Last tasted 8 months ago. Fully mature, concentrated black fruits, powerful aromas but some complexity. Light tannins. Faded a bit the second night. Would not hold any longer. Ric
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Not as good as my last bottle, and I question how much longer this vintage will go. However still great CA Syrah. Not as crazy as WA, smoother, but still with that great Syrah fruit and earth. Nice wine.
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Dark crimson color. Ripe plum and earth nose. First taste especially was awesome. Smooth, silky, tobacco and blue / black fruit. Full body, mouth coating. Evolved over time, getting deeper flavored, but that first taste was the cat's meow. This is drinking well now but I don't think it will get better. Its a big CA Syrah, without a stank, but with great flavor and easy to drink. If it had the stank it could pass for a WA Syrah. Makes me want to see what some of the recent vintages are doing. I'll research them.
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Real crowd pleaser. Drank at Da Umberto in NYC. Silky smooth, in a great drinking window right now. Lots of fruit, but not at all over done. Booker wines have yet to disappoint, always a pleasure.
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Dark purple, glass staining legs. A little muted on the nose but hints of rich dark fruit, dried violets, slight pepper, earthy and meaty undertones with a little smoke and oak. Full bodied with a lush/silky texture. Tannins have calmed down and acid is balanced well. Rich dark fruit, a little earthiness but not really showing much age or secondary flavors other than a slight earthy/forest floor but very discreet. Would rate higher but a little straightforward and not sure will improve but this is a really good wine especially for the vintage. Stopped buying these wines a few years ago as most were a little over the top and not as balanced as I would like but this is an exception and great example of Paso Rhône style wines. The price when I bought this I believe was about a third less than it is now as well so would say this was a good QPR.
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Syrah & Shiraz Tasting (Gary's Place, Minneapolis): Outstanding wine and really drinking well. Decanted one hour. Smooth and polished with violets, raspberries, spice, pepper and dust. Balanced and good acidity. This wine should drink well for another five plus years. Outstanding Paso Robles Syrah.
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A huge score from Wine Advocate. Well deserved. This was my Wine of the Year.
Rich and luscious, a perfect Paso Syrah.
I think this bottle would kill Sine Qua Non in a side-by-side tasting. SQN sells for much more on the secondary market and gets way too much hype. Booker delivers.
15% ABV, 100% Syrah
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Just a fabulous wine rich,textured and deep. Notes of raspberries, licorice, and sweet fruit on both the nose and the palate. Incredible length to the finish a great wine.
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Tasted after an hour in a decanter. On the fruit forward and jammy side of the Syrah spectrum. Not much savory here but there is complexity in the form of anise, spice and pepper. An excellent example of the style especially considering the difficulty of the vintage. Very good. I see no benefit to waiting on my remaining bottles.
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Popped and poured through a Venturi. From the moment I opened it, could smell the sweet fruit waft towards me. This wine is big and bold in the mouth, with dark fruit and some coffee on the finish. There's plenty of fruit and structure, so you can sit on this awhile. Not a lot of complexity here though for a $70 wine and none of the classic Syrah elements, e.g. olive or meat. Maybe with time this will develop more sophistication. But maybe not. Drink now or hold for 5+ years.
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I think MPricher nailed this wine. Pop and pour... I would add that I'm getting a bit of musty notes on the nose along with candied red and black fruit. There's a lot going on here - plenty of depth and character.
Beautiful rich dense burgundy red color all the way to the edge. Alcohol is 15%, so this is a big powerful Syrah. However, I don't get any alcohol burn or odor on the nose. There is a bit of sharpness on the mid-palate, but the finish is smooth. Very good structure, with fine tannins on the back-end, also a bit of oak. This wine will age for another 10 years, no problem. Very nice effort from Booker!
Killer Booker bottling.. what always shocks me is how approachable the Fracture is. Color of Cherry pie filling in the glass. Nose is Fruity, but has much depth and secondary nose. The palate starts with yum fruit and a bit candied... but the secondary flavors of carmel, saddle leather, and dried meats, add character well beyond. Not easy wine to get, but very enjoyable.
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Popped and poured through a Vinturi. There was a little too much graphite on the first tastes, but that blew off. In appearance this is deep, deep inky purple and on the nose there is a rich smell of dried blueberry and cassis. After the graphite receded (it was maybe 5 minutes), there is an overpowering sock it to the mouth feeling. Great stuff; might benefit from a 30 min. decant.
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Tasted immediately after opening. Anise, cocoa and mineral nose. Smooth and fruit forward on the palate with raspberry, blackberry and herbs most prominent. Long finish. Very good
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The wine was terrific! Lots of berries and a hint of leather on the nose. The flavor profile was blackberries, boysenberries and a bit of smoke. And, it was still great on day 2!
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WOTN at the WFFT auction mtg. Plenty of black fruit and smoke aromas, with olive and wet stone added to the palate. Very lush palate, smooth and long. Probably has 5-7 years of solid life in it. Highly recommended
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Popped and poured. This is a huge wine, and I can see why many people might not care for it, but I do enjoy it. I could use it toned down a bit to enjoy it more, but it's still nice even at an early stage. Aroma is really dark fruit of blackberry and plum with some oak. I think the oak comes through a bit more on the palate, but not so much that it's too much. It's tasty, and I think with some more integration, this has potential for a higher score.
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Decanted 20 hours prior to consuming. There is some very pretty dark red to blue fruit, nicely textured, more feminine than usual. Unfortunately, it is shackled by oak which presents as too resolute, perhaps even abusive.
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Lots of wines at Tommy's Clambake (Tommy's): A love it or hate it wine amongst the crowd. I loved it. Inky purple in color. It is a big wine and does not hide its size at all. Black raspberries, oak, pepper on the nose. Tons of oak and fruit on the palate. Yet for all that, I found a certain smoothness about it. For some it had that Raspberry milk shake quality and too much alcohol and oak. I liked it and it even got a WOTN mention from a couple of people.
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10/12/2023 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 95 Points
Last tasted 8 months ago. Fully mature, concentrated black fruits, powerful aromas but some complexity. Light tannins. Faded a bit the second night. Would not hold any longer.
Ric
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9/25/2023 - Winevestor Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not as good as my last bottle, and I question how much longer this vintage will go. However still great CA Syrah. Not as crazy as WA, smoother, but still with that great Syrah fruit and earth. Nice wine.
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4/28/2022 - Winevestor Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark crimson color. Ripe plum and earth nose. First taste especially was awesome. Smooth, silky, tobacco and blue / black fruit. Full body, mouth coating. Evolved over time, getting deeper flavored, but that first taste was the cat's meow. This is drinking well now but I don't think it will get better. Its a big CA Syrah, without a stank, but with great flavor and easy to drink. If it had the stank it could pass for a WA Syrah. Makes me want to see what some of the recent vintages are doing. I'll research them.
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10/15/2021 - E wrote: 75 Points
Something off about this bottle if other notes are to be believed...not corked...but not at all close to what is promised by others
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3/27/2021 - mvande21 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark berries, leather and spice. Structured and balanced. Full bodied. Smooth, rich and mouth filling with long finish.
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2/14/2021 - whoofnagle@gmail.com Likes this wine: 92 Points
Solid full bodied Syrah. Dark fruits and a nice finish. Drinking well. Wish I had another
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11/5/2020 - spidersva Likes this wine:
was delicious #electionweek
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11/3/2020 - PinotPaul Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wonderful. Maybe starting to fade just a bit.
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9/12/2020 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 95 Points
consistent with notes of 3/26/2015
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8/12/2020 - fdub Likes this wine: 93 Points
Powerhouse. Think this is in the prime window for consumption. Intense spice box and strawberry jam flavors.
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7/13/2020 - RBurgundy99 wrote: 91 Points
Drinking nicely. Dark fruits, silky tannins, nice finish. I was worried this was past due but still needed an hour to open up fully.
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4/18/2020 - monared wrote: 90 Points
All gone!
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4/22/2019 - ravbik wrote: 93 Points
Big, ripe , lots of fruit full bodied Syrah. Bouquet expands and really opens up after two hours of decant
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4/19/2019 - joshabramson Likes this wine: 94 Points
Real crowd pleaser. Drank at Da Umberto in NYC. Silky smooth, in a great drinking window right now. Lots of fruit, but not at all over done. Booker wines have yet to disappoint, always a pleasure.
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3/22/2019 - West Coast Wine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark purple, glass staining legs. A little muted on the nose but hints of rich dark fruit, dried violets, slight pepper, earthy and meaty undertones with a little smoke and oak. Full bodied with a lush/silky texture. Tannins have calmed down and acid is balanced well. Rich dark fruit, a little earthiness but not really showing much age or secondary flavors other than a slight earthy/forest floor but very discreet. Would rate higher but a little straightforward and not sure will improve but this is a really good wine especially for the vintage. Stopped buying these wines a few years ago as most were a little over the top and not as balanced as I would like but this is an exception and great example of Paso Rhône style wines. The price when I bought this I believe was about a third less than it is now as well so would say this was a good QPR.
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12/8/2018 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 94 Points
Syrah & Shiraz Tasting (Gary's Place, Minneapolis): Outstanding wine and really drinking well. Decanted one hour. Smooth and polished with violets, raspberries, spice, pepper and dust. Balanced and good acidity. This wine should drink well for another five plus years. Outstanding Paso Robles Syrah.
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11/15/2018 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pop and pour. Silky, full-bodied Syrah with nice balance, firm tannins, dark fruit. Really charming and great wine for 2011.
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9/23/2018 - Amerique wrote: 94 Points
Rich, delicious blackberry fruit with cassis, excellent structure, very focused and restrained, needs lots of a time to open up, short finish
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4/8/2018 - UofM Likes this wine: 96 Points
Yes! Even better than the last time. Love love love.
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3/24/2018 - JohnnyShiraz Likes this wine: 98 Points
A huge score from Wine Advocate. Well deserved. This was my Wine of the Year.
Rich and luscious, a perfect Paso Syrah.
I think this bottle would kill Sine Qua Non in a side-by-side tasting. SQN sells for much more on the secondary market and gets way too much hype. Booker delivers.
15% ABV, 100% Syrah
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2/8/2018 - ultrawine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nice extraction. Well balanced. Good now and should continue to be for two or three years.
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1/6/2018 - ELH wrote: 89 Points
Last bottle from the vintage. It seemed to have run out of steam.
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11/26/2017 - jweedin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Big boy! Needed an hour decanting but still a great Syrah
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11/24/2017 - bzell Likes this wine: 98 Points
Just a fabulous wine rich,textured and deep. Notes of raspberries, licorice, and sweet fruit on both the nose and the palate. Incredible length to the finish a great wine.
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11/19/2017 - ELH wrote: 90 Points
Needed about a hour to attain "cruising speed." At first, somewhat restrained and lacking in its usual depth and warmth.
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10/21/2017 - ELH wrote: 90 Points
Perhaps age is taking its toll. This bottle was lacking in the usual Fracture depth and vibrancy.
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10/8/2017 - ELH wrote: 90 Points
This bottle seemed a deflated version of the others consumed from this vintage. Off bottle?
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6/18/2017 - jonleerhp Likes this wine: 94 Points
Elegant wine. Creme de cassis and spice box. 1 hour decant. No hard edges and another really solid showing from Booker.
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5/13/2017 - ELH wrote: 95 Points
Luxurious.
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4/4/2017 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 94 Points
Firm, silky syrah without funk. Beautiful mouth feel. Drinking very well right now.
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10/1/2016 - mliszt Likes this wine: 97 Points
keeps getting better...... drank over two nights and the second was just as good. just about perfect
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8/25/2016 - tantotinto wrote: 92 Points
Tasted after an hour in a decanter. On the fruit forward and jammy side of the Syrah spectrum. Not much savory here but there is complexity in the form of anise, spice and pepper. An excellent example of the style especially considering the difficulty of the vintage. Very good. I see no benefit to waiting on my remaining bottles.
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7/18/2016 - UofM wrote:
Awesome sauce! Decanted for about 2 hours. Really singing right now.
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4/1/2016 - BigTex22 wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured through a Venturi. From the moment I opened it, could smell the sweet fruit waft towards me. This wine is big and bold in the mouth, with dark fruit and some coffee on the finish. There's plenty of fruit and structure, so you can sit on this awhile. Not a lot of complexity here though for a $70 wine and none of the classic Syrah elements, e.g. olive or meat. Maybe with time this will develop more sophistication. But maybe not. Drink now or hold for 5+ years.
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3/12/2016 - gfm10 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Incredible Paso Syrah. Gave it about 30 min to breathe and got better throughout the night.
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2/13/2016 - bonedoc wrote:
As advertised, big, concentrated, hedonistic, elixir - delicious for this style if that's what you're looking for.
