February 16, 2024 - Big dark purple syrah, blackberry, plum, bacon fat, hints of pepper, integrated tannins, long finish
July 3, 2023 - More or less consistent with our previous bottles. There are still some residual tannins present to support further development, but I don't anticipate dramatic changes from this point. If you haven't already opened one, now is the time.
August 28, 2021 - Solid. Only getting better.
March 2, 2021 - Just a wonderful nose on this syrah, very earthy and dank. The flavor is very mature, lots of prune and tannins. Seems like it's well past it's prime.
April 20, 2020 - Popped and poured. followed over 6 hours. Grassl stems. Stored in offsite professional storage since release.
Heat and mild blue fruit on nose. The wine is youtful and unyielding and I checked it twice for the presence of a screw cap. (cork enclosure). Moderate tannin. Very mild savory qualities. Very smooth...too smooth. Wood is present. Good acidity. Heat on finish. I had high expectations and kept waiting for the gutteral satisfaction of a meaty bloody mineral-lly savory California syrah. This is far from it. The experience suggests heavy handed winemaking. Or, maybe this bottle was shut down. Doubtful though at 12 years. Perhaps a vitamix aeration and decanting technique would have helped.
This is a poor QPR. There are many other good syrahs having tremendous development at 12 years costing much less.
March 13, 2020 - Barn yard smell. Decanted for an hour and it didn’t burn off. Not a well kept btl. Others have been good and only one to go.
November 23, 2019 - Wonderful bouquet. Complex roses, cherries, pepper , Tannins have definitely mellowed. In a good place
September 19, 2019 - Pop and pour. Consistent with expectations from our last bottle a few years ago - the high toned aromatics and tannins have settled down, revealing a wine that pairs blue fruit with saline, pepper, and a bit of minerality, on top of a smooth texture. Very approachable now, but still enough tannins to support further development.
October 6, 2018 - Very good indeed. Needed time to open and pleasantly surprised with the depth on the palates and after taste. Lovely.
September 12, 2018 - Similar to my last note, except it was juicier, not so dry and had more energy. Blackberry, black raspberry, with a little olive and meat. Rich, even opulent, but juicy and energetic, draped on a solid tannic structure. Very tasty.