This is drinking great. This wine from this vintage was remarkable and I purchased extra. Beautiful fruit with nice acid and fine tannins. Would be great with a meal.
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This gem was drinking just perfectly at 8 years old. Balanced with medium acidity and supple fruit. The kiss of American oak rounds out a beautiful lightly floral nose. Drink em if you’ve got em!
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The American oak was aggressive: the nose reminded me more of bourbon than syrah. Otherwise, it was… fine. Quite a bit of vanilla, which seemed out of place, and faint hints of chocolate. Not as good a wine as the Penfolds RWT, but not far off—and a better value.
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Shows a lot of toast and smoke. But the fruit is there. Quite round and smooth, clearly lifted by the viognier. Dark fruit, slight peppery. Shows smoke and spice. Lengthy finish and quite concentrated.
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As pure an expression of new world Syrah that you’re ever going to find. Serving this blind side by side with the Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier I’m not sure I’d be able to tell the difference. They both achieve the best possible outcome of combining these two grapes, the lovely floral lavender aromas that set the wine apart from other Syrahs. Possibly my favorite red from Ridge aside from the Monte Bello.
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Drinking well right now. Opened fully after 1-2 hours. Bouquet restrained floral. Initially black cherry and spice dominated on the palate, evolving in a mix of red and black fruit (cherry, blackberry, plum) with distinct black pepper and cocoa notes. Tannins well balanced through the long finish. Sorry to see our last bottle go.
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Impressive. A bit of olive on the nose. Deep and dark, but polished, smooth and plush. However, enough acidity to give this a nuanced elegant impression, despite the concentration and depth of the fruit. Not a lot of pepper or spice here. More meat, olive, and fruit. Oak still a bit apart, but seems to have plenty of fruit to balance. As attractive as this is, I suspect will age well given impressive balance.
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According to the person leading the tasting, this is 94% syrah and 6% viognier. Bright red fruit, and the viognier really making itself felt on the delightfully floral nose. But on the palate, the hefty syrah comes back, with a strong meaty/sanguine note. med alcohol, med acid. But not sure I've tasted enough California syrah to really judge this.
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Surprised at how dark this was. Sweet fruit, some creamy oak, wet stones, bloody iron on the nose. NIce mouthfeel, just well made, yummy on the palate, balanced. Some tarry oak fruit, sweet tannins, mid palate lingers, then a nice long finish. Decent depth. For such a primary wine, its subtle, understanded, sophisticated. This will develop very nicely but great now.
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94% Syrah, 6% Viognier. Very aromatic nose, quite ripe, some partially dried fig, floral-jammy, good acid, leathery tannin. Well put together. Not my preferred style of Syrah but a very nice wine. 14.5%, $40.
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Nice flavors, but I agree with a previous note on this wine in that it was somewhat fatty, lacking balance in acidity. Improved on the next day after corking. I’ll be drinking the next one soon.
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94% Syrah and 6% Viognier was co-fermented and aged in both new and used American oak barrels for 21 months. This has just been released and shows wonderful blackberries, black pepper and herb aromas, on the palate I found a bouquet of dark fruit interwound with velvty chocolate and spice with a grippy finish.
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This bottle was consumed too early. If you have this in your cellar or are considering purchasing it, hold on to it for 5 years. Spectacular, just very bright and young!
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Lots of bright, peppery, crisp red fruits on the nose, but on the palate, the wine is tannic, tight and drying in the finish. This could improve, but I am not sure how much.
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6/26/2023 - VinCA wrote:
This is drinking great. This wine from this vintage was remarkable and I purchased extra. Beautiful fruit with nice acid and fine tannins. Would be great with a meal.
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4/14/2022 - srwatters Likes this wine: 93 Points
This gem was drinking just perfectly at 8 years old. Balanced with medium acidity and supple fruit. The kiss of American oak rounds out a beautiful lightly floral nose. Drink em if you’ve got em!
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9/26/2021 - JohnTheBastard wrote: 90 Points
The American oak was aggressive: the nose reminded me more of bourbon than syrah. Otherwise, it was… fine. Quite a bit of vanilla, which seemed out of place, and faint hints of chocolate. Not as good a wine as the Penfolds RWT, but not far off—and a better value.
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9/11/2021 - Sonoma-W Likes this wine: 93 Points
Serious wine with structure -- will last many years
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3/3/2021 - Alex Brogan wrote: 92 Points
Really incredible nose, light bright fruit. Palate is a little harsh to begin with. Great concentration, could last another 15 years
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12/24/2020 - wkopper Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very good Syrah. Typical Smokey up front smooth end. Cherry at the end. Buy more!
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10/9/2020 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Shows a lot of toast and smoke. But the fruit is there. Quite round and smooth, clearly lifted by the viognier. Dark fruit, slight peppery. Shows smoke and spice. Lengthy finish and quite concentrated.
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9/6/2020 - yaya Likes this wine: 92 Points
With Manresa's pandemic takeout lamb chops, garlic mashed potatoes, and Haricots verts. Great pairing suggested by their Sommolier.
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7/28/2020 - MRichman wrote:
Very good. Pretty, perfumed. Nicely complex. Drinking great.
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6/14/2020 - TheBosWineGuy Likes this wine: 93 Points
As pure an expression of new world Syrah that you’re ever going to find. Serving this blind side by side with the Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier I’m not sure I’d be able to tell the difference. They both achieve the best possible outcome of combining these two grapes, the lovely floral lavender aromas that set the wine apart from other Syrahs. Possibly my favorite red from Ridge aside from the Monte Bello.
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4/18/2020 - drmilkweed Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking well right now. Opened fully after 1-2 hours. Bouquet restrained floral. Initially black cherry and spice dominated on the palate, evolving in a mix of red and black fruit (cherry, blackberry, plum) with distinct black pepper and cocoa notes. Tannins well balanced through the long finish. Sorry to see our last bottle go.
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4/2/2020 - Sonoma-W Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent! Intense, dark fruit, a touch earthy after being opened a while
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3/29/2020 - seanucsb wrote: 90 Points
Dense red fruits, smoked meat. Uplifting floral sweet perfume from the viognier.
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1/31/2020 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Impressive. A bit of olive on the nose. Deep and dark, but polished, smooth and plush. However, enough acidity to give this a nuanced elegant impression, despite the concentration and depth of the fruit. Not a lot of pepper or spice here. More meat, olive, and fruit. Oak still a bit apart, but seems to have plenty of fruit to balance. As attractive as this is, I suspect will age well given impressive balance.
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1/4/2020 - rgprints Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent!
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12/31/2019 - tplskylrk Likes this wine: 90 Points
This was so nice. So easy to drink. So well made. Delicious but not the center of attention. Just complimented everything.
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12/8/2019 - MRichman wrote:
Blueberry. Bright fruit with leather and smoke, tobacco and tight tannins. Fatty. Silky and suave. Drinking great. Excellent.
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10/11/2019 - mkribar wrote: 91 Points
Tasted at the winery.
According to the person leading the tasting, this is 94% syrah and 6% viognier. Bright red fruit, and the viognier really making itself felt on the delightfully floral nose. But on the palate, the hefty syrah comes back, with a strong meaty/sanguine note. med alcohol, med acid. But not sure I've tasted enough California syrah to really judge this.
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9/27/2019 - Pedroel Likes this wine: 89 Points
More oak than I prefer, giving it a cab-like aspect. Otherwise, all is good.
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9/10/2019 - MattMauldin Likes this wine:
Tasting room visit - red cherry fruit, vanilla spices, mulberry, flowers, paprika. Crunchy black cherry fruit, earth-stone high tones, spices. Rich layered core, nice tension, round fleshy tannins. Good depth and length throughout.
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8/1/2019 - tplskylrk wrote:
Surprised at how dark this was. Sweet fruit, some creamy oak, wet stones, bloody iron on the nose. NIce mouthfeel, just well made, yummy on the palate, balanced. Some tarry oak fruit, sweet tannins, mid palate lingers, then a nice long finish. Decent depth. For such a primary wine, its subtle, understanded, sophisticated. This will develop very nicely but great now.
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7/6/2019 - Benj wrote: 90 Points
94% Syrah, 6% Viognier. Very aromatic nose, quite ripe, some partially dried fig, floral-jammy, good acid, leathery tannin. Well put together. Not my preferred style of Syrah but a very nice wine. 14.5%, $40.
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7/6/2019 - Griffiths Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nice flavors, but I agree with a previous note on this wine in that it was somewhat fatty, lacking balance in acidity. Improved on the next day after corking. I’ll be drinking the next one soon.
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6/28/2019 - Alexander Smith Likes this wine: 92 Points
94% Syrah and 6% Viognier was co-fermented and aged in both new and used American oak barrels for 21 months. This has just been released and shows wonderful blackberries, black pepper and herb aromas, on the palate I found a bouquet of dark fruit interwound with velvty chocolate and spice with a grippy finish.
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6/13/2019 - Renzloh Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent. Black cherries. Long finish.
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6/8/2019 - sean7711 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Up the PCH; 6/4/2019-6/16/2019 (Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, Paso Robles, Napa, and Willamette): Now this is what I'm talking about! 96% Syrah, 4% Viognier. Nice, bright round bing cherry. After tasting a bunch of 2016, 2017s, this was a nice wine to show the subtle depth that age in the bottle has given it.
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5/17/2019 - Jayj381 wrote: 95 Points
Black cherry, pepper spicy oak flavor.
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5/12/2019 - MRichman wrote:
Soft & dark. Silky. Long dark finish. Really nice, this is a winner. Streak of black tar in the middle. Fatty. May not be for long aging.
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4/22/2019 - HaydenBradbury Likes this wine: 91 Points
This bottle was consumed too early. If you have this in your cellar or are considering purchasing it, hold on to it for 5 years. Spectacular, just very bright and young!
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1/14/2019 - tak4 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Bay Area Wine Tour; 1/11/2019-1/15/2019 (Bay Area, CA): Nose of strong juice, gravel, cherries. Pepper, spice, more red fruit on palate. Soft tannins. Can drink now.
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12/26/2017 - OmiyaDrinker wrote: 91 Points
Delicious. Bags of black pepper.
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8/23/2016 - Jeff Leve wrote: 85 Points
Lots of bright, peppery, crisp red fruits on the nose, but on the palate, the wine is tannic, tight and drying in the finish. This could improve, but I am not sure how much.
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