My bottle blind, and stumped most of the group as it was perceived as a north Rhone. Still rather dense and tannic. Typical syrah but more on the savory side with olive and meats rather than pepper. Not quite as refined as I was expected but quite good
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Casual lunch: My contribution. Quite elegant and refined at first, liked the lifted and red-fruited nose. Put on concentration with air and became a little plummy and sweet. Best when it was popped and poured.
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My first 2014 Rhys syrah, this was enjoyable. I’m beginning to think that with Rhys syrah, I need to change my usual syrah thinking. I’m less likely normally to pick a syrah with dinner because of the usual high alcohol and sweet, bold, fruit-forward flavors. But a wine like this, and prior Rhys syrah I’ve had, are lower alcohol and with more balanced / less brash fruit expression, and could certainly be a dinner choice in lieu of pinot. This 2014 overall seemed more Rhone-like than Cali, with mouth watering tartness (that smoothed out by day 2), and darker flavors of chocolate -cherry.
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Dark ruby with garnet edges. Aromas of dry aged beef, roses, black pepper, and cloves. Penetrating dry aromatic fruit on the palate with strong acids and tannins, medium body, 13% alcohol. Lovely.
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On a second tasting, I liked the easy going, drinkable nature of this wine. But I don’t feel it has the power or profundity to warrant my prior 94 review.
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Color: Pure garnet with solid edges and an opaque body. Wonderful legs with this wine, too.
Nose: Dark cherries, cranberries, tobacco, and a sort of chocolate-leather…. I know, weird… right?! This still has a certain vibrancy that is exhibited in the nose, with that fruit forward push of plum and other dark summer fruits. This is a nasal fruit orgasm that sticks around for the entire party. There is a sort of spiciness or somethingness that masks an unbelievable core of lusciousness.
Taste: Pure velvet goodness, warming all the way down to the heart. Very well structured, with plums, ripe cherry, dark stone fruits, and just berry goodness! WOW!! Who knew that a California Syrah and a freshly caught Atlantic Tuna Steak would go so well! YUM!! There is a certain middle age swagger that is present. It is like the wine is saying: “Still a little bit sassy, but refined due to my age”. ; )
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Pop amd pour. On the nose: raspberry, black pepper, cola, olive brine. Good density, fantastic acidity, blackberry, cola, lovely salinity. Grainy tannin on the finish. Very good.
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Very good! Great concentration while maintaining Old World balance. Structurally perfect to my tastes. I love the tannins and balance between the sweet fruit and the acidity. This wine tastes like it is transitioning from youthful fruit to mature flavors. I think now is a perfectly fine time to drink it, though clearly it will drink well for the next 5-10 years.
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One word of advice - decant. I didn’t, and it took a good two hours for the wine to open up and do more than scowl at me. When it finally decided to play ball, in the middle of the fifth inning of Braves-Dodgers, it first displayed a multi-faceted aromatic personality of black fruit, rare beef, low floral tones, olive, nutmeg and orange peel. Each sniff revealed a new aroma. The palate stayed more monolithic, but the depth was impressive, and with good alignment of fruit and tannin left no question about extended ageability.
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It took a good four hours open for the real character of the wine to come out and play. Dark ruby color with no fading or sediment. Medium-profound aromas that start off with smoky pepper and clove, followed by cherry, raspberry, and apricot notes. Still quite young and coiled up on the palate but it's full of wonderful subtleties that should play out in due time. There is a certain attribute of the tannins that display a cushy softness while still being fully present to carry the fruit through a haunting finish. I think it's a good candidate to accompany a meal, though I enjoyed this bottle all on its own. I'd love to try again in 3-5 years. 5+11+17+9= 92
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Very hard to see past the ethelyl acetate. Very little Syrah character. It did have some ripe/dried fruit and some chocolaty oak aroma. Tasted again 24 hours later; still too much EA.
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Lightly spicy and peppery blue fruits with excellent balance and a great finish. Detailed, nuanced and delicious, in an only 13% abv package. Delicious, and even better than the last bottle.
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Pop and pour. On the nose: blackberry, bramble, a soft hi-toned note, simpler than previous vintages at a comparamble stage imo. On the palate: fantastic acidity, blackberry, green pepper (stems inclusion?), soft bbq notes, brine...excellent salinity, and soft tannin on the finish. Good.
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93 points for current drinking with a significant upside. Gorgeous nose. Significant tannin on the palate needs to resolve for this wine to reach it's full potential. Tastes like a Northern Rhone. does not display the overt Syrah character that comes through in most new world Syrah. Light on it's feet with good acidity, focus, and finish.
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Very interesting syrah with more development still to come. Really put on weight in the decanter. Started off very high acidity with more pronounced red fruit. Over time the fruit profile darkened and some more savory characteristics emerged. Interesting today but will improve.
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Perfumed nose is redolent of raspberry, dark chocolate, violet, and stem-derived spice. Pure and full bodied, rich with raspberry and spice. Needs time to integrate both oak and stem. Drink starting 2024.
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Very attractive dark plum color in the glass. Just the slightest hit of fruit--plum, blackberry--on entry. A restrained Syrah--medium bodied, very sedate tannin, and even, light acid. An OK wine--not offensive, but, really, nothing memorable.
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Tastes very young. Very fruit forward. Shows varietal character, but the Syrah flavors don't dominate the overall impression of a very well made red wine. I suggest that this wine be given some time in bottle to develop complexity. Worth a couple more points in the future. Addendum: On day two this has evolved positively. Still tastes very young and tannic, but the nose is much more forthcoming. The Syrah varietal character is less obvious, and what remains is a very elegant young red wine.
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Deep & dark. On opening, quite monolithic and brooding. It became much more interesting on the second evening, showing some spiciness — but overall it remained fairly one dimensional, lacking secondary/tertiary character, at least at this stage.
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The Syrah is nicely done yet I feel myself wanting more on the finish and on the nose. Lots of chalky dry notes on the palette. I prefer Clarendon Hills grapes to these.
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Sunday BBQ (Chicago, IL): Served double blind. Clearly syrah, black fruited, with a bit of an oaky polish that made me go straight to Hermitage. Ripe black fruit and peppercorns, but lacking the saline and olive tones that I really love in syrah.
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From .375 Caveat that I knew this would be far too young... but even young wines have to be evaluated with food from time to time. I PnP'd with some spicy bistek tacos and it worked great.
The wine had an electric purple rim. Nose was a little muted with muddled fruits, light olive, and brine. No meat or pepper for me but did have some cassis, and with its rough tannic structure -- read *very tight*, I might have even leaned toward a young medoc. Good acidity and sugar balance. It had a brightness on the palate.
This wine might not be ready for 10 years. But I liked it and showed promise
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Young and tight and not particularly enjoyable at this (too) early stage for me. I see the potential--good structure and balance. Blue fruit, violets, mineral (slate) and just a slight bit of meatiness. In time this could be a very elegant wine with layers of complementary flavors.
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Drinking pretty easy right off the bat. Put on some tannic structure but giving some lovely blue and black fruit on the nose and good medium weight balance.
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Concentrated intense bright raspberries, blackberries, purple flowers; still really young and a bit aggressive, good acidity and dry tannins, inky but not heavy or big, just dense fruit. Touch of pepper in there as well, with chalk and metalic mineral note; needs 4-5 years. At the winery with Eric Prahl.
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Light incense, dried potpourri (which suggest to me stem inclusion, yet my notes don't have the %). Lots of tannin and grip here, with purple flower and game. This should be age-worthy and a vintage of 'Shoe to track over time.
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Second bottle I have enjoyed from 375mL. First bottle showed almost nothing, this bottle showed quite a bit more life. More fruit and nose. Massive tannic/acid structure. Unfortunately did not take detailed notes, but I am in for Rhys Syrah going forward. Easily could last two decades. Probably would not open a 750 now, but for science, this was quite nice. 94-95
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From 500ml. Big. Not quite as structured as previous Horseshoe Syrah vintages, but still some very nice fruit and enough structure to hold it. Showed a bit sweet/rich on the second day.
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From 375ml bottle, PnP and tasted at the winery. No new oak and 100%whole cluster fermented. Dark, opaque purple garnet colored. Extremely peppery nose, with other exotic spices and very dark fruit on the nose. Complex and layered. On the palate, Madagascar vanilla, Rich dark black cherry, pepper, chocolate and baking spices on the nose. Moderate to long finish. Mouth coating texture with low to moderate tannin. Needs time in the cellar but ok to drink now if you like young Syrah. Struck me as a cross between a Crozes-Hermitage and a good Cote Rotie. Very rich and unctuous.
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A visit to Rhys (Rhys Vineyards): Barrel sample. Purple in color. This is a pretty big Syrah albeit cooler climate with low alcohol. Deep with a nice complexity. Long finish. 91-93
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1/27/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 93 Points
My bottle blind, and stumped most of the group as it was perceived as a north Rhone. Still rather dense and tannic. Typical syrah but more on the savory side with olive and meats rather than pepper. Not quite as refined as I was expected but quite good
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12/12/2023 - melvinyeowq wrote: 91 Points
Casual lunch: My contribution. Quite elegant and refined at first, liked the lifted and red-fruited nose. Put on concentration with air and became a little plummy and sweet. Best when it was popped and poured.
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6/15/2023 - kabert Likes this wine: 92 Points
My first 2014 Rhys syrah, this was enjoyable. I’m beginning to think that with Rhys syrah, I need to change my usual syrah thinking. I’m less likely normally to pick a syrah with dinner because of the usual high alcohol and sweet, bold, fruit-forward flavors. But a wine like this, and prior Rhys syrah I’ve had, are lower alcohol and with more balanced / less brash fruit expression, and could certainly be a dinner choice in lieu of pinot. This 2014 overall seemed more Rhone-like than Cali, with mouth watering tartness (that smoothed out by day 2), and darker flavors of chocolate -cherry.
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11/18/2022 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark ruby with garnet edges. Aromas of dry aged beef, roses, black pepper, and cloves. Penetrating dry aromatic fruit on the palate with strong acids and tannins, medium body, 13% alcohol. Lovely.
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10/31/2022 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 91 Points
On a second tasting, I liked the easy going, drinkable nature of this wine. But I don’t feel it has the power or profundity to warrant my prior 94 review.
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9/18/2022 - Guarded by Griffs Likes this wine: 96 Points
Really fabulous Drinking great. Could go for years.
Subtle barnyard on the palate but berries on the nose.
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8/7/2022 - MusignyBlanc wrote: flawed
Bad VA. Ethyl acetate. From a 500.
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7/12/2022 - Bakerbd Likes this wine: 92 Points
Initially fairly closed. By the last glass this has opened - beautifully floral nose, red cherry and iodine, lithe
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7/9/2022 - Wine Gombie Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted: 5.5 hours… then vinturi’d too.
Color: Pure garnet with solid edges and an opaque body. Wonderful legs with this wine, too.
Nose: Dark cherries, cranberries, tobacco, and a sort of chocolate-leather…. I know, weird… right?! This still has a certain vibrancy that is exhibited in the nose, with that fruit forward push of plum and other dark summer fruits. This is a nasal fruit orgasm that sticks around for the entire party. There is a sort of spiciness or somethingness that masks an unbelievable core of lusciousness.
Taste: Pure velvet goodness, warming all the way down to the heart. Very well structured, with plums, ripe cherry, dark stone fruits, and just berry goodness! WOW!! Who knew that a California Syrah and a freshly caught Atlantic Tuna Steak would go so well! YUM!! There is a certain middle age swagger that is present. It is like the wine is saying: “Still a little bit sassy, but refined due to my age”. ; )
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1/16/2022 - Aravind Asok wrote:
Pop amd pour. On the nose: raspberry, black pepper, cola, olive brine. Good density, fantastic acidity, blackberry, cola, lovely salinity. Grainy tannin on the finish. Very good.
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11/10/2021 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very good! Great concentration while maintaining Old World balance. Structurally perfect to my tastes. I love the tannins and balance between the sweet fruit and the acidity. This wine tastes like it is transitioning from youthful fruit to mature flavors. I think now is a perfectly fine time to drink it, though clearly it will drink well for the next 5-10 years.
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10/19/2021 - Rieslingfan wrote:
One word of advice - decant. I didn’t, and it took a good two hours for the wine to open up and do more than scowl at me. When it finally decided to play ball, in the middle of the fifth inning of Braves-Dodgers, it first displayed a multi-faceted aromatic personality of black fruit, rare beef, low floral tones, olive, nutmeg and orange peel. Each sniff revealed a new aroma. The palate stayed more monolithic, but the depth was impressive, and with good alignment of fruit and tannin left no question about extended ageability.
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9/27/2021 - fingers Likes this wine: 92 Points
It took a good four hours open for the real character of the wine to come out and play. Dark ruby color with no fading or sediment. Medium-profound aromas that start off with smoky pepper and clove, followed by cherry, raspberry, and apricot notes. Still quite young and coiled up on the palate but it's full of wonderful subtleties that should play out in due time. There is a certain attribute of the tannins that display a cushy softness while still being fully present to carry the fruit through a haunting finish. I think it's a good candidate to accompany a meal, though I enjoyed this bottle all on its own. I'd love to try again in 3-5 years.
5+11+17+9= 92
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7/2/2021 - imafloormatt Does not like this wine: 70 Points
Very hard to see past the ethelyl acetate. Very little Syrah character. It did have some ripe/dried fruit and some chocolaty oak aroma. Tasted again 24 hours later; still too much EA.
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12/18/2020 - ewsds Likes this wine: 95 Points
Lightly spicy and peppery blue fruits with excellent balance and a great finish. Detailed, nuanced and delicious, in an only 13% abv package. Delicious, and even better than the last bottle.
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10/13/2020 - Aravind Asok wrote:
Pop and pour. On the nose: blackberry, bramble, a soft hi-toned note, simpler than previous vintages at a comparamble stage imo. On the palate: fantastic acidity, blackberry, green pepper (stems inclusion?), soft bbq notes, brine...excellent salinity, and soft tannin on the finish. Good.
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8/30/2020 - melzar wrote: 93 Points
93 points for current drinking with a significant upside. Gorgeous nose. Significant tannin on the palate needs to resolve for this wine to reach it's full potential. Tastes like a Northern Rhone. does not display the overt Syrah character that comes through in most new world Syrah. Light on it's feet with good acidity, focus, and finish.
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4/9/2020 - A.Hansen Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very interesting syrah with more development still to come. Really put on weight in the decanter. Started off very high acidity with more pronounced red fruit. Over time the fruit profile darkened and some more savory characteristics emerged. Interesting today but will improve.
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3/28/2020 - ewsds Likes this wine: 93 Points
Peppery and delicious blue and dark fruits and a really nice finish. Seems quite ripe, yet is only 13% abv.
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3/16/2020 - rlove wrote: 92 Points
Perfumed nose is redolent of raspberry, dark chocolate, violet, and stem-derived spice. Pure and full bodied, rich with raspberry and spice. Needs time to integrate both oak and stem. Drink starting 2024.
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2/5/2020 - EMark wrote:
Very attractive dark plum color in the glass. Just the slightest hit of fruit--plum, blackberry--on entry. A restrained Syrah--medium bodied, very sedate tannin, and even, light acid. An OK wine--not offensive, but, really, nothing memorable.
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6/21/2019 - gmbdds wrote: 91 Points
From a 375. This showed crisp and fresh. Red fruit forward, though not overpowering. Compelling for its balance and freshness, though not yet complex.
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2/22/2019 - melzar wrote: 92 Points
Tastes very young. Very fruit forward. Shows varietal character, but the Syrah flavors don't dominate the overall impression of a very well made red wine. I suggest that this wine be given some time in bottle to develop complexity. Worth a couple more points in the future. Addendum: On day two this has evolved positively. Still tastes very young and tannic, but the nose is much more forthcoming. The Syrah varietal character is less obvious, and what remains is a very elegant young red wine.
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2/21/2019 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
Deep & dark. On opening, quite monolithic and brooding. It became much more interesting on the second evening, showing some spiciness — but overall it remained fairly one dimensional, lacking secondary/tertiary character, at least at this stage.
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12/31/2018 - nrjessup Likes this wine: 91 Points
The Syrah is nicely done yet I feel myself wanting more on the finish and on the nose. Lots of chalky dry notes on the palette. I prefer Clarendon Hills grapes to these.
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12/30/2018 - nphase Likes this wine: 91 Points
This had a tough time next to Juge, and Gonon - acyso's tasting notes will explain.
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12/30/2018 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
Sunday BBQ (Chicago, IL): Served double blind. Clearly syrah, black fruited, with a bit of an oaky polish that made me go straight to Hermitage. Ripe black fruit and peppercorns, but lacking the saline and olive tones that I really love in syrah.
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12/28/2018 - jviz Likes this wine: 93 Points
From .375 Caveat that I knew this would be far too young... but even young wines have to be evaluated with food from time to time. I PnP'd with some spicy bistek tacos and it worked great.
The wine had an electric purple rim. Nose was a little muted with muddled fruits, light olive, and brine. No meat or pepper for me but did have some cassis, and with its rough tannic structure -- read *very tight*, I might have even leaned toward a young medoc. Good acidity and sugar balance. It had a brightness on the palate.
This wine might not be ready for 10 years. But I liked it and showed promise
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11/22/2018 - Vinomnivore Likes this wine:
Young and tight and not particularly enjoyable at this (too) early stage for me. I see the potential--good structure and balance. Blue fruit, violets, mineral (slate) and just a slight bit of meatiness. In time this could be a very elegant wine with layers of complementary flavors.
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9/29/2018 - dhp. Likes this wine:
Drinking pretty easy right off the bat. Put on some tannic structure but giving some lovely blue and black fruit on the nose and good medium weight balance.
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7/25/2017 - peternelson wrote: 90 Points
Concentrated intense bright raspberries, blackberries, purple flowers; still really young and a bit aggressive, good acidity and dry tannins, inky but not heavy or big, just dense fruit. Touch of pepper in there as well, with chalk and metalic mineral note; needs 4-5 years. At the winery with Eric Prahl.
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7/23/2017 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Light incense, dried potpourri (which suggest to me stem inclusion, yet my notes don't have the %). Lots of tannin and grip here, with purple flower and game. This should be age-worthy and a vintage of 'Shoe to track over time.
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6/18/2017 - Mrp2008 wrote: 94 Points
Second bottle I have enjoyed from 375mL. First bottle showed almost nothing, this bottle showed quite a bit more life. More fruit and nose. Massive tannic/acid structure. Unfortunately did not take detailed notes, but I am in for Rhys Syrah going forward. Easily could last two decades. Probably would not open a 750 now, but for science, this was quite nice. 94-95
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3/21/2017 - missionpk wrote:
From 500ml. Big. Not quite as structured as previous Horseshoe Syrah vintages, but still some very nice fruit and enough structure to hold it. Showed a bit sweet/rich on the second day.
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12/12/2016 - oldwines wrote: 95 Points
From 375ml bottle, PnP and tasted at the winery. No new oak and 100%whole cluster fermented. Dark, opaque purple garnet colored. Extremely peppery nose, with other exotic spices and very dark fruit on the nose. Complex and layered. On the palate, Madagascar vanilla, Rich dark black cherry, pepper, chocolate and baking spices on the nose. Moderate to long finish. Mouth coating texture with low to moderate tannin. Needs time in the cellar but ok to drink now if you like young Syrah. Struck me as a cross between a Crozes-Hermitage and a good Cote Rotie. Very rich and unctuous.
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4/15/2016 - Loren Sonkin wrote:
A visit to Rhys (Rhys Vineyards): Barrel sample. Purple in color. This is a pretty big Syrah albeit cooler climate with low alcohol. Deep with a nice complexity. Long finish. 91-93
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