Community Tasting Notes 5

• Josch48 Likes this wine: 92 points

  January 13, 2023 - I was pleasantly surprised to see other reviews of this wine, as I had imagined that due to the winery’s fairly low production (this wine’s total was, per the label, 500 cases, and per the winery’s website, 350 cases), and its location in the Pacific Northwest area near Seattle might render it a true niche pleasure. The blend is 97% Washington State Syrah and 3% Viognier.
  The color is an impenetrable black cherry color with inviting initial aromas of boysenberry and blackberry, with a slight aromatic addition imbued by the 50% new oak casks utilized in the winemaking process.
  The mouthfeel is of a thick viscosity and robust extraction of very sweet black fruit, along with a balanced acidity and very tame tannic component. This wine’s level of extraction is surprisingly reminiscent of a Dehlinger Russian River Altamont Syrah or a Two Hands Barossa Valley Gnarly Dudes Shiraz. If one has the expectation of a Northern Rhone variation on this varietal, this wine will disappoint.
  The wine is thick, luscious and somewhat unidimensional on the first third of the palate, but the wine’s complexity evolves through the remaining second and third palate differentiations to the finish with a well crafted Australian more than Washington State presentation. Delicious on its own and a most able food pairing. Who would have thought a police detective could have made such sophisticated and wonderful wines. You owe it to yourself to explore all the Guardian Cellars offerings.

  Comment

• Sauvyfan Does not like this wine: 81 points

  December 14, 2021 - Almost unrecognizable as Syrah. The amount of oak treatment renders this undrinkable. In contention for worst bottle of the year 2021.

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• DeuceMcgee Likes this wine:

  August 15, 2020 - Decanted 8 hours, but this wine needs more time. So dense and it’s all there, but this needs a few more years.

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• Rgbobski wrote:

  August 12, 2020 - Just had a 2016 and 2017 side-by-side. Both of them outstanding but I think I like the 16 better. Mellow but flavorful, not overwhelming in anyway just a great bottle of wine/both of them are great bottles of wine

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• Rgbobski wrote: 95 points

  April 27, 2019 - Delicious!

  Comment

Pro Reviews 1

Wine Definition

• Vintage 2016
• Type Red
• Producer Guardian Cellars
• Varietal Syrah Blend
• Designation The Informant
• Vineyard n/a
• Country USA
• Region Washington
• SubRegion Columbia Valley
• Appellation Wahluke Slope
• UPC Code 855363005045

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
• In Cellars 88 (28%)
• Consumed 223 (72%)

Food Pairing

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