December 14, 2013 - A great bottle but I somewhat preferred it when it had more structure and multifaceted complexity. Well integrated and balanced cool climate Syrah.
August 14, 2013 - this bottle was great - had that Pinot-esque quality great coastal Cali Syrahs can have. Wish I had more.
March 18, 2013 - Not as old world I would have thought it would be form other people TN's. Quite forward but not over the top. Rich and flavored with typical CA syrah notes but with a little extra kick of smokiness and earth, but not a Northern Rhone for sure.
March 15, 2013 - It has been 30 months since I last sampled this wine, and the evolution is fascinating. The power nose combines cherry-fruited Pinot musk, smoke, and cocoa. The palate combines savory green peppercorn and pickled meat with sweet black cherry and smokey pomegranate. This bottle bought from the secondary market, but the progression makes sense. The finish is surprisingly sweet and simpler but rather long in the end. I'm not sure this will improve, as it has integrated considerably since my 07-10 notes and might have had my personal ideal mix of multifaceted youthful complexity and secondary character in 2012. 93-94, still an incredible wine, but I'm not sure whether it will turn to candy or a Northern Rhone ringer. Day 2: sweeter, not as special, but still carrying a unique flavor register.
June 14, 2012 - well everyone loved this, and darned good wine. I might accuse it of being a just a hair flabby, others would call it rich, round and supple. Fine and impressive cocktail wine and still light enough on its feet to drink well with food.
October 23, 2010 - Saxum vs The Field + Some New Copains...and then some (Frank Murray's Casa): Served blind. Rich nose with a touch of heat and asparagus. Big fruit but with a light feel. Some green stem notes. Guessed maybe the Boheme or a Copain. Potential here for a more structured complex wine but in need of some time.
October 23, 2010 - Saxum Vs. The Field (2005 Vintage) + 2008 Copain Syrahs + Burgs (The Murray Casa): Some stems?, pepper, spice and caramel, which evolves aromatically as it sits in the glass. Blueberry, boysenberry, lots of fruit but not syrupy or overdone.
September 5, 2010 - Fridgewarming Syrah Tasting: While I ranked the Alban 95 and this "94+" this was still my wine of the day because to me this is just a bit more interesting. Served in a flight that I knew might but didn't necessarily include this wine, I picked it out easily. Both sweeter and more savory than the other wines in this flight, from first sniff to last lingering echo this is a complete experience -- see my previous notes for indications of pumpernickel crossed with fruit basket, forest floor and spice box. 1 1st, 2 2nd, 2 third, 1 fourth and 1 5th place vote.
March 17, 2010 - Popped and poured, enjoyed over 3 hours with an incredible meal (fried baby artichokes, ham flatbread, truffle potato chips, short ribs with cracked wheat risotto, kale, button mushrooms and brussel sprouts with roasted bacon) .
Incredibly complex nose of smoke, lavender, wild blackberries, indian spices, flowers. Smooth and elegant mouthfeel, layers of flavors, black fruits, cracked pepper, crushed rocks, roasted meats, black olives, black licorice. Kept getting better in the glass, evolving, deepening, becoming more exotic as the night went on. This is without question one of my favorite syrah producers, and this vintage is the apex. Syrah made for the syrah superfreak.
March 15, 2010 - Notes from RRV Barrel Tasting 2010: Gorgeous deep, dark fruit, though it has a bright side that keeps it light on its toes; fairly high acidity bringing some citrus notes. From one of the coolest syrah vineyards in California, this is a truly fine rendition.