This bottle better than the last, but the clock is still ticking...Black fruit, field flowers, spicy oak on the nose; same fruit notes on the attack, meat and savory herbs in the middle and on the finish. Sharp and slightly acidic on the finish. Per prior note, this is in the home stretch. Drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deeep ruby color, thin meniscus. Wood, earthy spice notes populate the nose. Fine tannins coat the teeth and moderate acidity lends support. Palate reflects the nose with notes of black plum, cedar cigar box and leather. Medium body and medium long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark purple color. Stewed black fruit, black olive, underbrush on the nose; black fruits and olive on the palate. One dimensional but lively. Sadly, the effervescence on the finish suggests that this is nearly done. Drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
At 10 yrs: dark garnet, no bricking at all. Big, linear - even austere? - nose of cooked dark fruit and olives. Similar on the palate - balance of fruit and savory elements. Clean with soft tannins and enough brightness / acidity. Example of evolution in the cellar as the meatiness and spice of a young Syrah have been transformed. Delicious with food. May still have some life ahead... but drink up soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I loved this Syrah! It was full with blackberry and cherry. Well balanced, smooth and had a slight bit of chocolate aftertaste. It tasted so much better than the previous reviews I’ve read. Perhaps it just needed more time but this was an excellent bottle of wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Today this wine was very well integrated. Smooth with plenty of flavor. The tannins have faded for the most part but the fruit is still there. Juicy, palate-pleasing and enjoyable. Not sure it gets much better than this for this wine. Drink up.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine was nondescript - boring. It was okay, but there was simply nothing that stood out about the wine. We are quite accustomed to excellent wine. This wine was not excellent; it was merely okay. It was flat and unremarkable. Too bad as I had high hopes for the vertical of the 2010, 2011, and the 2012. I'm hoping the younger vintages face better!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I gave this wine a few years in the cellar, as advised by the winemaker, but the results are still only AOK. Decanted 45 mins. ahead off of a bit of sediment. Very deep, inky garnet color. Nice, dark-toned nose of black cherries, currants, figs, smoke, some wood. Rich and smooth on the palate, full-bodied, with coffee flavors and smoothed-out texture partly from bottle age. Finishes somewhat quickly, with a slight dusting of tannin. The richness of this wine is full-on, without much fragrance or subtlety. It's good, but then I was not fully on-board with the early hype about this wine. I still hold back.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Big fruit bomb. Nose of blue and red fruit, oak and alcohol. Palate of black cherry, vanilla. Finish slightly sour. Something out of kilter here. Decanting recommended. Opened an hour ahead of drinking, but still needed more time for the alcohol to blow off.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dunno whether it's my palate changing or the winemaking or the vintage, but this was just kinda meh. Everything you'd expect from SBC Syrah, but lacking in anything to sustain interest. Fine, and happily consumed, but I wish it was more distinctive. Not my bag this time...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice big fruited effort here. Nuances peeking here and there, this is definitely young. For me, the striking thing about this wine and the few other Stolpman syrahs with age is their current texture and the fact that it increases with age. Delicious now with air. Better in 3-5 years. Not a great QPR admittedly now if buying at their cellardoor.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Central Coast Trip; 6/23/2013-6/26/2013 (Central Coast / Santa Barbara): The body and gravity of this wine is belied by its relatively elegant back end. Very well made, but could stand more animal/smoke/pepper or shall we say personality somewhere, which might emerge over the long term. Full price is a bit high. A lot of fruit without being overstuffed or jammy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 1 hr. ahead. Nearly black garnet color. The nose leads with black cherries and plums, followed by mushroomy, white pepper, and chocolate notes. Rich and smooth on the palate, with black cherry and sweet oak flavors with a bit of tar. It's full-bodied, with moderate and not tart acid balance. Finishes well, with orange peel notes, light grip, and low tannins. This wine is an earnest attempt at defining that ever-elusive concept of CA Syrah in a rich and thick direction. It has a lot going on, but it could be more interesting because it's a bit overpowering and dense, while aging potential is only near-term. Not a great QPR at winery price of $48.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Powerful fruit-forward wine. Dark fruit, rich nose - great finish, soft/no tannins, full body. Good sipping wine, but better with a rich, tomato/meat entree (Cog a Vin?)...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
12/23/2020 - vino_per_tutti Likes this wine: 90 Points
This bottle better than the last, but the clock is still ticking...Black fruit, field flowers, spicy oak on the nose; same fruit notes on the attack, meat and savory herbs in the middle and on the finish. Sharp and slightly acidic on the finish. Per prior note, this is in the home stretch. Drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2020 - bbakove Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deeep ruby color, thin meniscus. Wood, earthy spice notes populate the nose. Fine tannins coat the teeth and moderate acidity lends support.
