November 5, 2020 - Opened yesterday, kept under the open cork overnight and using the last few ounces remaining for my note. I have owned this bottle since release back in 2007, so it's a relic from my cellar that I have been attached to. Decided to open last night and serve blind as part of small virtual event we did. It's starting to brown around the edges, showing some age there. There is a maple note, along with some savory qualities from the whole cluster that was used in the wine (100% inclusion). Still tangy, moderately herbal with some softening dark fruit in the core. Tangy plum, tar and rosemary in the finish. Overall, I'd call this ready to drink, to manage the balance of the fruit, the savory and the onset of the aging process. Farewell old friend!
June 18, 2018 - This is smokin' good. Plenty of freshness and fruit with texture and savor. I'll see how it holds up in the bottle on day 2. I suspect it will do well.
December 10, 2017 - Medium garnet red color with a pink rim. After a little air, the nose displayed ample boysenberry, plum, and lavender notes. The perfectly ripe fruit coated my palate with boysenberry, plum, lavender, and smoked meat. Structurally, this wine had balanced acidity and well as fully integrated tannins. Overall, this remains my favorite vintage of Sandler’s syrah because it has ripe, full fruit as well as a refined, rounded mouthfeel that only a balanced, well-aged wine can provide. Outstanding.
November 18, 2015 - Dark garnet color. The nose was classic syrah - roasted meat, pepper, floral notes, and plum. On the palate, the flavors echo the nose with the addition of a mineral note. It is plush in the mouth with integrated tannin and balanced acidity. Overall, this has been a great wine every time I have taste it, and it remains my favorite vintage of Sandler Syrah
November 7, 2015 - Had with dinner, slight plum/prune notes upon opening had me a bit concerned but faded as the back end pepper and spice took over. The fruit turned leaner and red with more time open, and there was a just the right amount of grip on the finish.
May 28, 2013 - Glad I have another of these. This was a very nice syrah - and I am not a huge syrah lover. This showed some great blue/dark fruits, earth and spice. Tannins have softened but were still present. Long finish. At a great spot right now.
January 10, 2013 - A lovely whole cluster syrah! Floral & blueberry aromas and flavors on the palate with layered herbal & earthy notes extending to a tasty finish. Nicely structured wine with chewy tannins and delectable acidity.
December 24, 2012 - Very raspberry and blueberry forward. Almost effervescent. Midpalateand finish bring about one great smoky/coffee finish.
Front end is new world- back is old.
May 19, 2012 - Decanted 1 hour - Wow what a beauty - well integrated with blackberry and blueberry that transitions seamlessly into peppery mid-palate before finally rounding into the meat/smokey elements that remind me of burnt ends from smoked brisket. Definitely going back for more.
March 5, 2012 - Open the better part of 3 days, damn near four, this note providing the material for my last glass. Like with Wind Gap, and some of the 05 and 06 Copains, this is where fruit meets stem. The aromatics lean on the edge of syrah, the firnges where you can find smoke, rosemary, then a sweet gamy essence. Medium + weight, with a teriyaki/steak sauce element, along with soy, cooked meat and dark fruit. The palate is nearly fleshed out, and not sure if that's due to the aeration I allowed this to see or the fact it's 6 vintages in time, maybe both. Finishes with the same rosemary quality, along with the fresh dark fruit, which shows some rich edges. What's here is savory and yet flashy, together. I have one bottle left, will drink it in the next year but as a serving advice, I'd serve this to someone who will have context for stem inclusion and what that imparts. That context is key here I believe in order for this wine to be appreciated, one I do very much like.