August 26, 2016 - VERY crumbly cork, despite excellent storage. Deep garnet. Significant aromas of rock and berries. Assertive flavors. Good mouthfeel. Probably a bit late to have gotten the best from this bottle.
March 15, 2014 - This is still a nice wine, but has lost a lot of the verve and intensity of last time. Not the same smoky notes that made this so enticing for the price. Seems much more simple, still with decent fruit, but drying out a little. Drink up.
March 15, 2014 - Nice chewy Rhone Syrah.
Deep garnet colour. Cinnamon and plum aromas.
Needs food - pizza was good with and it stood up to a bit of tandoori spice.
December 24, 2013 - Twas the night before Christmas brick oven pizza night: and this one had solid structure, nice fruit, definitely not spent, a very pleasant quaff with brick oven pizzas. Could it be more serious? I dunno ....but we enjoyed it.
October 27, 2013 - Really fine
Non of the oak I got before but well balanced fruit
July 31, 2013 - Dark candied fruit, noticeable tannins on the finish.
March 24, 2013 - This was a really nice wine and for the money excellent. Nice deep balanced fruit, with juicy acidity and a nice peppery meaty Rhone flavour. Not overly complex but very tasty. Wishing I had more for the price paid. Way better than the 2007 St Siffrien CdR.
June 12, 2012 - Enjoyed last night at the monthly Hickory Wine Club tasting. A great little entry level primarily syrah based cdr with a really great QPR, definitely recommend this. Dark red, well balanced, clean and crisp, medium bodied, softening tannins, well balanced fruit, not built for the long haul but should continue to cellar well for at least another 3-5 years. Beautiful soft nose of red fruit, loam and black currant with primary flavors of blackberry, earth, red fruit and smoke.
June 5, 2012 - This producer currently frustrates me. While my knowledge has been limited to only the 2007-2011 vintages, the amount of variability and number of flawed bottles in my limited experience has been high. The last bottle 2008 I had was acidic and tannic, with little fruit, aroma or flavor. Maybe it is my luck???? ...though I've either gotten a great bottle or a flawed bottle, which is not a good thing. This bottle happened to be good... and more about texture, then aroma or flavor.. Not much aroma or flavor to rave about in the first hour, as it seemed to be all structure... though after a couple hours, aromas of bee pollen came to mind, with notes of meat and iron... with flavors of ripe, black currant, honey, and iron coating the palate... although the texture seemed to impress me more then the restrained aromas and flavors... After a 3 hour decant, the wine really began to fill out and sing... Loving the last few pours!! Great texture and finesse!! I recommend a 3+ hour decant or more time in the cellar... Although, the variability of the producer scares me.. it's been like the lottery for me... you either win or lose... guess I won tonight... roll the dice, pull the cork...
February 22, 2012 - Medium dark ruby color. Expressive nose of spicy red berries and meat. Flavor is dusty red berries and herbal garrigue. Almost juicy, long finish with firm tannins. This 100% syrah is a Cotes du Rhone classic and strikes me as much more subdued and approachable than a year ago. Syrah from this region can be completely different than Northern Rhone, Australia, US, etc. The "garrigue" spice is smoky, dusty, mineraly, and herbal. This Saint Cosme has evolved to become a great representation of the terroir.