4th Saturday Group brown bagger (R&D's): Double blind. Shows a nit of bricking. Ripe raisiny fruit leads the way, with a bit of a funky soy quality underneath. Medium-bodied, with no noticeable tannin and flavors of ripe black fruit, plum and soy. I guessed old syrah. (T&L)
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Fill level, cork, and wine color were all excellent, but this bottle has not aged well. Sharp, unpleasant notes of pickles and mincemeat, with no primary fruit remaining. Tasted and dumped.
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Dark dull garnet-blood red. Bouquet of stewed red fruit, rusty nails, beef blood, charcoal ashes. Full body, velvety, generous wine. After reading other notes on this wine, maybe it needed a longer decant, or perhaps past prime?
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Gave 4-5 hours of air in decanter. Mature amber purple in the glass. Great nose of baking spices, aged wood, twigs, and all manner of berries. The palate expands with cocoa, vanilla, figs, dust and thick bright fruit. A mature tannin layer keeps everything lively. Finishes wonderfully with all the nose elements returning. PJG: 91
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W porkchop on last nite in JH. This was a gift. Good mature color (syrah??). Good solid nose of dark berries. On palate nice fruit and woody flavors. Good finish. This will not get better but it was very fresh and solid. Great combo withthe food.
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This is a very nice Rhone blend made in California. Drank over 3 hours and the longer it breathed, the better. Beautiful dark berry and spice with some earthiness, tar, and chocolate. Good structure and balance, solid Southern Rhone blend and has aged well with plenty of life left. Reminds me of a Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel. Got this on closeout and, of course, now wish I bought more.
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Rhone Around the Globe wine tasting, Le Petit Sommelier restaurant, Athens, Greece. Dark garnet. Sweet nose with anise, ripe berry fruit, kirsch and spice. Full-bodied, quite warm with rich fruit, firm tannins and balancing acidity. Long finish. Two of us picked this as W.O.T.N.
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Rhone Around The Globe tasting @ Le Petit Sommelier restaurant. Clear, dark ruby with light purple edges. Clean & sweet nose of anise, garrigue, mint, sweet spices together with dark berries, chocolate & mocha. Medium-full body with the sweet spice, dark berries & herbs following through on the palate. Big tannins balanced by the sweetness and acidity. Despite the 14.3% abv there's no heat detectable...lovely...moreish...Very good.
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We were not sure what this wine would be like as it was a gift from several years ago, and I am glad I got this. The nose is full of herbal notes with chocolate, mocha,spice and tobacco. The mid palet is all dark fruit with good tannins. The spice, chocolate and dark cherry round out the finish. It is definately a Syrah wine, and for all the right reasons, and it held up well day two. If I saw this again in the store, I would definately buy a bottle or two.
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Very dark garnet. Coffee, chocolate, kirsch and herbs. Full-bodied, very soft with big fruit, silky tanins and adequate acidity. Long finish. Very generous and sexy. Drink now.
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Popped and poured. Dark purple with red rim. Open nose of leather, earth, licorice and dark, dark fruit. Fruit-forward ripe palate with blackberry, black cherry, and licorice. At first sip, the mid-palate dies quickly and leaves a short bitter finish. With a little time in the glass, the wine rounds out considerably with a pleasant mid-palate and a nice lingering finish. Do not be put off by first impressions! Mild acidity, smooth tannins and unobtrusive oak.
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My opinion on the last of 3 bottles I've had... still good, but it's at that point where you should have drunk this already. If you've still got it - drink it.
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This note is based upon the wine being open for about 4 hours. Rich notes of raspberry jam, melted chocolate, baking spices, and red earth. Velvety smooth on the palate with a slight touch of minerality on the finish. Delicious and ready to drink now.
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Bought this at a distributor close-out for $24. Took the previous taster's advice and decanted for an hour, good call. On the nose getting lots of dark fruit, and classi Cali Syrah smells. A very concentrated taste on the palate with a nice long finish. I get lots of cherry and a hint of cedar/wood shavings at the start, the finish shows off the tannins and almost some mocha. A very nice wine, definite Rhone style. Day 2 much more licorice on the nose and seems like more cherries on the palate, oak is showing on the finish.
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Fabulous Monterey Syrah, this was almost black in colour, very extracted, notes of spice, plum, cherry and oak on the nose, significant tannic structure indicating this will be even better in a few years, smooth, but with a bit of heat, excellent length (92 Points).
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Same notes as before. But this wine is starting to lose its baby fat and entering into an awkward phase. I would wait another year before opening another one.
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70% Syrah, 24% Grenache, 3% Petite Syrah, 3% Alicante. Aroma of blackberry, some vanilla. Big berry fruit on the palate right up front. Pepper as well. Balanced tannins and acidity. Nice wine. Seems ready to drink.
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I was gonna wait a couple years to open the next bottle, but cellar tracker was urgin me to open it now. Clean nose of dark fruits and alcohol. Seems to have put on weight since the last bottle. Thick, lots of tannins and alcohol. Nice balance. Short on the finish.
Decant for 1 hour. After that the tannins and alcohol melow.
Day latter, finished 3/4 of the bottle. This was very good after being opened for a day.
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First wine of the new year and a keeper. Not getting much oon the nose but the flavors are very balanced and well integrated. Cherry and dark fruits. A bit of bitterness disapeared with a little air time. My sirst of these. Not exactly a QPR but I may pick up a few more.
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Good not great. Ok Structure and fruit with light tannis the allow it to drink well now. Soft rose petals and smooth finish. Not a complex wine and goes well with rich foods or foods made with mutiple spices.
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Tasted at the winery. Wonderfully rich nose of anise, toasty oak, and marshmellow. On the palate, syrah seems to dominate, with nice grilled plum and espresso flavors. Concentrated yet balanced. Medium-full body. Fine tannins. A real joy to drink.
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10/10/2021 - Edmond Red Raider Likes this wine: 90 Points
Glimpses of what it could have been 5 years ago
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3/27/2021 - AllRed wrote: 86 Points
4th Saturday Group brown bagger (R&D's): Double blind. Shows a nit of bricking. Ripe raisiny fruit leads the way, with a bit of a funky soy quality underneath. Medium-bodied, with no noticeable tannin and flavors of ripe black fruit, plum and soy. I guessed old syrah. (T&L)
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12/12/2017 - redpine42 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Smooth and clean finish. This is still very good.
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12/30/2016 - redpine42 wrote: 90 Points
Still good. Soft tannins and fruit. Nice long finish.
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3/18/2016 - BigBoy_Sonoma Likes this wine: 90 Points
Blackberry jam, cedar, pepper, tobacco, spices and some smokey oak on the finish. A-
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1/23/2016 - Javachip wrote: 60 Points
Fill level, cork, and wine color were all excellent, but this bottle has not aged well. Sharp, unpleasant notes of pickles and mincemeat, with no primary fruit remaining. Tasted and dumped.
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4/17/2015 - Javachip wrote: 84 Points
Dark dull garnet-blood red. Bouquet of stewed red fruit, rusty nails, beef blood, charcoal ashes. Full body, velvety, generous wine. After reading other notes on this wine, maybe it needed a longer decant, or perhaps past prime?
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4/14/2013 - noahbw Likes this wine: 91 Points
Gave 4-5 hours of air in decanter. Mature amber purple in the glass. Great nose of baking spices, aged wood, twigs, and all manner of berries. The palate expands with cocoa, vanilla, figs, dust and thick bright fruit. A mature tannin layer keeps everything lively. Finishes wonderfully with all the nose elements returning. PJG: 91
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2/11/2013 - MichielV Likes this wine: 90 Points
W porkchop on last nite in JH. This was a gift. Good mature color (syrah??). Good solid nose of dark berries. On palate nice fruit and woody flavors. Good finish. This will not get better but it was very fresh and solid. Great combo withthe food.
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1/19/2013 - wineward Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking excellently. Very well balanced. Caramel notes with blackberry. Plenty of life left.
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11/24/2012 - AlexHop wrote: 88 Points
Nice, starts out mellow with a nice white pepper and spices bit on the mid. Goes nicely with thanksgiving food.
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8/21/2012 - leloupedevin wrote: 90 Points
Perhaps slightly past prime, seemed a little mellow, but still very good.
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12/21/2011 - LeMarinaro wrote: 97 Points
Very smooth, big bouquet - fruity, raspberries, paired excellently with food (in our case a lasagna). Clean finish, very light tannins.
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10/7/2011 - MLever wrote: 92 Points
Very nice structure. Still drinking well over two days.
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5/12/2011 - J2K wrote: 93 Points
This is a very nice Rhone blend made in California. Drank over 3 hours and the longer it breathed, the better. Beautiful dark berry and spice with some earthiness, tar, and chocolate. Good structure and balance, solid Southern Rhone blend and has aged well with plenty of life left. Reminds me of a Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel. Got this on closeout and, of course, now wish I bought more.
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5/10/2011 - JJN wrote: 93 Points
Drinking great. Wish i had more than one bottle left.
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1/20/2011 - Yiannis wrote: 91 Points
Rhone Around the Globe wine tasting, Le Petit Sommelier restaurant, Athens, Greece.
Dark garnet. Sweet nose with anise, ripe berry fruit, kirsch and spice. Full-bodied, quite warm with rich fruit, firm tannins and balancing acidity. Long finish. Two of us picked this as W.O.T.N.
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1/19/2011 - KostaKats wrote: 91 Points
Rhone Around The Globe tasting @ Le Petit Sommelier restaurant. Clear, dark ruby with light purple edges. Clean & sweet nose of anise, garrigue, mint, sweet spices together with dark berries, chocolate & mocha. Medium-full body with the sweet spice, dark berries & herbs following through on the palate. Big tannins balanced by the sweetness and acidity. Despite the 14.3% abv there's no heat detectable...lovely...moreish...Very good.
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6/14/2010 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 89 Points
Last of these sand not quite as bright as the last couple of bottles. still agood wine but probably at or past peak drink'em up.
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1/27/2010 - jjmurray23 wrote: 87 Points
Above average. No finish.
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12/4/2009 - mjsherwin68 wrote: 91 Points
We were not sure what this wine would be like as it was a gift from several years ago, and I am glad I got this. The nose is full of herbal notes with chocolate, mocha,spice and tobacco. The mid palet is all dark fruit with good tannins. The spice, chocolate and dark cherry round out the finish. It is definately a Syrah wine, and for all the right reasons, and it held up well day two. If I saw this again in the store, I would definately buy a bottle or two.
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12/1/2009 - Yiannis wrote: 92 Points
Very dark garnet. Coffee, chocolate, kirsch and herbs. Full-bodied, very soft with big fruit, silky tanins and adequate acidity. Long finish. Very generous and sexy. Drink now.
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10/30/2009 - Wink wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured. Dark purple with red rim. Open nose of leather, earth, licorice and dark, dark fruit. Fruit-forward ripe palate with blackberry, black cherry, and licorice. At first sip, the mid-palate dies quickly and leaves a short bitter finish. With a little time in the glass, the wine rounds out considerably with a pleasant mid-palate and a nice lingering finish. Do not be put off by first impressions! Mild acidity, smooth tannins and unobtrusive oak.
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9/2/2009 - mwesson wrote: 90 Points
My opinion on the last of 3 bottles I've had... still good, but it's at that point where you should have drunk this already. If you've still got it - drink it.
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3/7/2009 - dsimmons wrote: 92 Points
Another delicious bottle. Only one remaining:-(
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12/27/2008 - Al-Vino wrote: 91 Points
This is a velvety, smooth wine with no rough edges. Started to go south about 1 - 2 hours after decanting - so enjoy this well rounded wine now.
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5/24/2008 - redpine42 wrote: 87 Points
Smooth, but not much going on in the nose or body. No prominent Syrah or Grenache tastes.
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5/16/2008 - Paul Lin wrote: 92 Points
This note is based upon the wine being open for about 4 hours. Rich notes of raspberry jam, melted chocolate, baking spices, and red earth. Velvety smooth on the palate with a slight touch of minerality on the finish. Delicious and ready to drink now.
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3/19/2008 - bsieve wrote: 85 Points
Lots of oak and vanilla flavors.
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2/9/2008 - redpine42 wrote: 90 Points
Full body, nice finish.
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1/20/2008 - stercomm wrote: 88 Points
Bought this at a distributor close-out for $24. Took the previous taster's advice and decanted for an hour, good call. On the nose getting lots of dark fruit, and classi Cali Syrah smells. A very concentrated taste on the palate with a nice long finish. I get lots of cherry and a hint of cedar/wood shavings at the start, the finish shows off the tannins and almost some mocha. A very nice wine, definite Rhone style. Day 2 much more licorice on the nose and seems like more cherries on the palate, oak is showing on the finish.
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11/3/2007 - Tarrant wrote: 92 Points
Fabulous Monterey Syrah, this was almost black in colour, very extracted, notes of spice, plum, cherry and oak on the nose, significant tannic structure indicating this will be even better in a few years, smooth, but with a bit of heat, excellent length (92 Points).
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5/11/2007 - Paul Lin wrote: 90 Points
Same notes as before. But this wine is starting to lose its baby fat and entering into an awkward phase. I would wait another year before opening another one.
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3/11/2007 - TEDL wrote: 89 Points
Redpine hit this one on the nose. Drink it now, very good.
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2/18/2007 - MtStPipier wrote: 90 Points
Good nose on the open. Nice legs. Seemed well balanced. Would have preferred a longer finish. Partnered up well with pork tenderloin.
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2/10/2007 - leloupedevin wrote: 90 Points
70% Syrah, 24% Grenache, 3% Petite Syrah, 3% Alicante. Aroma of blackberry, some vanilla. Big berry fruit on the palate right up front. Pepper as well. Balanced tannins and acidity. Nice wine. Seems ready to drink.
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1/26/2007 - redpine42 wrote: 92 Points
I was gonna wait a couple years to open the next bottle, but cellar tracker was urgin me to open it now. Clean nose of dark fruits and alcohol. Seems to have put on weight since the last bottle. Thick, lots of tannins and alcohol. Nice balance. Short on the finish.
Decant for 1 hour. After that the tannins and alcohol melow.
Day latter, finished 3/4 of the bottle. This was very good after being opened for a day.
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1/16/2007 - DaveArsenault wrote: 92 Points
We really like this wine.
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1/1/2007 - dsimmons wrote: 91 Points
First wine of the new year and a keeper. Not getting much oon the nose but the flavors are very balanced and well integrated. Cherry and dark fruits. A bit of bitterness disapeared with a little air time. My sirst of these. Not exactly a QPR but I may pick up a few more.
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12/19/2006 - Maverick wrote: 89 Points
Good not great. Ok Structure and fruit with light tannis the allow it to drink well now. Soft rose petals and smooth finish. Not a complex wine and goes well with rich foods or foods made with mutiple spices.
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12/16/2006 - pakabear wrote: 91 Points
Very powerful nose and a nice taste to match. However not well balanced, but still a very good wine.
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12/2/2006 - DaveArsenault wrote: 92 Points
Thanksgiving wine. Highly recommended
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10/27/2006 - redpine42 wrote: 92 Points
Barnyard to the nose? Thick. Lots of tannins bit of Cherry. Save this for a couple more years.
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9/1/2006 - Paul Lin wrote: 92 Points
Tasted at the winery. Wonderfully rich nose of anise, toasty oak, and marshmellow. On the palate, syrah seems to dominate, with nice grilled plum and espresso flavors. Concentrated yet balanced. Medium-full body. Fine tannins. A real joy to drink.
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7/23/2006 - AZ Wine Lover wrote: 91 Points
Good, needs some decanting
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