Opened at cellar temperature, consumed from bottle over an evening. Wow, this is still drinking incredibly young and open.
Floral bouquet and white pepper abound, really 'pretty' bouquet, perfumed, ripe raspberries. Same palate impression as previously, elegant, silky, sculpted and finessed. Raspberry with sweet spice on the palate. Seamless progression from attack to finish, long finish. Low-ish ABV, no oak, extremely fine (perfect?) tannins.
Drink or hold. The structure is subtle but clearly capable of carrying this wine. Holding my last bottle until 12-15 years from vintage, as I'm curious if savory bottle bouquet will emerge. While this is fully dry, it's still centered on the sweeter, perfumey character it has close to release. In any case, I found the 2016 seemed already past peak, but this is a data point favoring longer term aging for this cuvee, if a vintage supports it.
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Delicious. We usually don’t like them this fruity, but this was so fun. Lots of personality, well balanced, great finish, and quite food friendly . . . What’s not to like?
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Consistent with prior note. Though seems to be picking up a stronger smoked meat flavor on the finish. Extremely fine texture, continues to exude elegance.
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One of the best young red wines I have ever tasted. Such finesse and complexity. Blueberry, white pepper, savory herbs, clove, juicy and extracted but medium light body. Super fine tannins and a long finish. Not sure how this will develop but there is a hint that some meaty characteristics will turn up after a few years. So good now though.
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Indeed, this is a fine wine. Cool climate Syrah notes of cured ham, white pepper, raspberry and high toned florals. But what really elevates this wine is the palate presence--a real beginning, middle and end. Fresh red fruited attack, silky and rounded mid-palate, followed by a finish of olive, basil and raspberry. Has a bit of tannic grip to resolve, but already immaculately balanced.
I'm not sure this wine will improve with age, but it doesn't need to, in the way a quality CA Pinot Noir is often best 3-5 years from vintage. On an unrelated note, Presqu'ile Vineyard has been impressing me recently, and this Syrah is an example of the depth and complexity that can be achieved at modest ripeness levels. Ethereal cool climate Syrahs that impress aromatically can often be flat on the palate--no such limitation in this wine or more broadly with this vineyard.
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4/27/2024 - Cabfrancophile Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened at cellar temperature, consumed from bottle over an evening. Wow, this is still drinking incredibly young and open.
Floral bouquet and white pepper abound, really 'pretty' bouquet, perfumed, ripe raspberries. Same palate impression as previously, elegant, silky, sculpted and finessed. Raspberry with sweet spice on the palate. Seamless progression from attack to finish, long finish. Low-ish ABV, no oak, extremely fine (perfect?) tannins.
Drink or hold. The structure is subtle but clearly capable of carrying this wine. Holding my last bottle until 12-15 years from vintage, as I'm curious if savory bottle bouquet will emerge. While this is fully dry, it's still centered on the sweeter, perfumey character it has close to release. In any case, I found the 2016 seemed already past peak, but this is a data point favoring longer term aging for this cuvee, if a vintage supports it.
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11/3/2023 - millerarner wrote: 94 Points
Delicious. We usually don’t like them this fruity, but this was so fun. Lots of personality, well balanced, great finish, and quite food friendly . . . What’s not to like?
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7/25/2021 - Cabfrancophile Likes this wine:
Consistent with prior note. Though seems to be picking up a stronger smoked meat flavor on the finish. Extremely fine texture, continues to exude elegance.
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4/12/2021 - DeLuz Likes this wine: 94 Points
N: Highly aromatic with pepper, roasted meat, blackberry
P: Savory with blackberry, olive brine, creosote.
Medium + acid, long finish.
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12/1/2020 - davergny Likes this wine: 95 Points
One of the best young red wines I have ever tasted. Such finesse and complexity. Blueberry, white pepper, savory herbs, clove, juicy and extracted but medium light body. Super fine tannins and a long finish. Not sure how this will develop but there is a hint that some meaty characteristics will turn up after a few years. So good now though.
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8/15/2020 - amenges wrote: 93 Points
Really good value for a Syrah. Lots of white pepper on the nose and in mouthfeel so be prepared for this as it’s most signature characteristic.
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2/21/2020 - msktime Likes this wine:
Superb syrah
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2/8/2020 - Cabfrancophile wrote: 94 Points
Indeed, this is a fine wine. Cool climate Syrah notes of cured ham, white pepper, raspberry and high toned florals. But what really elevates this wine is the palate presence--a real beginning, middle and end. Fresh red fruited attack, silky and rounded mid-palate, followed by a finish of olive, basil and raspberry. Has a bit of tannic grip to resolve, but already immaculately balanced.
I'm not sure this wine will improve with age, but it doesn't need to, in the way a quality CA Pinot Noir is often best 3-5 years from vintage. On an unrelated note, Presqu'ile Vineyard has been impressing me recently, and this Syrah is an example of the depth and complexity that can be achieved at modest ripeness levels. Ethereal cool climate Syrahs that impress aromatically can often be flat on the palate--no such limitation in this wine or more broadly with this vineyard.
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