At 10 years of age, this seems to be drinking better than bottles near release. Well integrated, a good nose, some fruit and savory characteristics mingle on the nose and palate. To nitpick, it could be just a bit more complex, but for a bottle at it's price point this was a stunner. I hate to let the cat out of the bag, but this may be the best value I have found in the wine world. That said, it doesn't strike me as quite as compelling as my last bottles of the 2008. If you have this, its drinking well, but no rush to finish off. I didn't get any sense it is drying out.
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Second bottle from WineBid buy. This showed very much like the first bottle but did not notice the alcohol this time. This was enjoyed by everyone. Not the most complex Syrah, but showed very well at this time. Great right now, and has the stuffing to hold for a while longer.
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14.2% abv. Recent purchase from WineBid. So much to like about this. Effusive, smoky, and meaty nose, which also carried through on the palate. Fleshy, unfiltered mouthfeel which I enjoyed a great deal. Good depth and length on the finish as well. The only that kept me from going nuts about this was the sharp alcohol bite on the midpalate that limited my enjoyment overall.
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Drinking as well as two years ago. A light-to-medium body with equal measures of fruit and barnyard funk that reach the mountain top one hour after opening. 92-93 Update: still drinking well on the next day without having been vacuum corked.
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I find myself drawn to Sandler Syrahs because of their incredibly expressive nose of lavender, plum, and black olive. The palate is equally beguiling with plum, floral notes, olive, and mineral. There is balanced acidity that ties this medium-bodied wine together as a refined package of depth and class. This is an outstanding value. This was an amazing pairing with bacon and black olive pizza. The wine was briney and smokey with the bacon, and the olives complemented the wine’s overall flavor profile.
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Quite a night-and-day difference from last night's bottle. This one appears to have completed its secondary fermentation and as a result is coming through as much less fruity, seemingly hotter (but not overbearingly so), and with a very silky texture. All in all this bottle was much closer to an Aussie Shiraz than a French Gigondas. I think they'll all taste like this given another year. Evolved very slowly during the 2+ hours we had it open. 89-92 points Update: left a bit of wine to sit in a glass covered with plastic wrapping overnight. Amazingly, the juice showed very little sign of fatigue 16 hours later!
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This underwent indeed some secondary fermentation as it is now much drier than back in January. Wondering how much the alcohol content changed as a result. Still showing some huge aromatics. Began opening up 10 minutes after opening, and seemed to settle in 15 minutes later. Still hugely aromatic after an hour, but it is now also exhibiting strong tobacco notes as a counterpoint. I bet that the fruit will make room for some sublime funky notes in the future. My guess is this will start coming into its own given another 12 months. The acidity seems to be relatively low, which explains why it's not a good match for shrimp, and also why it enhances the funk factor of certain cheeses. Would probably pair perfectly with a Gruyere-based cheese souffle. 90-92+ points
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My first Sandler Syrah. It was young but quite good. Purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, roasted meats, black pepper and some plums. Very nice texture. More fruit than I was expecting with a nice depth and complexity. Nice finish. Improved in the glass. Needs a few more years.
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Inky dark purple color. I appreciate the complex nose of roasted meat, smoke, plum, blueberry, lavender, woody notes, and spicy pepper. The palate is packed with blueberry, plum, floral notes, and pepper. There is balanced acidity in this medium-bodied wine and rounded tannins. The finish is long and spicy. Overall, Sandler produces one of my favorite syrahs because it is full of varietal purity as well as balanced structure.
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What a fantastic bottle of wine! Gigondas-like nose, with notes of garrigue, violets, smoke, peat, and some medicinal notes; after a while aromas or rich soil (barnyard) also make a showing. On the very dry palate (with tannins resembling black tea leaves at times) there's blueberry and blackberry fruit and black pepper, followed by green pepper seeds and emerging flavors of licorice on the mid-palate over time, completed by an underlying smokiness in the background. There is also some very slight fizziness on the finish that gives the wine a young aura and which makes me wonder whether it wouldn't benefit from another 1-3 years. Without doubt this is a pièce de résistance by the August West winemaker. 14.2% ABV. Herb-crusted rack of lamb anyone? 91-92
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Popped and poured. No doubt this is syrah with its aromas of white pepper, blood and mineral, and a touch of wood. On the palate the charred oak shows even more along with the cracked white and black pepper. The fruit is tart, but hidden behind the pepper and spice. There is good acid in this and medium tannin. Right now the oak is too much for me but I like the cool climate fruit and spice behind it. I have one bottle left that I will open after 2016.
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This bottle has some sediment; color is brownish red (possibly flawed?). Pleasant bouquet; earthtones and soft fruit. Not complex, but enjoyable; a single-layered Syrah, sweeter than I like, yet not Australian jammy; not much spice, but it will do for Valentine's Day.
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Finally, another chance to revisit Bennett Valley. Ran across this wine at a local wine shop and could not help myself at the tariff ($15).
Upon first sniff was worried this wine was flawed as the bouquet and palate were dominated by sour/stewed notes. Set aside.
Revisted, after 15 minutes. Wine came together nicely. Pronounced stemminess coupled with riper fruit have integrated nicely to create an interesting flavor profile that lies outside either new or old world classifications.
Wanted more minerality and depth (which is what I enjoyed from prior examples from Bennett Valley), but that might not be a fair request given the price.
Well done.
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Decided to check in on one of these in light of the new offer. Lots of northern rhone character, peppery, floral, meaty... Yum. Will definitely be ordering the current release. Incredible value.
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Popped and poured, drank over 3 nights. Black cherries and pepper on the nose. Bright cherry fruit on the palate. Finish is a bit clipped. Got better the longer it was open. Pleasant weeknight drinker.
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Blindfolded, this is not a wine from California. A hair over 14%, tons of pepper and vegetative funk. Could not convince me this is from anywhere but the northern Rhone.
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This bottle did not show anywhere near as well as the previous one. Faint elements of blue fruit, pepper and just a bit of earth, but seeminly a bit disjointed...dumb?.....after an hour, the tannins seemed a bit drying.
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Served blind, I would have guessed this was a good Crozes Hermitage. Very Northern rhone in character. Medium bodied. Lots of pepper on both the nose and palate. A bit of funk, which did subside with time in the decanter, when dark fruits emerged. Goodly amount of acidity. After a few hours in the decanter, the tannins became a bit more prominent, and perhaps just a bit drying. Medium-plus finish Great value 90-91
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Decanted and consumed just a few days after arrival, so take this with a grain of salt if you are a believer in travel shock (I don't understand any science as to why it should be an issue with young wines, but the anecdotal evidence seems compelling.) As you might expect, very primary upon opening. The nose was reasonably expressive from the moment it was poured into the decanter, and seemed to expand after an hour. tart fruit, perhaps a hint of olive. medium bodied. descent acid. Moderate, but present tannin. Good balance. Tastes like a syrah by a pinot maker. It will be interesting to see if it puts on some weight with some bottle age.
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12/25/2019 - joraesque wrote: 92 Points
I really enjoyed the vegetal notes which seemed to overtake herbal notes this time around. Drank well for at least 3 hours.
91-92
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9/15/2019 - joraesque wrote: 91 Points
Past its peak, but still drinking well. No rush on these till 2022+.
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6/7/2019 - thalver wrote:
At 10 years of age, this seems to be drinking better than bottles near release. Well integrated, a good nose, some fruit and savory characteristics mingle on the nose and palate. To nitpick, it could be just a bit more complex, but for a bottle at it's price point this was a stunner. I hate to let the cat out of the bag, but this may be the best value I have found in the wine world. That said, it doesn't strike me as quite as compelling as my last bottles of the 2008. If you have this, its drinking well, but no rush to finish off. I didn't get any sense it is drying out.
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5/26/2019 - PIntag wrote: 91 Points
Second bottle from WineBid buy.
This showed very much like the first bottle but did not notice the alcohol this time. This was enjoyed by everyone. Not the most complex Syrah, but showed very well at this time. Great right now, and has the stuffing to hold for a while longer.
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11/21/2018 - PIntag wrote:
14.2% abv. Recent purchase from WineBid.
So much to like about this. Effusive, smoky, and meaty nose, which also carried through on the palate. Fleshy, unfiltered mouthfeel which I enjoyed a great deal. Good depth and length on the finish as well. The only that kept me from going nuts about this was the sharp alcohol bite on the midpalate that limited my enjoyment overall.
