January 23, 2022 - This garnet colored wine has aromas of blackberry and fig with slow legs and moderate sediment. Flavors of red currant, pomegranate combine with an oak and minerality to yield a moderate body wine. This wine definitely has another 5 - 7 years of window for consuming. I would recommend waiting at least another 1 - 2 years before opening my next bottle.
January 19, 2022 - First - I like most everything Peay grows! So, trying to be "fair" in writing this review is tough. Flavors of black fruit, mild to slightly bold body, mild tannins with smooth acidity; moderate finish. Yes, it is a California syrah (but in a blind tasting would give a stronger impression). The wine is drinking beautifully now, but also has plenty of life in the bottle. Great job Peay team!
April 24, 2021 - Pop and pour. Drinking great.
January 23, 2020 - Needed to open up with an hour or so of air, but then was lovely. Tart blackberry fruit, zippy acidity, savory in the right dose - an old world styled Syrah.
March 7, 2019 - Tasting with Andy Peay (Washington, DC): Rich blackberry fruit but the wine is balanced wonderfully - grippy tannins, zesty acidity. Tangy fruit laced with complex spicy, pepper, violet, earth tones. I'd love to see what this does in five to eight years.
October 26, 2018 - The nose was dark, earthy, and floral with peppery violets, lavender, saline-minerals, blackberries, moist soil tones, and with time in the glass, hints of brown spice. On the palate, I found soft textures, which were quickly firmed up by zesty acids, as tart blackberry and saline-minerals washed across the senses leaving dark inner florals in their wake. The finish was medium-long with echos of black fruits, savory spice, earth and violet floral tones.
August 26, 2018 - From memory: a delicious clear Syrah with lots of aromatic herb and bright fruit notes. Previous rating is about rate.
June 18, 2018 - Blackcurrant, redwood, forest ferns on the floral nose. Penetrating dry fruit on the palate with great depth and a lovely acid frame. Very long fruit-driven finish. Excellent with sausages, broccoli blue cheese gratin, and baked potatoes. 50 +17+17+8 = 92
May 29, 2018 - Peay Winery visit and tasting. Coravin sample from bottle.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, purple colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of floral violets, purple fruit, deep red plums, black cherries, black pepper, white pepper, some olives. Developing.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium alcohol (13.3%), fine high tannins, deceptively full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of black cherries, dark red plums, boysenberries, salty olives, smoke, black and white pepper. Long finish.
Very good quality. Oh we could be in Northern Rhone here! So much finesse and varietal character here. Only better things will come with more age on this.
April 6, 2018 - The nose showed reduction at first, which blew off after a few minutes in the glass, to reveal crushed black cherry and plum with an herbal peppery tinge, then sweet tobacco, smoke, subtle spice tones, and dusty minerality. On the palate, I found lifted, medium-weight textures with a salty, almost savory persona, as cool-toned black fruits and peppery herbs washed across the senses . The finish was long with saturating saline-mineral tones, black fruits and hints of spice.