Smoky, with meat and creosote, blackberry fruit with some blue notes as well. Oak still somewhat thick. A massive and interesting wine, reminds me of Chave in a hot year. Good plus.
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A 4 hr decant and this was singing beautifully — lots of ripe red fruit, some underlying ripe black fruit, with loads of minerality, acidity, and complexity for a wonderful 45 second finish. Paired beautifully with filets, and we have one bottle left to try. At its peak I think.
Slow ox for two hours. The slow ox time really helped opening this up compared to the last time I drank this. This is full bodied with a very long finish but shows beautifully pure, balanced cherry and plum fruit with a touch of smoked meat and spice. This is quite new world in style buts it’s delicious, deep and complex.
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This is not for everyone. This is a full throttle Parker style wine with 15.9 abv Huge nose of black fruit, flowers and smoked meats. The wine is massively concentrated with flavors of black fruits and more black fruits, herbs and spice and a long long finish. At the same time, the wine feels a little bit jammy and there is noticeable oak. Will this get better with time? Today it comes off overdone.
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Utterly fabulous wine. Triple decanted (twice never seems enough) and then left there for an hour (I would give it a couple of hours if you have planned ahead). Deep, dark and rich, and yet instantly accessible. Once swallowed, it still lingers on your mouth for what seems like minutes. This will still get better, but why be shy if you have some in the cellar - try it soon and keep the rest to savour later.
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I like this but I don't LOVE it, which I would have hoped I would after paying over $150. Probably will improve with more air and/or time... these notes are given after pop & pour. The slight bit of funk reminds me of some less expensive Cayuse bottles I've had over the years.
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Decanted 3 hours. Alcohol remained very present with strong tannins on the finish. Leathery red fruit, plums, smoke, lavender, and pepper. Extracted big style but not as expressive as anticipated. Needs at least 5 more years.
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A massive red that shows impressive power and intensity, but lacks the complexity and grace I expect at this price point. Nose of blackberry and cedar; heavy in body; inky purple in color. Ripe and extracted tastes of plum, black cherry, and vanilla, with very few tannins on the finish. 15.8% alcohol. If you are looking for a traditional Syrah (eg, pepper, game), this is not it. Instead, the massive wall of fruit and soft tannins put it far closer to a (big) CA Merlot. A unique and modern red that is not magical, but quite good - albeit far too expensive for what's in the bottle.
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deep dark purple. Very dense mouthfilling black raspberry flavors, but still rather tight. Definitely hold, but a favorite of mine tonight and the WOTN for at least two more in the group.
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Pop and pour. This wine is purple in color with lots of extracted flavor. Heavy on the palate with red and purple fruit. Slight syrupy texture and a little heat on the finish. Lots going on with this wine but just a little over the top for me.
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Deep purple, medium body, black and red fruit, powerful flavors of licorice, mint, tar, pepper, maybe a bit hot on the finish. A big, brooding wine. Tasted alongside bottles of Cayuse Bionic Frog and Alban Reva. I found the Colgin to be more concentrated than the others and over the top for my taste. Maybe several more years of cellaring will tame this one.
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Return to San Anontio (Ducru Vertical); 2/21/2013-2/24/2013 (Monty): Served blind. Immediately thought '07 CdP given the massive fruit concentration and heat, but others put it in Cali and I realized they were right. This was blowsy, hot, super-ripe and monolithic. Tiring on the palate and I had a hard time getting a typical syrah profile from it. Tons of fruit and concentration but lacking elegance and balance. Least favorite wine of the night. (after seeing the price on this…ouch) 86-87
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Rich, dense, fleshy and powerful, this concentrated, lush, racy Syrah is packed with ripe, pure, black raspberry jam, fresh cherries and licorice. Hard to find and expensive, but if California Syrah is your thing, it's worth the effort to taste this wine.
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5/23/2023 - 1970winer wrote:
OWC
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2/17/2023 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Double decanted for 1.5 hrs, deep ruby, bacon & dark fruit, med. tannins, long finish; outstanding, drink or hold
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10/30/2022 - jviz wrote: 94 Points
Smoky, with meat and creosote, blackberry fruit with some blue notes as well. Oak still somewhat thick. A massive and interesting wine, reminds me of Chave in a hot year. Good plus.
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11/7/2021 - bhrubin Likes this wine: 96 Points
A 4 hr decant and this was singing beautifully — lots of ripe red fruit, some underlying ripe black fruit, with loads of minerality, acidity, and complexity for a wonderful 45 second finish. Paired beautifully with filets, and we have one bottle left to try. At its peak I think.
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8/31/2021 - mclanew Likes this wine: 95 Points
Slow ox for two hours. The slow ox time really helped opening this up compared to the last time I drank this. This is full bodied with a very long finish but shows beautifully pure, balanced cherry and plum fruit with a touch of smoked meat and spice. This is quite new world in style buts it’s delicious, deep and complex.