Palate reflects the nose with notes of black plum, cedar cigar box and leather. Medium body and medium long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2020 - vino_per_tutti wrote: 88 Points
Dark purple color. Stewed black fruit, black olive, underbrush on the nose; black fruits and olive on the palate. One dimensional but lively. Sadly, the effervescence on the finish suggests that this is nearly done. Drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2020 - OnTheVine.blog Likes this wine: 90 Points
At 10 yrs: dark garnet, no bricking at all. Big, linear - even austere? - nose of cooked dark fruit and olives. Similar on the palate - balance of fruit and savory elements. Clean with soft tannins and enough brightness / acidity. Example of evolution in the cellar as the meatiness and spice of a young Syrah have been transformed. Delicious with food. May still have some life ahead... but drink up soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/21/2020 - EvanJB wrote:
Steak dinner at home
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/29/2020 - EvanJB wrote:
Pop and pour at dinner, needs time to open, advise aerate, decant
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2020 - Janstan Likes this wine: 91 Points
Went well with marinated grilled flank steak. Dark briary fruits
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/17/2019 - EvanJB wrote:
Wonderful meaty, opened up to big fruit, long finish, great with filet
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/5/2018 - DDS wine lover wrote: 92 Points
I loved this Syrah! It was full with blackberry and cherry. Well balanced, smooth and had a slight bit of chocolate aftertaste. It tasted so much better than the previous reviews I’ve read. Perhaps it just needed more time but this was an excellent bottle of wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2018 - dkelly1110 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Today this wine was very well integrated. Smooth with plenty of flavor. The tannins have faded for the most part but the fruit is still there. Juicy, palate-pleasing and enjoyable. Not sure it gets much better than this for this wine. Drink up.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2017 - PinotPaul Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very nice but fruit is fading. Still good acidity, pleasant finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2017 - JERB wrote: 87 Points
This wine was nondescript - boring. It was okay, but there was simply nothing that stood out about the wine. We are quite accustomed to excellent wine. This wine was not excellent; it was merely okay. It was flat and unremarkable. Too bad as I had high hopes for the vertical of the 2010, 2011, and the 2012. I'm hoping the younger vintages face better!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2017 - EvanJB wrote:
Really enjoyable now, has aged nicely
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2017 - vino vidi vici Likes this wine:
Kerry's Bday
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
10/8/2016 - vino_per_tutti Likes this wine: 91 Points
Black and red stewed fruit, vanilla and spice on the nose. Black fruit and oak on the palate. Warm, red finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2015 - bbcc66 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for 2 hrs. Big, smooth dark fruit tastes with a nice finish that were consistent throughout the bottle. Drinking well right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2015 - PinotPaul Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very enjoyable and drinking well. Still has good fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2015 - VeniceCalif wrote: 88 Points
I gave this wine a few years in the cellar, as advised by the winemaker, but the results are still only AOK. Decanted 45 mins. ahead off of a bit of sediment. Very deep, inky garnet color. Nice, dark-toned nose of black cherries, currants, figs, smoke, some wood. Rich and smooth on the palate, full-bodied, with coffee flavors and smoothed-out texture partly from bottle age. Finishes somewhat quickly, with a slight dusting of tannin. The richness of this wine is full-on, without much fragrance or subtlety. It's good, but then I was not fully on-board with the early hype about this wine. I still hold back.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2015 - vino_per_tutti wrote: 87 Points
Big fruit bomb. Nose of blue and red fruit, oak and alcohol. Palate of black cherry, vanilla. Finish slightly sour. Something out of kilter here. Decanting recommended. Opened an hour ahead of drinking, but still needed more time for the alcohol to blow off.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/10/2014 - stubbie999 Likes this wine:
Dunno whether it's my palate changing or the winemaking or the vintage, but this was just kinda meh. Everything you'd expect from SBC Syrah, but lacking in anything to sustain interest. Fine, and happily consumed, but I wish it was more distinctive. Not my bag this time...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2014 - EvanJB wrote: 92 Points
Young but very nice already. Good balance
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/26/2013 - arthrovine wrote: 90 Points
Nice big fruited effort here. Nuances peeking here and there, this is definitely young. For me, the striking thing about this wine and the few other Stolpman syrahs with age is their current texture and the fact that it increases with age. Delicious now with air. Better in 3-5 years. Not a great QPR admittedly now if buying at their cellardoor.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/26/2013 - silton wrote:
Central Coast Trip; 6/23/2013-6/26/2013 (Central Coast / Santa Barbara): The body and gravity of this wine is belied by its relatively elegant back end. Very well made, but could stand more animal/smoke/pepper or shall we say personality somewhere, which might emerge over the long term. Full price is a bit high. A lot of fruit without being overstuffed or jammy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2013 - VeniceCalif wrote: 88 Points
Decanted 1 hr. ahead. Nearly black garnet color. The nose leads with black cherries and plums, followed by mushroomy, white pepper, and chocolate notes. Rich and smooth on the palate, with black cherry and sweet oak flavors with a bit of tar. It's full-bodied, with moderate and not tart acid balance. Finishes well, with orange peel notes, light grip, and low tannins. This wine is an earnest attempt at defining that ever-elusive concept of CA Syrah in a rich and thick direction. It has a lot going on, but it could be more interesting because it's a bit overpowering and dense, while aging potential is only near-term. Not a great QPR at winery price of $48.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2012 - EvanJB wrote:
Tried at fall pick-up party. Seems to have the potential to be excellent, but is rather young now. Is drinkable now, but will wait at least 2 yrs.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/6/2012 - Ecoenophile wrote: 90 Points
Powerful fruit-forward wine. Dark fruit, rich nose - great finish, soft/no tannins, full body. Good sipping wine, but better with a rich, tomato/meat entree (Cog a Vin?)...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment