Once it opens I get intense aromas of black pepper, candied orange, black cherry, blackberry bramble, cedar, shoe leather, tar, rosemary, and sweet tobacco.
Medium plus acid, grippy / chewy tannins. This is still showing super youthful. Long finish.
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-- decanted 45 min. before initial taste on Day 1 -- -- tasted non-blind over 1.5 - 2 hrs. on Day 1; revisited on Day 3 --
NOSE: medium+ expressiveness; smells young and fruity, in a cool climate type of presentation; dark purple berries; peppery, with hints of brine and cigar; no brett.
BODY: medium bodied; magenta-tinged garnet color of medium-deep depth; no bricking.
TASTE: oooooh ... damn! savory; dark-fruited; high acidity; some char/campfire; tannins are resolved; *very good*!; elegant, but not thin or weak; 13.5% alc. is hidden; young, but wide open. Drink or Hold. This is great! Day 3: earthy and dark-fruited, with hints of musk/leather and black truffle. Still impressive.
B: 50, 5, 13, 18,. 8 = 94
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Delicious blackberry, olive, and floral notes on the nose and savory palate with lovely tannins and acidity on the moderate-long finish. Drinking beautifully!
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This is a world-class Syrah: Fully-developed but with no pruniness, medium-bodied, with a nicely balancing streak of acidity, high intensity, suggestions of bacon and rosemary, long finish. I would guess that it is at peak now.
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The previous note on this is spot on. Savory, shifting aromatics. Medium-full palate with a lot of dense fruit energy still. The acidity is particularly well integrated with the fruit, and while the tannins are still strong, they're not mouth-puckering. This is drinking very well, but on the young side. It's quite different from a recent '11 Horseshoe Syrah, which was a more elegant and mature wine than this Skyline. I might prefer the Skyline for its potential, but the contrast is fascinating and rewarding.
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A very savory, herbal Syrah at this point in its evolution. The olive character is more fleshy than briny, which gives it a slightly vegetal character in a nice, chewy way. Undeniably pretty, yet quite dark and almost medicinal, tar-like at times, without being heavy. Like most good Syrah, its aromatic character is swirly, not staying in any one place for too long. Tonight, with brisket, I wanted a little more weight, tannin, and a denser core - perhaps this would have suited the meal better five years ago - but the fairly high acid kept it relevant. A lovely bottle, if not superlative. 13.5%, purchased at auction for $48.
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Popped and enjoyed over a few hours. Classically made with notes of bacon fat and smoke. This is drinking well right now but will easily hold for another 10 years. With N. Rhone prices on the rise, this wine is a fair trade off.
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Ready to drink. Very much like a Northern Rhône with loads of complexity and bacon fat with red fruit and a long finish. Medium bodied, balanced and elegant.
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Complex nose with berries, meat and herbs. Palate is silky and resolved. If served blind I undoubtedly would have guessed N. Rhone from a high quality producer. Saved a couple of glasses (recorked in cellar) for the next night and it had fallen apart by then. Based on how good it was night one and the drop off on night two, I'd say drink up.
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Good not great -- but lightyears better than an '09 Horseshoe Syrah opened a couple weeks ago. This shows nice and gnarly nonfruit flavors: herbs de provence, pepper, iron, and minerals. But the savory qualities are so intense that, by comparison, the coy fruit is almost an afterthought. And the acidity is so intense that the overall impression, while satisfying enough, is a touch severe, at least without food. This did go quite well with a Flannery steak, as the richness of the meat balanced out the acidity. I do not think this will improve further.
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Tasted over 3 hrs -nearly opaque dark red violet -expressive ripe dark berry faint smoked meat and ground black pepper -med/med+ acidity, med/med- weight vibrant high-toned dark fruit liqueur, med- tannins -really expressive and lovely in a lighter high-altitude style, drinking very well now, not sure what to expect for future development as not a lot of fruit or tannin to burn but also not any overt mature elements either
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When first opened, it was light-bodied and intensely peppery. Two hours later, the pepperiness was more integrated though the spiciness still predominated in the flavor profile, with a high acidity and some leathery notes. It has more acid than tannin, and there is some browning, so it is probably for drinking sooner rather than later.
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Some dark fruit, but, mostly, this wine is savory. Some "meatiness." Some earthiness. Something fungal. Medium bodied. Very sedate tannin, but, still, nice acid tartness.
