plums on the palate, but well integrated now and balanced. Tannins have largely resolved. Some complexity of aromas and flavors. Long, slightly hot aftertaste. Fully mature, but should easily last five more years.
Ric
September 21, 2022 - I've never been big on shiraz ... until now. This current window that this 2012 is in now is ridiculous. Super dark inky blackish purple in the glass, with maybe a hint of developing crimson at the periphery. Nose isn't giving up a ton ... maybe some background plums, a tiny titch of menthol, and a bit of dank earthy greenery. The palate is explosive ... tons of dark over-ripe strawberries, dark strawberry liqueur ... to me strawberry is the predominant flavor ... some spicier notes and a bit of dark chocolate coming through at the end. This wine is sweet, but the sweetness is super deep and dark, and although I dislike sweet wine, the sweetness here is additive. Perhaps it's balanced by the high alcohol, documented at 16%, but the alcohol is completely masked ... I would have guessed 12.5%. This is a gem and unlike any wine I have every had before. Absolutely incredible.
January 21, 2022 - WOTN......drank with two good 2001 Napa Cabs, and a 2017 Napa Cab Franc and this was the WOTN