May 28, 2017 - Much denser and primary than I expected. This is just barely showing maturity. There is a slight tarry note I often get from Cali Syrah. A decent amount of tannin still. Just enough acid to keep it from dropping off. Even but rich. Pretty good if lacking complexity. I'm not thinking it has the depth to pick up complexity but there is certainly time to experiment with this if you have more than one bottle. No rush unless you want that richness still.
December 2, 2016 - 30 minute decant and then drunk over 2 nights. Dark garnet color, dark fruit and spice nose. Night one, medium-full bodied, dark fruit, pepper and spice, medium acidity, touch of astringency on the finish that felt out of balance. Night two, fruit less prominent, more spice, leather, finished long, good balance.
December 25, 2014 - Red fruit, black fruit , black pepper. Nice full fruit. Still young and well balanced.
January 16, 2014 - 1 hr decant. Moderate nose of crushed black pepper, black and blue fruits and roasted meats. Medium plus body of blackberry, peppered steak, and olives. A little hot on the finish.
June 30, 2012 - Drinking exceptionally well and even better after being opened for two days. I really enjoyed the complexity of the dark brambly fruit mixed with hints of smoke and earth. My only complaint would be that it still had a bit of a gritty mouthfeel which might have been OK if I had driven it to a dinner at a restaurant, but it has been sitting in my cellar since directly buying from the winery and I took it straight out and drank it.
February 6, 2012 - Dark fruit, leather, espresso and a hint of smokiness. Opened this and thought it was still too tannic and tight, but the second day this was great! It think it still has another year before it totally comes together.
March 31, 2011 - Restrained nicely acidic medium dark fruit syrah that is very food friendly. Well structured with some somkey notes.
October 15, 2010 - black syrah, expressive nose, unfolds with yellow mustard, olive, and smoky meat, restraint on the fruit, but a Californian emphasis on soil, shows some cherries, tobacco, olive, smoke and stone, has an acidic backbone to hold up with food, there is a dark side to this wine
July 24, 2010 - drank this a while ago, it was very good
April 14, 2010 - We're not sure decanting is necessary or good for this wine. But we do think it is ready to drink now. We paired it with grilled veggies and lamb chops which may have been a bit intense for the wine and made it hard to taste the berry fruit. It is drinking quite subtle onthe fruit side. Tannins are quite soft and lovely. As we finished the bottle, there was a 'pow' of blueberries at the back of the throat. We get no leather or smoke. Very delightful - it is always nice to get a syrah that is not a purply bomb. But go ahead and drink these now.