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Complex aromas of dusty roadside blackberries, marjoram, lilacs, grilled meat, moist forest floor. Dense aromatic fruit on the palate with a singing note of acid tannic tension in a taut fugal progression from front to back, wonderful tension and balance from the nose to the acid finish. Big, gripping, exciting, an adventure.
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Nose of smoke, charred game meat, dark plums, and walnuts. Sweet salty fruit on the palate with a dense dry tannic base and a lovely floating acid finish. Fresh, deep, and delicious, balanced. 50 + 17 + 17 + 9 = 93.
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Tasted blind -- I guessed this was pinot, and particularly Burgundy. I was fooled by the bright red fruit. I overlooked some of the pepperiness. My GF thought it was too savory to be pinot, and she was right.
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This was one of the more complex and fascinating syrahs I've had in a while. I think 5 years ago I might not have appreciated this flavor profile, but after being immersed in the worlds of craft beers and craft cocktails, I really like this wine. The juicy and sweet berry fruit plays almost a supporting role while the wine is has wonderful bitter herbaceousness, smoke, peppercorn, a subtle funkiness, with just a hint of sour fruits. Definitely a combination I like in my cocktails. There's even a hint of floral notes (violet maybe?) to add even more complexity.
From the moment I opened the bottle this wine was a winner. Aromas of ripe cherries and blackberries were coming out of the bottle before I even poured a glass. Once in the glass, the fruit was joined by a host of spicy and floral elements. More time brought out darker tar notes, while the fruit maintained focus, kept together by well-buffered tannins.
I was asked whether I could say that this was was as good as or better than a similarly priced Côte Rôtie, but that was not really the point. On some bland, qualitative scale it certainly measured up. I would give this Syrah similar pointless points to a Northern Rhone Syrah if I was in the pointless points business. That pointless point being made, the wine was different from a French Syrah, and that was a good thing. It was an excellent wine in its own right, expressing a more fruit forward, and lower acid profile, that was also incredibly food friendly. Additionally if was friendly to my guests, who were not Northern Rhone wine geeks (but into wine), who appreciated the purity of the Syrah expression.
My assessment: delicious and a notable expression of Syrah that stands on its own, and is well worth the price.
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In a great place, definitely lighter bodied and cool climate, but with wonderful ripeness and floral notes. Came alive with just an hour or so decant. Delicious.
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'98 Henriot Enchanteleurs, '11 Rhys Skyline Syrah, '14 Graillot Crozes-Hermitage: I have yet to meet a Rhys Syrah I didn't love. The nose on this was so compelling I could have swirled and sniffed all night. While the intensity of aromas dark berry fruit, iron and violets suggested a sappy wine, on the palate this was much more elegant. In addition to the raspberry and floral notes, the palate had some subtle olive flavors. Very fine tannins (especially compared with the '14 Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage that followed from the restaurant list). Fine mouthfeel and long finish. I'm still sad these vines are gone.
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PnPed. Nose of red fruit. Same on introduction to the tongue/palate—some cherry, some red plum. As the wine moves back there are some earthy or graphite hints. A fairly light-bodied Syrah. Also, very light on tannin. Excellent acid tartness.
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Low keyed blackberry fruit with classic bacon fat/savory notes on the finish. A bit reserved at this time- probably could have used a bit of a decant prior to drinking.
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12/30/2023 - snamnoum@gmail.com wrote: 91 Points
Pretty tight and closed down initially.
Once it opens I get intense aromas of black pepper, candied orange, black cherry, blackberry bramble, cedar, shoe leather, tar, rosemary, and sweet tobacco.
Medium plus acid, grippy / chewy tannins. This is still showing super youthful. Long finish.
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11/20/2023 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
As delicious as the last bottle!
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10/19/2023 - jjct Likes this wine:
Generous, but balanced with fruit and savory flavors. Drinking very nicely.
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8/29/2023 - grafstrb wrote: 94 Points
-- decanted 45 min. before initial taste on Day 1 --
-- tasted non-blind over 1.5 - 2 hrs. on Day 1; revisited on Day 3 --
NOSE: medium+ expressiveness; smells young and fruity, in a cool climate type of presentation; dark purple berries; peppery, with hints of brine and cigar; no brett.
BODY: medium bodied; magenta-tinged garnet color of medium-deep depth; no bricking.