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3/26/2021 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Similar to prior note after a 1 hour SO; still delicious, but needed the 2 hour decant, drink or hold
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10/30/2020 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 93 Points
plenty of black fruit, grilled meat and savory herbs. More evolved than the last bottle.
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10/2/2020 - mclanew wrote: 91 Points
This is not for everyone. This is a full throttle Parker style wine with 15.9 abv Huge nose of black fruit, flowers and smoked meats. The wine is massively concentrated with flavors of black fruits and more black fruits, herbs and spice and a long long finish. At the same time, the wine feels a little bit jammy and there is noticeable oak. Will this get better with time? Today it comes off overdone.
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7/4/2020 - AlanM68 Likes this wine: 96 Points
A little over 6 months since last tried. Again, in amazing shape. Great width and length. A real pleasure to drink.
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12/29/2019 - AlanM68 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Utterly fabulous wine. Triple decanted (twice never seems enough) and then left there for an hour (I would give it a couple of hours if you have planned ahead). Deep, dark and rich, and yet instantly accessible. Once swallowed, it still lingers on your mouth for what seems like minutes. This will still get better, but why be shy if you have some in the cellar - try it soon and keep the rest to savour later.
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10/26/2019 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Double decanted for 2 hrs, deep ruby, beautiful bacon & blueberry (very N. Rhone), med. tannins, long finish; outstanding, drink or hold
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6/8/2019 - hprphf wrote: 92 Points
Acker 2019/06 (Hong Kong): Closed but ripe and spicy. 92+
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3/3/2019 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Raid the Braxton Cellar (Braxton Cellar - Libertyville IL): Small glass, brief note from memory. Much too jammy for my preferences, I found it somewhat one-dimensional. Others really enjoyed.
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2/16/2019 - nfafoglia Likes this wine: 94 Points
Elegant bouquet of spearmint and black fruit. Balanced on the palate with fennel, thyme, and scorched earth. The finish is long with mint and herbs.
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4/12/2018 - danielbleier wrote: 90 Points
This felt very primary and in need of years of cellaring - Give it 3-4 more years or a serious decant. I got a wall of dark fruit and not much else.
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7/12/2017 - joshabramson Likes this wine: 93 Points
I like this but I don't LOVE it, which I would have hoped I would after paying over $150. Probably will improve with more air and/or time... these notes are given after pop & pour. The slight bit of funk reminds me of some less expensive Cayuse bottles I've had over the years.
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6/24/2017 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 3 hours. Alcohol remained very present with strong tannins on the finish. Leathery red fruit, plums, smoke, lavender, and pepper. Extracted big style but not as expressive as anticipated. Needs at least 5 more years.
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7/25/2015 - msuwine Likes this wine: 92 Points
A massive red that shows impressive power and intensity, but lacks the complexity and grace I expect at this price point. Nose of blackberry and cedar; heavy in body; inky purple in color. Ripe and extracted tastes of plum, black cherry, and vanilla, with very few tannins on the finish. 15.8% alcohol. If you are looking for a traditional Syrah (eg, pepper, game), this is not it. Instead, the massive wall of fruit and soft tannins put it far closer to a (big) CA Merlot. A unique and modern red that is not magical, but quite good - albeit far too expensive for what's in the bottle.
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10/12/2014 - cos65 Likes this wine:
deep dark purple. Very dense mouthfilling black raspberry flavors, but still rather tight. Definitely hold, but a favorite of mine tonight and the WOTN for at least two more in the group.
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3/23/2014 - Barbaro wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour. This wine is purple in color with lots of extracted flavor. Heavy on the palate with red and purple fruit. Slight syrupy texture and a little heat on the finish. Lots going on with this wine but just a little over the top for me.
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3/9/2014 - cabber wrote: 93 Points
Deep purple, medium body, black and red fruit, powerful flavors of licorice, mint, tar, pepper, maybe a bit hot on the finish. A big, brooding wine. Tasted alongside bottles of Cayuse Bionic Frog and Alban Reva. I found the Colgin to be more concentrated than the others and over the top for my taste. Maybe several more years of cellaring will tame this one.
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2/24/2013 - Nutty08 Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Return to San Anontio (Ducru Vertical); 2/21/2013-2/24/2013 (Monty): Served blind. Immediately thought '07 CdP given the massive fruit concentration and heat, but others put it in Cali and I realized they were right. This was blowsy, hot, super-ripe and monolithic. Tiring on the palate and I had a hard time getting a typical syrah profile from it. Tons of fruit and concentration but lacking elegance and balance. Least favorite wine of the night. (after seeing the price on this…ouch) 86-87
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12/9/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
Rich, dense, fleshy and powerful, this concentrated, lush, racy Syrah is packed with ripe, pure, black raspberry jam, fresh cherries and licorice. Hard to find and expensive, but if California Syrah is your thing, it's worth the effort to taste this wine.
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