Deep, very dark reddish-purple in color, essentially opaque. Full, fragrant & attractive nose of dark fruits aromas of cherries, blackberries & cassis with overtones of earthy/dusty & floral notes, spices, cocoa/mocha, herbs, mint, minerals & a bit of oak & vanilla. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, plush bordering on jammy, ripe dark fruit flavors of dark cherries, boysenberries & plums with spices, cocoa, minerals & oak & vanilla. Lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & extended airing (+90 minutes) but will benefit & develop further with additional aging. An indicative blend of 45% Syrah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon & 15% Petit Verdot.
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Syrah / Cab blend by French winemaker Stephan Asseo of Paso Robles. Hold for another 3 or 4 years. Dunnuck gave it 100 pts. Not sure why, I mean this was really good, but what is 100 pts.? It was not trascendental, "just" really quite good. The morning after opening this bottle, developed full blown COVID symptoms. Couldn't finish the bottle, alas, what a tragic waste. Maybe my sense of taste and smell were not up to 100 pts? :(...
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tastes well made with decent balance for such a big wine. However, even with hours of air, it stays fairly closed up. It may come around but likely needs at least 5-7 years.
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Young, but still an outstanding one. Will benefit from decanting. Save it for a full body meal of beef with a heavy stock reduction. This one will improve over the next 10 to 15 years, and is worth cellaring.
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Big powerful, intense wine that’s not even close to showing it’s best right now. With time, I’m sure it’s gonna reach its 98-100 scores. However in the 4th hour, its already showing a deep, dark, muscular and brooding personality. Almost Equal parts of Syrah and cab with 15% PV. Notes of crushed flowers, roasted dark fruits, graphite, minerality, tobacco, charred firewood and licorice are in abundance. Acidity gets sharp here and there. Just needs more Time. Loads of Chewy tannins with an awesome Lip-smacking finish!
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96 points. Had at LPC with 2012 Saxum Bone Rock with T&A. This is a great wine but will benefit from another 5-10 years. I know JD have it 100 but I like wines like this with some age.
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Decanted for three hours and finished on the third day. This is absolutely epic, and sublimely textured with microfiber tannins and a full, yet precise body. Crème de cassis, blackberries, flower shop, fruit punch, lava rock and macchiato. Structured and with plenty of backbone, there’s light, flowing tendencies all along. Truly designed for the cellar and not for the meek; this in reality is still for the elegant. A beautiful, opaque, garnet colour. Drink 2025 -.
Magenta/purple. 4 hr decant. This ‘18 is driven by notes of crushed flowers, smoked meats, sawdust and minerals. It’s so layered, multi-faceted and intense. On the palate there are hints of graphite, plowed soil, toasted nuts followed by chalkier dark fruits. High ABV is well-hidden, soaring acidity and mildly grippy tannins on a long lasting finish. Paired with kabobs! High praise JD: 100, JS:98 VN 97. Great wine!
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Short decant. Muted nose. Black and blue fruits, cassis, graphite, mocha, hints of spice. Full bodied and superbly balanced. Smooth with firm tannins and a long finish. Needs a few more years to fully round out. Better second day.
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What Stephan considers his to cuvée, this is another locked and loaded edit that has powerful notes of blackberries, crème de cassis, chocolate, and graphite as well as a terrific sense of chalky minerality. Full bodied, concentrated, and mouthfilling, it’s unquestionably one of the richest, most opulent wines in the vintage. She 1-20++ years.
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Medium+ ruby purple. Medium intensity aroma of black cherry, blueberry. Dry, medium+ acidity, low tannin, medium alcohol. Medium body. Medium intensity flavor of blueberry, black cherry, raspberry, herbs. Long finish.
Higher acidity than 2017, looking forward to see how it’ll age.
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Wow! Had a friend bring this over for dinner, and it was spectacular! I had never heard of this winery before, and was blown away! This reminded me of a high-end Napa cab. Full-bodied, long on the pallate, with a complex combination of flavors. I am writing this the day following the tasting, so I am not able to give further details as to the specific fragrances and flavors. But I’m definitely joining this winery’s club!