TASTE: oooooh ... damn! savory; dark-fruited; high acidity; some char/campfire; tannins are resolved; *very good*!; elegant, but not thin or weak; 13.5% alc. is hidden; young, but wide open. Drink or Hold. This is great! Day 3: earthy and dark-fruited, with hints of musk/leather and black truffle. Still impressive.
B: 50, 5, 13, 18,. 8 = 94
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6/2/2023 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious blackberry, olive, and floral notes on the nose and savory palate with lovely tannins and acidity on the moderate-long finish. Drinking beautifully!
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12/18/2022 - talbot61 Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is a world-class Syrah: Fully-developed but with no pruniness, medium-bodied, with a nicely balancing streak of acidity, high intensity, suggestions of bacon and rosemary, long finish. I would guess that it is at peak now.
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12/6/2022 - jlm wrote:
The previous note on this is spot on. Savory, shifting aromatics. Medium-full palate with a lot of dense fruit energy still. The acidity is particularly well integrated with the fruit, and while the tannins are still strong, they're not mouth-puckering. This is drinking very well, but on the young side. It's quite different from a recent '11 Horseshoe Syrah, which was a more elegant and mature wine than this Skyline. I might prefer the Skyline for its potential, but the contrast is fascinating and rewarding.
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10/15/2022 - Benj wrote: 91 Points
A very savory, herbal Syrah at this point in its evolution. The olive character is more fleshy than briny, which gives it a slightly vegetal character in a nice, chewy way. Undeniably pretty, yet quite dark and almost medicinal, tar-like at times, without being heavy. Like most good Syrah, its aromatic character is swirly, not staying in any one place for too long. Tonight, with brisket, I wanted a little more weight, tannin, and a denser core - perhaps this would have suited the meal better five years ago - but the fairly high acid kept it relevant. A lovely bottle, if not superlative. 13.5%, purchased at auction for $48.
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1/19/2022 - EhrlichDY Likes this wine:
Popped and enjoyed over a few hours. Classically made with notes of bacon fat and smoke. This is drinking well right now but will easily hold for another 10 years. With N. Rhone prices on the rise, this wine is a fair trade off.
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1/8/2022 - Tree512 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Ready to drink. Very much like a Northern Rhône with loads of complexity and bacon fat with red fruit and a long finish. Medium bodied, balanced and elegant.
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2/7/2021 - rhit wrote:
Found this to be flat with confectionery fruit and overt oak. Seemed tired. An uncharacteristically subpar Rhys syrah experience.
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12/17/2020 - B Paul wrote:
Complex nose with berries, meat and herbs. Palate is silky and resolved. If served blind I undoubtedly would have guessed N. Rhone from a high quality producer. Saved a couple of glasses (recorked in cellar) for the next night and it had fallen apart by then. Based on how good it was night one and the drop off on night two, I'd say drink up.
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9/22/2020 - rc@ughey wrote: 89 Points
Good not great -- but lightyears better than an '09 Horseshoe Syrah opened a couple weeks ago. This shows nice and gnarly nonfruit flavors: herbs de provence, pepper, iron, and minerals. But the savory qualities are so intense that, by comparison, the coy fruit is almost an afterthought. And the acidity is so intense that the overall impression, while satisfying enough, is a touch severe, at least without food. This did go quite well with a Flannery steak, as the richness of the meat balanced out the acidity. I do not think this will improve further.
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9/6/2020 - Cote d'Or Likes this wine:
Tasted over 3 hrs
-nearly opaque dark red violet
-expressive ripe dark berry faint smoked meat and ground black pepper
-med/med+ acidity, med/med- weight vibrant high-toned dark fruit liqueur, med- tannins
-really expressive and lovely in a lighter high-altitude style, drinking very well now, not sure what to expect for future development as not a lot of fruit or tannin to burn but also not any overt mature elements either
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7/5/2020 - talbot61 Likes this wine: 90 Points
When first opened, it was light-bodied and intensely peppery. Two hours later, the pepperiness was more integrated though the spiciness still predominated in the flavor profile, with a high acidity and some leathery notes. It has more acid than tannin, and there is some browning, so it is probably for drinking sooner rather than later.
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2/24/2020 - EMark Likes this wine:
Some dark fruit, but, mostly, this wine is savory. Some "meatiness." Some earthiness. Something fungal. Medium bodied. Very sedate tannin, but, still, nice acid tartness.