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3/2/2018 - joraesque wrote: 93 Points
Drinking as well as two years ago. A light-to-medium body with equal measures of fruit and barnyard funk that reach the mountain top one hour after opening.
92-93
Update: still drinking well on the next day without having been vacuum corked.
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2/9/2018 - Meerlust wrote: 92 Points
I find myself drawn to Sandler Syrahs because of their incredibly expressive nose of lavender, plum, and black olive. The palate is equally beguiling with plum, floral notes, olive, and mineral. There is balanced acidity that ties this medium-bodied wine together as a refined package of depth and class. This is an outstanding value. This was an amazing pairing with bacon and black olive pizza. The wine was briney and smokey with the bacon, and the olives complemented the wine’s overall flavor profile.
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5/18/2017 - Outplaying wrote:
We enjoyed this bottle. Medium to lighter weight. Red fruits, spice and Rhone-like flavors. Good QPR.
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12/2/2016 - joraesque wrote: 91 Points
Fantastic nose... 14.2% ABV.
91-92
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10/31/2016 - jcha24 wrote:
this is a really great wine, especially for $20 all in. Still has plenty of red fruit left in it, but well balanced and maturely nicely.
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11/1/2015 - joraesque wrote: 93 Points
Seemed to be at its peak about 8 hours after opening, and was still drinking solidly 18 hours later. Akin to an outstanding Gigondas...
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10/18/2015 - yhn wrote: 92 Points
Lovely tapenade. Touches of smoke and meat and cherryish fruit.
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1/7/2015 - pjhr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another beautiful syrah from Ed! Wish I had bought more!
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11/23/2014 - joraesque wrote: 91 Points
Quite a night-and-day difference from last night's bottle. This one appears to have completed its secondary fermentation and as a result is coming through as much less fruity, seemingly hotter (but not overbearingly so), and with a very silky texture. All in all this bottle was much closer to an Aussie Shiraz than a French Gigondas. I think they'll all taste like this given another year. Evolved very slowly during the 2+ hours we had it open.
89-92 points
Update: left a bit of wine to sit in a glass covered with plastic wrapping overnight. Amazingly, the juice showed very little sign of fatigue 16 hours later!
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11/22/2014 - joraesque wrote: 91 Points
This underwent indeed some secondary fermentation as it is now much drier than back in January. Wondering how much the alcohol content changed as a result. Still showing some huge aromatics. Began opening up 10 minutes after opening, and seemed to settle in 15 minutes later. Still hugely aromatic after an hour, but it is now also exhibiting strong tobacco notes as a counterpoint. I bet that the fruit will make room for some sublime funky notes in the future. My guess is this will start coming into its own given another 12 months. The acidity seems to be relatively low, which explains why it's not a good match for shrimp, and also why it enhances the funk factor of certain cheeses. Would probably pair perfectly with a Gruyere-based cheese souffle.
90-92+ points
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8/20/2014 - pjhr Likes this wine: 91 Points
Floral & blackberry aromas and flavors on the palate with herbal & pepper extending to a tasty finish.
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3/10/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 93 Points
My first Sandler Syrah. It was young but quite good. Purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, roasted meats, black pepper and some plums. Very nice texture. More fruit than I was expecting with a nice depth and complexity. Nice finish. Improved in the glass. Needs a few more years.
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2/21/2014 - Meerlust wrote: 92 Points
Inky dark purple color. I appreciate the complex nose of roasted meat, smoke, plum, blueberry, lavender, woody notes, and spicy pepper. The palate is packed with blueberry, plum, floral notes, and pepper. There is balanced acidity in this medium-bodied wine and rounded tannins. The finish is long and spicy. Overall, Sandler produces one of my favorite syrahs because it is full of varietal purity as well as balanced structure.
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1/10/2014 - joraesque wrote: 92 Points
What a fantastic bottle of wine! Gigondas-like nose, with notes of garrigue, violets, smoke, peat, and some medicinal notes; after a while aromas or rich soil (barnyard) also make a showing. On the very dry palate (with tannins resembling black tea leaves at times) there's blueberry and blackberry fruit and black pepper, followed by green pepper seeds and emerging flavors of licorice on the mid-palate over time, completed by an underlying smokiness in the background. There is also some very slight fizziness on the finish that gives the wine a young aura and which makes me wonder whether it wouldn't benefit from another 1-3 years. Without doubt this is a pièce de résistance by the August West winemaker. 14.2% ABV. Herb-crusted rack of lamb anyone? 91-92
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12/18/2013 - pjhr wrote: 90 Points
Similar tasting notes to previous bottle, but this bottle was more closed with more tannins on the finish than I remember.
