Flavors were a little thin and off balance, with raspberry, sour cherry, vanilla, and a touch of spicebox. Over time, it came together and gained a little weight. The tannins weren't apparent to start but pleasantly crept up after 1/2 hour or so. All that being said, it appears it is fading from its glory days.
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At 12 years of age this wine still requires decanting and quite a bit of air exposure to open up. One bottle remaining. Paired well with spice laden lamb curry.
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Outstanding wine...and it hits my high notes. Dark staining inky color which leads to an unexpected brightness on the palate. Black and blue fruits, espresso, white pepper, and anise. Long, very long if subtle, bright finish. Gorgeous and beautifully done Syrah.
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Dark, dense but well defined floral, dark berry and leather flavors. Bit of crushed rock on the finish. Delicious stuff, and worthy of another 5-8 years in the cellar.
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A nose of some dark fruit and spice, dark purple in color. A medium to full bodied single vineyard red, with black cherry, berry, dust and spice, a bit disjointed. www.winelx.com
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Suggest decanting as at this stage it really needs air to open up before drinking. It will probably be a point or two better after a couple more years in the cellar. Will hold the two remaining bottles for now.
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A nice restrained CA syrah. With a bit of air, the nose became very fruity and a bit flowery, and outpacing the palate a bit, where things were feeling a bit hollow. Had on it's own, and this would probably be better with food. Happy at the discounted price, but would be disappointed at anything higher.
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Ruby pink color. An only moderately expressive nose of wood smoke, candied cherry, and flowers leads into a medium-bodied, chalky palate of rather tightly wound dark red fruit. This is wound up a bit at this point, and even on day #3 showed little sign of yielding, though did come through with more flowery, bitter cherry. I think this is best left alone for another couple years. 91+
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This was quite good within first hour with good balance and no heaviness, good enough for 90 points, but it just kept getting weaker after that. After hour and half, it tasted quite watered down, and it just kept getting worse. I didn't decant this. This was my second bottle, and I had a similar experience with the prior bottle few weeks ago. I'm very unhappy with the purchase, which was heavily discounted to $25. Below 80 points.
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I'm pretty much with WineCPA on this one. Nice enough in a modern style, with loads of black and blue fruit aromas jumping out of the glass, along with some violet as well, and consistent fruit flavors following suit, though it's somehow simultaneously forward and restrained, with lighter-medium body, and notable acidity on the back end keeps it fresh. While there's not a lot of tannic structure for this to age on (was pretty much ready to go on pop-n-pour), I think the acidity will keep things lively for a few years yet, and hopefully some secondary characteristics will appear. Try the next bottle in 2 years. We had this standalone after dinner with a movie, but I would pair this with braised short ribs or similar.
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Rustic tannins. Grapey and almost purple in color. Plum stands out. Good, but I'm not blown away. It lacks depth and I suppose this is why it was purchased for a fraction of original retail. May need some time in the cellar. Drink the next in 2015.
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6/16/2023 - NoWineWiz wrote: 87 Points
Same notes as those from January this year.
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1/14/2023 - NoWineWiz wrote: 88 Points
Flavors were a little thin and off balance, with raspberry, sour cherry, vanilla, and a touch of spicebox. Over time, it came together and gained a little weight. The tannins weren't apparent to start but pleasantly crept up after 1/2 hour or so. All that being said, it appears it is fading from its glory days.
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10/18/2022 - Halfeel Likes this wine: 90 Points
Well-aged and yet still has some fruit and vibrancy.
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11/12/2021 - Halfeel Likes this wine: 90 Points
At 12 years of age this wine still requires decanting and quite a bit of air exposure to open up. One bottle remaining. Paired well with spice laden lamb curry.
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4/22/2021 - NoWineWiz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Agree with Lobonick's review. Still going strong.
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3/21/2019 - Lobonick Likes this wine: 91 Points
Outstanding wine...and it hits my high notes. Dark staining inky color which leads to an unexpected brightness on the palate. Black and blue fruits, espresso, white pepper, and anise. Long, very long if subtle, bright finish. Gorgeous and beautifully done Syrah.
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3/25/2016 - 1961Vintage wrote: 90 Points
Sense the good stuff underneath, but in a less inspiring phase right now.
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12/27/2015 - nectar14 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark, dense but well defined floral, dark berry and leather flavors. Bit of crushed rock on the finish. Delicious stuff, and worthy of another 5-8 years in the cellar.
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12/5/2015 - WineCPA wrote: 90 Points
Grippy tannins but much more open than my last bottle. Big fruit. Needs a decant.
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10/9/2014 - corkscrews Likes this wine: 87 Points
A nose of some dark fruit and spice, dark purple in color. A medium to full bodied single vineyard red, with black cherry, berry, dust and spice, a bit disjointed. www.winelx.com
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9/11/2014 - Halfeel Likes this wine: 89 Points
Suggest decanting as at this stage it really needs air to open up before drinking. It will probably be a point or two better after a couple more years in the cellar. Will hold the two remaining bottles for now.
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4/9/2014 - wirelesswine wrote: 88 Points
A nice restrained CA syrah. With a bit of air, the nose became very fruity and a bit flowery, and outpacing the palate a bit, where things were feeling a bit hollow. Had on it's own, and this would probably be better with food. Happy at the discounted price, but would be disappointed at anything higher.
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4/7/2014 - nectar14 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Ruby pink color. An only moderately expressive nose of wood smoke, candied cherry, and flowers leads into a medium-bodied, chalky palate of rather tightly wound dark red fruit. This is wound up a bit at this point, and even on day #3 showed little sign of yielding, though did come through with more flowery, bitter cherry. I think this is best left alone for another couple years. 91+
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1/12/2014 - Corrie wrote: 85 Points
Cold weather, lower alcohol Syrah, not my thing
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12/7/2013 - Number51 wrote:
This was quite good within first hour with good balance and no heaviness, good enough for 90 points, but it just kept getting weaker after that. After hour and half, it tasted quite watered down, and it just kept getting worse. I didn't decant this. This was my second bottle, and I had a similar experience with the prior bottle few weeks ago.
I'm very unhappy with the purchase, which was heavily discounted to $25.
Below 80 points.
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9/27/2013 - studleytrey wrote: 89 Points
I'm pretty much with WineCPA on this one. Nice enough in a modern style, with loads of black and blue fruit aromas jumping out of the glass, along with some violet as well, and consistent fruit flavors following suit, though it's somehow simultaneously forward and restrained, with lighter-medium body, and notable acidity on the back end keeps it fresh. While there's not a lot of tannic structure for this to age on (was pretty much ready to go on pop-n-pour), I think the acidity will keep things lively for a few years yet, and hopefully some secondary characteristics will appear. Try the next bottle in 2 years. We had this standalone after dinner with a movie, but I would pair this with braised short ribs or similar.
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9/15/2013 - WineCPA wrote: 88 Points
Rustic tannins. Grapey and almost purple in color. Plum stands out. Good, but I'm not blown away. It lacks depth and I suppose this is why it was purchased for a fraction of original retail. May need some time in the cellar. Drink the next in 2015.
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10/12/2012 - l_bob_d wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful. Amazing nose. Restrained and balanced.
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