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Still too early to taste, but hints of fruit and wood chips are starting to come through. I would say, try in 4 years, you it's promising what I taste so far.
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A very young wine. I loved the 2013 (out of memory, 95/100?). So I am trying the 2018 baby now.
The nose is not that exciting. the alcohol dominates. The wine itself also appears quite alcoholic; i am drinking this fresh out of the cellar at 55 degrees and notice it. That said, there is a good backbone of fruit and tannis, with an interesting but (for me at least) hard to describe mid pallete. The fruit is very pure and clean. I dont think this one is on track to rival the '13. Will try again in a few years (maybe 3 years out). Has upside potential with age?
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Potent alcoholic scents paired with mint and cherries upon pouring. Served mildly chillled due to the abv stated and that was not enough. It’s really hard to enjoy the jammy flavours the wine offers, simply due to the insane amount of heat that comes through the wine. It didn’t pair with a ribeye, and it’s rather hard to drink on its’ own 2+ hours later. Tried some more the next day after spending overnight in a decanter and it turned out even more alcoholic and one dimensional at room temp (67° in this house). Sadly a waste of money.
3/18/2024 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep, very dark reddish-purple in color, essentially opaque. Full, fragrant & attractive nose of dark fruits aromas of cherries, blackberries & cassis with overtones of earthy/dusty & floral notes, spices, cocoa/mocha, herbs, mint, minerals & a bit of oak & vanilla. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, plush bordering on jammy, ripe dark fruit flavors of dark cherries, boysenberries & plums with spices, cocoa, minerals & oak & vanilla. Lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & extended airing (+90 minutes) but will benefit & develop further with additional aging. An indicative blend of 45% Syrah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon & 15% Petit Verdot.
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1/9/2024 - Carib Likes this wine: 88 Points
Third bottle from batch of four, this one less than tip top, slightly off; last one was flawed
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1/7/2024 - Carib wrote: flawed
flawed
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10/1/2023 - Carib Likes this wine: 96 Points
Syrah / Cab blend by French winemaker Stephan Asseo of Paso Robles. Hold for another 3 or 4 years. Dunnuck gave it 100 pts. Not sure why, I mean this was really good, but what is 100 pts.? It was not trascendental, "just" really quite good. The morning after opening this bottle, developed full blown COVID symptoms. Couldn't finish the bottle, alas, what a tragic waste. Maybe my sense of taste and smell were not up to 100 pts? :(...
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3/27/2023 - Kayentacellars wrote: 96 Points
Measures up to its rating, but it needs some time to let the tannins mellow out some, give them 2 or more years before touching again.
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1/9/2023 - Vince92673 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very approachable upon opening. Shared at a group dinner and all felt it was superb.
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12/22/2022 - tphilca wrote: 90 Points
tastes well made with decent balance for such a big wine. However, even with hours of air, it stays fairly closed up. It may come around but likely needs at least 5-7 years.
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11/26/2022 - rrasmuss Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very young, could use at least 3-5 more years.
Espresso, violet, slate, and tannic.
Not that it wasn’t enjoyable, but would be better with an overnight or more age.
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11/18/2022 - Cellartracker@drkayem.com Likes this wine: 96 Points
Young, but still an outstanding one. Will benefit from decanting. Save it for a full body meal of beef with a heavy stock reduction. This one will improve over the next 10 to 15 years, and is worth cellaring.
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8/27/2022 - Cablover1982 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Big powerful, intense wine that’s not even close to showing it’s best right now. With time, I’m sure it’s gonna reach its 98-100 scores. However in the 4th hour, its already showing a deep, dark, muscular and brooding personality. Almost Equal parts of Syrah and cab with 15% PV. Notes of crushed flowers, roasted dark fruits, graphite, minerality, tobacco, charred firewood and licorice are in abundance. Acidity gets sharp here and there. Just needs more Time. Loads of Chewy tannins with an awesome Lip-smacking finish!
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5/20/2022 - Roi Vin de LBC Likes this wine: 96 Points
96 points. Had at LPC with 2012 Saxum Bone Rock with T&A. This is a great wine but will benefit from another 5-10 years. I know JD have it 100 but I like wines like this with some age.
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3/27/2022 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 98 Points
Decanted for three hours and finished on the third day. This is absolutely epic, and sublimely textured with microfiber tannins and a full, yet precise body. Crème de cassis, blackberries, flower shop, fruit punch, lava rock and macchiato. Structured and with plenty of backbone, there’s light, flowing tendencies all along. Truly designed for the cellar and not for the meek; this in reality is still for the elegant. A beautiful, opaque, garnet colour. Drink 2025 -.
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3/24/2022 - Cablover1982 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Magenta/purple. 4 hr decant. This ‘18 is driven by notes of crushed flowers, smoked meats, sawdust and minerals. It’s so layered, multi-faceted and intense. On the palate there are hints of graphite, plowed soil, toasted nuts followed by chalkier dark fruits. High ABV is well-hidden, soaring acidity and mildly grippy tannins on a long lasting finish. Paired with kabobs! High praise JD: 100, JS:98 VN 97. Great wine!
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9/6/2021 - mvande21 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Short decant. Muted nose. Black and blue fruits, cassis, graphite, mocha, hints of spice. Full bodied and superbly balanced. Smooth with firm tannins and a long finish. Needs a few more years to fully round out. Better second day.
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6/5/2021 - Andrea Wagner wrote:
What Stephan considers his to cuvée, this is another locked and loaded edit that has powerful notes of blackberries, crème de cassis, chocolate, and graphite as well as a terrific sense of chalky minerality. Full bodied, concentrated, and mouthfilling, it’s unquestionably one of the richest, most opulent wines in the vintage. She 1-20++ years.
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5/29/2021 - mayakacz Likes this wine:
Medium+ ruby purple.
Medium intensity aroma of black cherry, blueberry.
Dry, medium+ acidity, low tannin, medium alcohol. Medium body. Medium intensity flavor of blueberry, black cherry, raspberry, herbs. Long finish.
Higher acidity than 2017, looking forward to see how it’ll age.
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5/21/2021 - Cellartracker@drkayem.com Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wow! Had a friend bring this over for dinner, and it was spectacular! I had never heard of this winery before, and was blown away! This reminded me of a high-end Napa cab. Full-bodied, long on the pallate, with a complex combination of flavors. I am writing this the day following the tasting, so I am not able to give further details as to the specific fragrances and flavors. But I’m definitely joining this winery’s club!
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1/30/2021 - Dejanskevin Likes this wine: 97 Points
Still too early to taste, but hints of fruit and wood chips are starting to come through. I would say, try in 4 years, you it's promising what I taste so far.
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12/29/2020 - gpritsch wrote: 90 Points
A very young wine. I loved the 2013 (out of memory, 95/100?).
So I am trying the 2018 baby now.
The nose is not that exciting. the alcohol dominates. The wine itself also appears quite alcoholic; i am drinking this fresh out of the cellar at 55 degrees and notice it. That said, there is a good backbone of fruit and tannis, with an interesting but (for me at least) hard to describe mid pallete. The fruit is very pure and clean. I dont think this one is on track to rival the '13. Will try again in a few years (maybe 3 years out). Has upside potential with age?
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10/16/2020 - Order66 Does not like this wine: 74 Points
Potent alcoholic scents paired with mint and cherries upon pouring. Served mildly chillled due to the abv stated and that was not enough. It’s really hard to enjoy the jammy flavours the wine offers, simply due to the insane amount of heat that comes through the wine. It didn’t pair with a ribeye, and it’s rather hard to drink on its’ own 2+ hours later. Tried some more the next day after spending overnight in a decanter and it turned out even more alcoholic and one dimensional at room temp (67° in this house). Sadly a waste of money.
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