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12/11/2019 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 94 Points
Complex aromas of dusty roadside blackberries, marjoram, lilacs, grilled meat, moist forest floor. Dense aromatic fruit on the palate with a singing note of acid tannic tension in a taut fugal progression from front to back, wonderful tension and balance from the nose to the acid finish. Big, gripping, exciting, an adventure.
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10/24/2019 - lolo66 wrote: 94 Points
incredibly juicy and vibrant and offering a huge amount of upfront plums, berries, some love juice. Still young and easily go another 10 years,
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3/26/2019 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose of smoke, charred game meat, dark plums, and walnuts. Sweet salty fruit on the palate with a dense dry tannic base and a lovely floating acid finish. Fresh, deep, and delicious, balanced. 50 + 17 + 17 + 9 = 93.
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3/19/2019 - MikeATL Likes this wine: 91 Points
Atlanta Does Rhys Yet Again (Atlas Restaurant, Atlanta, GA): Brambly fruit and a touch of pepper, a good and restrained version of California Syrah, but not in the same class as the Horseshoe.
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3/4/2018 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasted blind -- I guessed this was pinot, and particularly Burgundy. I was fooled by the bright red fruit. I overlooked some of the pepperiness. My GF thought it was too savory to be pinot, and she was right.
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7/1/2017 - scorrea Likes this wine: 94 Points
World class syrah in a nice drinking window.
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6/22/2017 - Jonathan T wrote: 93 Points
This was one of the more complex and fascinating syrahs I've had in a while. I think 5 years ago I might not have appreciated this flavor profile, but after being immersed in the worlds of craft beers and craft cocktails, I really like this wine. The juicy and sweet berry fruit plays almost a supporting role while the wine is has wonderful bitter herbaceousness, smoke, peppercorn, a subtle funkiness, with just a hint of sour fruits. Definitely a combination I like in my cocktails. There's even a hint of floral notes (violet maybe?) to add even more complexity.
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5/27/2017 - Rieslingfan wrote:
From the moment I opened the bottle this wine was a winner. Aromas of ripe cherries and blackberries were coming out of the bottle before I even poured a glass. Once in the glass, the fruit was joined by a host of spicy and floral elements. More time brought out darker tar notes, while the fruit maintained focus, kept together by well-buffered tannins.
I was asked whether I could say that this was was as good as or better than a similarly priced Côte Rôtie, but that was not really the point. On some bland, qualitative scale it certainly measured up. I would give this Syrah similar pointless points to a Northern Rhone Syrah if I was in the pointless points business. That pointless point being made, the wine was different from a French Syrah, and that was a good thing. It was an excellent wine in its own right, expressing a more fruit forward, and lower acid profile, that was also incredibly food friendly. Additionally if was friendly to my guests, who were not Northern Rhone wine geeks (but into wine), who appreciated the purity of the Syrah expression.
My assessment: delicious and a notable expression of Syrah that stands on its own, and is well worth the price.
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4/20/2017 - BradboBaggins Likes this wine: 93 Points
In a great place, definitely lighter bodied and cool climate, but with wonderful ripeness and floral notes. Came alive with just an hour or so decant. Delicious.
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9/10/2016 - WST Likes this wine:
'98 Henriot Enchanteleurs, '11 Rhys Skyline Syrah, '14 Graillot Crozes-Hermitage: I have yet to meet a Rhys Syrah I didn't love. The nose on this was so compelling I could have swirled and sniffed all night. While the intensity of aromas dark berry fruit, iron and violets suggested a sappy wine, on the palate this was much more elegant. In addition to the raspberry and floral notes, the palate had some subtle olive flavors. Very fine tannins (especially compared with the '14 Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage that followed from the restaurant list). Fine mouthfeel and long finish. I'm still sad these vines are gone.
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6/29/2016 - cartime Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is just starting to come into its drinking window.
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11/3/2015 - EMark Likes this wine:
PnPed. Nose of red fruit. Same on introduction to the tongue/palate—some cherry, some red plum. As the wine moves back there are some earthy or graphite hints. A fairly light-bodied Syrah. Also, very light on tannin. Excellent acid tartness.
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2/9/2015 - Thirsty1 Likes this wine:
Dark purple, inky and viscous. Heavy, delicious. Earthy, meaty, lots of peppercorn. Full texture. All over good and long finish.
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2/6/2015 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 91 Points
Low keyed blackberry fruit with classic bacon fat/savory notes on the finish. A bit reserved at this time- probably could have used a bit of a decant prior to drinking.
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