Open and plush on the palate, this is showing a nice balance of fruit and developing tertiary notes. This has held up nicely, but I feel like it has probably peaked. I wouldn’t hold for much longer.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Although generally atypical of FM, this bottle was showing some disjointedness that I think can come with age. I decanted it for 2 hours in a wide-bottomed one, sampled it along the way, and drank over the next 2-3 hours, on the palate this had 3 strong and divergent tangents of dark fruit, alcohol, and wandering acidity. They did not play together at all and made for an unpleasant, disappointing experience. Hopefully, my last bottle will be different.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I opened this on 9/21/18 because I was disappointed in a bottle opened by friends last weekend and wanted to check on one of mine. I decanted it for three hours and found this one much better. It had a rich, deep, powerful bouquet of plum, blackberry, black olive, bacon, anise, pepper and spice aromas. The palate was rich, powerful, dense and dry with flavors of blackberry, plum, black olive, burnt toast, licorice, spice and minerals.
Friends opened this for our 9/14/18 game night. It had a rich, deep, dark, bouquet of char, burnt toast, plum, blackberry, bacon and spice aromas. The palate was rich, dense and dark with flavors that followed the nose. 90+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Developing nicely, tasted they over 2 days. The first day, the fruit was subdued with some menthol. The wine on the first day was atypical with little characteristics reminding me this was syrah. I audozed the remaining wine and on the next day the wine complete unfolded into a plush spicy syrah with huge red fruits. I see why they call this a reserve. I wish i had audozed the whole bottle. An amazing wine, give this a long slow-ox decant.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Splash decant, served with NY steak, carrots. Very nice, dark berries and plums up front followed by a bit of a tartness on the finish. Well balanced, good mouth feel, very smooth. I agree with others that it really doesn't have a typical new world Syrah profile, very little spice. Wine is in a good spot now but should last several more years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured at BYO. Needed 10 to 15 minutes to settle down. Dark purple in the glass. Dark fruit, blackberries and plums, but restrained in effect, almost like an old world Northern Rhone Syrah. Lacking in that spicy Syrah edginess. Paired well with duck at restaurant, though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
decanted 3 hours, consumed 80-20 over two days. day 1 was considerably better than day 2. day 1 had some dried red and black fruits, violet, lots of oak (just like '07). given that fm emulates various French wine regions with their other wines, I'm wondering if they are going for another French style here (I dunno, maybe Cornas?), instead of making a Washington wine. it lacks concentration and power. it's not unfocused, flabby or out-of-balanced; it just lacks enough of anything obvious enough to be interesting to my palate. if scoring, 86-88. I don't think this is going anywhere much better than where it is today.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Going to wait on the next bottles. A well made wine, but not a typical Syrah profile, or at least what I would expect. Lacking that spice that makes Syrahs memorable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Friends and I tasted this at the 3/16/13 Spring Release. It had tight, dense bouquet of blackberry, plum, toast and bacon aromas. The palate was tight, dense and short with flavors of blackberry, plum, cherry and toast. It seemed somewhat closed down at this time…perhaps it will open and express itself better with additional bottle time.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
4/12/2022 - WACABLOVER wrote:
As Hall and Oates would sing, “She’s Gone”. I do love the winery though. This one is on me.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/4/2020 - Fugu Me Likes this wine:
Open and plush on the palate, this is showing a nice balance of fruit and developing tertiary notes. This has held up nicely, but I feel like it has probably peaked. I wouldn’t hold for much longer.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2020 - wine247365 Does not like this wine: 84 Points
Although generally atypical of FM, this bottle was showing some disjointedness that I think can come with age. I decanted it for 2 hours in a wide-bottomed one, sampled it along the way, and drank over the next 2-3 hours, on the palate this had 3 strong and divergent tangents of dark fruit, alcohol, and wandering acidity. They did not play together at all and made for an unpleasant, disappointing experience. Hopefully, my last bottle will be different.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/21/2018 - garambler Likes this wine: 93 Points
I opened this on 9/21/18 because I was disappointed in a bottle opened by friends last weekend and wanted to check on one of mine. I decanted it for three hours and found this one much better. It had a rich, deep, powerful bouquet of plum, blackberry, black olive, bacon, anise, pepper and spice aromas. The palate was rich, powerful, dense and dry with flavors of blackberry, plum, black olive, burnt toast, licorice, spice and minerals.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/14/2018 - garambler wrote: 91 Points
Friends opened this for our 9/14/18 game night. It had a rich, deep, dark, bouquet of char, burnt toast, plum, blackberry, bacon and spice aromas. The palate was rich, dense and dark with flavors that followed the nose. 90+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/20/2018 - wiscgrad wrote: 93 Points
new world. fruit forward (dark black and blue) and lush tannins. decent acidity. very well made and showing no signs of fading
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2017 - ccotton8 Likes this wine:
Developing nicely, tasted they over 2 days. The first day, the fruit was subdued with some menthol. The wine on the first day was atypical with little characteristics reminding me this was syrah. I audozed the remaining wine and on the next day the wine complete unfolded into a plush spicy syrah with huge red fruits. I see why they call this a reserve. I wish i had audozed the whole bottle. An amazing wine, give this a long slow-ox decant.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/30/2016 - devman wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful wine. Needs another 5-7 years though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2015 - RLP805 wrote: 93 Points
Splash decant, served with NY steak, carrots. Very nice, dark berries and plums up front followed by a bit of a tartness on the finish. Well balanced, good mouth feel, very smooth. I agree with others that it really doesn't have a typical new world Syrah profile, very little spice. Wine is in a good spot now but should last several more years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2015 - ClubTerry Likes this wine: 94 Points
I gave a full 24 hour decant. Lots of blue and black fruits and earthy notes. Long pleasant finish, really liked this wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/25/2014 - ELH wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured at BYO. Needed 10 to 15 minutes to settle down. Dark purple in the glass. Dark fruit, blackberries and plums, but restrained in effect, almost like an old world Northern Rhone Syrah. Lacking in that spicy Syrah edginess. Paired well with duck at restaurant, though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2014 - caeleric wrote:
decanted 3 hours, consumed 80-20 over two days. day 1 was considerably better than day 2. day 1 had some dried red and black fruits, violet, lots of oak (just like '07). given that fm emulates various French wine regions with their other wines, I'm wondering if they are going for another French style here (I dunno, maybe Cornas?), instead of making a Washington wine. it lacks concentration and power. it's not unfocused, flabby or out-of-balanced; it just lacks enough of anything obvious enough to be interesting to my palate. if scoring, 86-88. I don't think this is going anywhere much better than where it is today.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/8/2013 - shadow wrote: 92 Points
soft and easy on the palate, first guess, red blend, check and no, its syrah reserve, nice drink but nothing screams reserve
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/20/2013 - Gene_Mo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Going to wait on the next bottles. A well made wine, but not a typical Syrah profile, or at least what I would expect. Lacking that spice that makes Syrahs memorable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2013 - Scottlmatthews Likes this wine: 93 Points
Perfectly balanced wine with an elegant expression of dark fruit and terror. Love this wine paired with roasted rack of lamb.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2013 - garambler wrote: 91 Points
Friends and I tasted this at the 3/16/13 Spring Release. It had tight, dense bouquet of blackberry, plum, toast and bacon aromas. The palate was tight, dense and short with flavors of blackberry, plum, cherry and toast. It seemed somewhat closed down at this time…perhaps it will open and express itself better with additional bottle time.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment