Dinner with Herwig (Heirloom Cafe, SF): A bit plummy and red fruit, minerality; palate is medium bodied, medium plus acidity, lovely elegant and minerality red fruit; finish is medium length. Nice and solid Syrah, balanced. 91
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Alongside the 19989. Equally rich, but this ‘98 is less balanced and slightly more firm. Both showcasing ripe black cherry and plum, roasted meat, and faint earth.
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Brambly fruit with a little mint, exquisite and complex, I would love to put it blind in an Hermitage tasting, but it would be pretty unfair to almost any but Chave. First rate with plenty of life remaining.
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Not a great showing for this wine and was particularly disappointed based on how well the '99 drank a few nights ago.
It seems the structure outlasted the fruit on this one. Didn't get the expressive plum nose and flavors in this one like I did with the '99 and the mineral element was absent also.
Certainly wasn't a bad wine but seemed a bit monotonic without the layers and complexity of the '99. Could have been a bad bottle but it was my only one.
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A very harmonious and elegant American Syrah. Lingering fruit - both red and black cherry, spiced up with pepper, particularly on the nose. This could almost pass for a Cote Rotie.
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Napa Offline and a whole bunch of wine, mostly Syrah (Napa Valley Wine & Cigar): Steve and Carole brought this and I was excited to try a mature wine from them. The joke was on me. Despite its age, this is still quite youthful. I talked to Carole about the vintage. 1998 was their third vintage but first commercial one. Despite its rep as a poor vintage, that is based mostly on how Cabs fared. She liked it for the way cool vintages affect Syrah. Ruby/purple in color. The nose is young with black raspberries. On the palate, there is some spreading of the layers but not much. Black raspberries and a bit leather. Nice finish. I asked Carole where she thought this would go from here and she really seemed surprised at how slowly this was ageing. Very cool experience.
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1/10/2023 - aagrawal wrote: 91 Points
Dinner with Herwig (Heirloom Cafe, SF): A bit plummy and red fruit, minerality; palate is medium bodied, medium plus acidity, lovely elegant and minerality red fruit; finish is medium length. Nice and solid Syrah, balanced. 91
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2/14/2022 - Burgundy Al wrote: 89 Points
Alongside the 19989. Equally rich, but this ‘98 is less balanced and slightly more firm. Both showcasing ripe black cherry and plum, roasted meat, and faint earth.
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1/9/2019 - MikeATL Likes this wine: 93 Points
Brambly fruit with a little mint, exquisite and complex, I would love to put it blind in an Hermitage tasting, but it would be pretty unfair to almost any but Chave. First rate with plenty of life remaining.
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12/1/2016 - aaronfullen wrote: 87 Points
Not a great showing for this wine and was particularly disappointed based on how well the '99 drank a few nights ago.
It seems the structure outlasted the fruit on this one. Didn't get the expressive plum nose and flavors in this one like I did with the '99 and the mineral element was absent also.
Certainly wasn't a bad wine but seemed a bit monotonic without the layers and complexity of the '99. Could have been a bad bottle but it was my only one.
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7/27/2013 - tooch wrote: 91 Points
Saturday Get Together (My Place): Elegant American syrah. Loved its meaty character with florals, earth and spice. This showed really well.
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6/2/2011 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Another bottle consistent with the one from a few weeks ago.
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5/17/2011 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
A very harmonious and elegant American Syrah. Lingering fruit - both red and black cherry, spiced up with pepper, particularly on the nose. This could almost pass for a Cote Rotie.
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3/6/2011 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 92 Points
Napa Offline and a whole bunch of wine, mostly Syrah (Napa Valley Wine & Cigar): Steve and Carole brought this and I was excited to try a mature wine from them. The joke was on me. Despite its age, this is still quite youthful. I talked to Carole about the vintage. 1998 was their third vintage but first commercial one. Despite its rep as a poor vintage, that is based mostly on how Cabs fared. She liked it for the way cool vintages affect Syrah. Ruby/purple in color. The nose is young with black raspberries. On the palate, there is some spreading of the layers but not much. Black raspberries and a bit leather. Nice finish. I asked Carole where she thought this would go from here and she really seemed surprised at how slowly this was ageing. Very cool experience.
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12/21/2007 - wjs wrote: 93 Points
Lots of life left - no rush. Great fruit, good acidity. Will I ever see a fully mature Lagier in my lifetime?
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