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12/9/2013 - Outplaying wrote:
Popped and poured. No doubt this is syrah with its aromas of white pepper, blood and mineral, and a touch of wood. On the palate the charred oak shows even more along with the cracked white and black pepper. The fruit is tart, but hidden behind the pepper and spice. There is good acid in this and medium tannin. Right now the oak is too much for me but I like the cool climate fruit and spice behind it. I have one bottle left that I will open after 2016.
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10/5/2013 - pjhr Likes this wine: 91 Points
Floral & blackberry aromas and flavors on the palate with herbal & pepper extending to a tasty finish.
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4/5/2013 - dhammer53 wrote: 91 Points
Drank this at my 60th, so limited notes. Full bodied and delicious. Drank with pizza at Di Fara's in Brooklyn.
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2/14/2013 - Syrogr wrote: 88 Points
This bottle has some sediment; color is brownish red (possibly flawed?). Pleasant bouquet; earthtones and soft fruit. Not complex, but enjoyable; a single-layered Syrah, sweeter than I like, yet not Australian jammy; not much spice, but it will do for Valentine's Day.
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1/26/2013 - Why Yes wrote: 90 Points
Finally, another chance to revisit Bennett Valley. Ran across this wine at a local wine shop and could not help myself at the tariff ($15).
Upon first sniff was worried this wine was flawed as the bouquet and palate were dominated by sour/stewed notes. Set aside.
Revisted, after 15 minutes. Wine came together nicely. Pronounced stemminess coupled with riper fruit have integrated nicely to create an interesting flavor profile that lies outside either new or old world classifications.
Wanted more minerality and depth (which is what I enjoyed from prior examples from Bennett Valley), but that might not be a fair request given the price.
Well done.
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12/12/2012 - Grape_ape wrote: 91 Points
Decided to check in on one of these in light of the new offer. Lots of northern rhone character, peppery, floral, meaty... Yum. Will definitely be ordering the current release. Incredible value.
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12/9/2012 - The Wine Write wrote:
Popped and poured, drank over 3 nights. Black cherries and pepper on the nose. Bright cherry fruit on the palate. Finish is a bit clipped. Got better the longer it was open. Pleasant weeknight drinker.
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10/20/2012 - atubbs wrote: 90 Points
Blindfolded, this is not a wine from California. A hair over 14%, tons of pepper and vegetative funk. Could not convince me this is from anywhere but the northern Rhone.
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8/27/2011 - thalver wrote:
This bottle did not show anywhere near as well as the previous one. Faint elements of blue fruit, pepper and just a bit of earth, but seeminly a bit disjointed...dumb?.....after an hour, the tannins seemed a bit drying.
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6/2/2011 - thalver wrote:
Served blind, I would have guessed this was a good Crozes Hermitage. Very Northern rhone in character. Medium bodied. Lots of pepper on both the nose and palate. A bit of funk, which did subside with time in the decanter, when dark fruits emerged. Goodly amount of acidity. After a few hours in the decanter, the tannins became a bit more prominent, and perhaps just a bit drying. Medium-plus finish Great value 90-91
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3/19/2011 - CerveloGuy wrote:
My second bottle. This is an intensely flavored wine. Lots of pepper and fruit with a touch of green that I like. A really nice drink.
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3/4/2011 - CerveloGuy wrote:
Obviously very young, but shows a nice balance between fruit and acidity with a little pepper thrown in for good measure.
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12/20/2010 - thalver wrote:
Decanted and consumed just a few days after arrival, so take this with a grain of salt if you are a believer in travel shock (I don't understand any science as to why it should be an issue with young wines, but the anecdotal evidence seems compelling.) As you might expect, very primary upon opening. The nose was reasonably expressive from the moment it was poured into the decanter, and seemed to expand after an hour. tart fruit, perhaps a hint of olive. medium bodied. descent acid. Moderate, but present tannin. Good balance. Tastes like a syrah by a pinot maker. It will be interesting to see if it puts on some weight with some bottle age.
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