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1/15/2016 - DawgByte wrote: 93 Points
I think MPricher nailed this wine. Pop and pour... I would add that I'm getting a bit of musty notes on the nose along with candied red and black fruit. There's a lot going on here - plenty of depth and character.
Beautiful rich dense burgundy red color all the way to the edge. Alcohol is 15%, so this is a big powerful Syrah. However, I don't get any alcohol burn or odor on the nose. There is a bit of sharpness on the mid-palate, but the finish is smooth. Very good structure, with fine tannins on the back-end, also a bit of oak. This wine will age for another 10 years, no problem. Very nice effort from Booker!
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1/9/2016 - mpricher wrote: 93 Points
Killer Booker bottling.. what always shocks me is how approachable the Fracture is. Color of Cherry pie filling in the glass. Nose is Fruity, but has much depth and secondary nose. The palate starts with yum fruit and a bit candied... but the secondary flavors of carmel, saddle leather, and dried meats, add character well beyond. Not easy wine to get, but very enjoyable.
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12/20/2015 - SMagowan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Popped and poured through a Vinturi. There was a little too much graphite on the first tastes, but that blew off. In appearance this is deep, deep inky purple and on the nose there is a rich smell of dried blueberry and cassis. After the graphite receded (it was maybe 5 minutes), there is an overpowering sock it to the mouth feeling. Great stuff; might benefit from a 30 min. decant.
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12/14/2015 - mliszt Likes this wine: 96 Points
ready to drink as soon as you pop the cork and immediately fabulous. smoooooooth and all you could want in a bottle of fine wine
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11/23/2015 - tantotinto wrote: 92 Points
Tasted immediately after opening. Anise, cocoa and mineral nose. Smooth and fruit forward on the palate with raspberry, blackberry and herbs most prominent. Long finish. Very good
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10/31/2015 - Tetherton Likes this wine: 92 Points
The wine was terrific! Lots of berries and a hint of leather on the nose. The flavor profile was blackberries, boysenberries and a bit of smoke. And, it was still great on day 2!
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8/30/2015 - MXL wrote:
Phenomenal.
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8/1/2015 - vino nut wrote:
Fabulous
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7/5/2015 - Baggio Likes this wine: 95 Points
One of the most complex wines I have had in recent memory. Layers of chocolate and leather. Wow!
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3/26/2015 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 95 Points
WOTN at the WFFT auction mtg. Plenty of black fruit and smoke aromas, with olive and wet stone added to the palate. Very lush palate, smooth and long. Probably has 5-7 years of solid life in it. Highly recommended
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3/15/2015 - Castle Peak wrote: 93 Points
Two hour decant. Intense and complex, with lots of dark plum and purple berry fruits, toasty oak and spice.
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3/14/2015 - KCBrian wrote: 92 Points
big powerful syrah!
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7/25/2014 - Wine Sparty wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured. This is a huge wine, and I can see why many people might not care for it, but I do enjoy it. I could use it toned down a bit to enjoy it more, but it's still nice even at an early stage. Aroma is really dark fruit of blackberry and plum with some oak. I think the oak comes through a bit more on the palate, but not so much that it's too much. It's tasty, and I think with some more integration, this has potential for a higher score.
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7/21/2014 - jeagle wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 20 hours prior to consuming. There is some very pretty dark red to blue fruit, nicely textured, more feminine than usual. Unfortunately, it is shackled by oak which presents as too resolute, perhaps even abusive.
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7/12/2014 - ELH wrote: 96 Points
One of my favorite wines. Youthful but thoroughly delightful. Deep, dense, dark Syrah fruit that evolves in the glass. Blackberries and blueberries.
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9/15/2013 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 92 Points
Lots of wines at Tommy's Clambake (Tommy's): A love it or hate it wine amongst the crowd. I loved it. Inky purple in color. It is a big wine and does not hide its size at all. Black raspberries, oak, pepper on the nose. Tons of oak and fruit on the palate. Yet for all that, I found a certain smoothness about it. For some it had that Raspberry milk shake quality and too much alcohol and oak. I liked it and it even got a WOTN mention from a couple of people.
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9/14/2013 - signotim wrote: 91 Points
needs time for oak to integrate
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5/19/2013 - ToddS wrote:
Since we're new to these had to try. Day two and this is showing well.
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