Still a beast. Powerful wine. Thick, unctuous, and bold flavoured. Black fruit, cobbler, and pie. Will live on at least 5-8 years if cellared properly. Rhone ranger style for sure.
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Another bottle and similar to the other recent opening. An over the top Syrah that is heavily extracted with high alcohol, yet it still comes together in a pretty impressive manner.
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A rich and smooth Syrah that is really hitting its stride and probably for the next few years. Smooth, dark fruits, some vanilla Oak and hints of spice.
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Give this air. Nose starts like an Aussie fruit bomb, but tones down to include some spice notes. Much more restrained taste then the nose, with silky tannins early. Likely needs more time to open.
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Opened by Dan. This had an artificial aroma to it. A big wine with a thick texture. Thought it lacked balance. Long legs with cassis and dark chocolate covered blackberries. 86-87 points.
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Dinner with xhoser (Topaz Cafe, Burr Ridge): Dark inky crimson color. Notes of road tar, black fruit and pepper. Full-bodied, with firm, sweet tannins and flavors of black fruit and pepper. Long finish, adding an interesting herbal quality.
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Opened by Dan at Topaz with CWM and xhoser. Thought this was somewhat disjointed and a bit over the top. Black fruits and some black pepper. This perhaps suffered because of the other wines open.
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Popped and poured. Notes are very similar to last time and I can't stop myself from drinking to save any for second-night impressions. Massive, indulgent but incredibly deep and well made with perfect acidity to couple with the dark fruit, chocolate, and roasted meat. Awesome.
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This was an extremely tasty Syrah with bright blackberry and pepper notes throughout. Enjoyed this with my man sayward on NYE 2010/11. Would like to grab a bunch of these for my cellar.
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Popped and poured. Inky blackness in the glass with the viscosity to match. Incredible rich nose of tar, leather, smoke, and dark berry fruit. Doesn't have the 'sparkler' smell of The Fight. I could just sit and smell Red Car syrahs and be happy. On the palate it has a very good backbone to partner with the heavy fruit. Very little in the way of oakiness, and the alcohol is very well hidden. Very well balanced for such a big, decadent wine. Awesome.
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Too young, but very promising; inky dark purple with bacon, violet, and pepper on the nose; rich teeth-staining texture and bacon, olive, dark fruit, and pepper notes throughout
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Wait a second! This stuff is amazing. Probably infanticide, but what the hell! Dark to the very edges, bouquet of violets and chocolates (bittersweet, of course). This wine is smooth, viscous and pure. Real weight in the glass with a terrific mouthfeel of richness.
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Gave it a week to settle from shipping, then opened one to see if its as good as expected. Jesus, what an experience decanting one of these is. The smell alone is like eating a blackberry pie. A quick taste showed some tightness, a bit of alcohol (it is 15.5%, afterall), chocolate and graphite and cedar. All very promising.
An hour in: great integration of wood and fruit. The tannins have receded slightly. Very smooth. Wonderfully elegant. In a year, this may well warrant a 94.
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1/18/2023 - SWatson wrote: flawed
sadly i think these are done. this bottle went down the sink.
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12/1/2019 - TXRhoneRanger wrote: 92 Points
Still a beast. Powerful wine. Thick, unctuous, and bold flavoured. Black fruit, cobbler, and pie. Will live on at least 5-8 years if cellared properly. Rhone ranger style for sure.
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1/12/2016 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Another bottle and similar to the other recent opening. An over the top Syrah that is heavily extracted with high alcohol, yet it still comes together in a pretty impressive manner.
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12/24/2015 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 92 Points
A rich and smooth Syrah that is really hitting its stride and probably for the next few years. Smooth, dark fruits, some vanilla Oak and hints of spice.
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3/23/2014 - ctjared Likes this wine:
definitely needs air after open. but once it does dark fruit, big flavor. not spicy or peppery, but solid.
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5/15/2013 - ctjared Likes this wine:
consistent
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1/6/2013 - ctjared Likes this wine:
Give this air. Nose starts like an Aussie fruit bomb, but tones down to include some spice notes. Much more restrained taste then the nose, with silky tannins early. Likely needs more time to open.
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11/29/2012 - Vino Me wrote: 87 Points
Opened by Dan. This had an artificial aroma to it. A big wine with a thick texture. Thought it lacked balance. Long legs with cassis and dark chocolate covered blackberries. 86-87 points.
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11/26/2012 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Dinner with xhoser (Topaz Cafe, Burr Ridge): Dark inky crimson color. Notes of road tar, black fruit and pepper. Full-bodied, with firm, sweet tannins and flavors of black fruit and pepper. Long finish, adding an interesting herbal quality.
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11/26/2012 - thelostverse wrote: 88 Points
Opened by Dan at Topaz with CWM and xhoser. Thought this was somewhat disjointed and a bit over the top. Black fruits and some black pepper. This perhaps suffered because of the other wines open.
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1/21/2012 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 91 Points
A well-balanced Syrah. Plenty of pepper, with vibrant acidity running through. Good concentration, without being syrupy.
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4/7/2011 - bmwcarl wrote:
Popped and poured. Notes are very similar to last time and I can't stop myself from drinking to save any for second-night impressions. Massive, indulgent but incredibly deep and well made with perfect acidity to couple with the dark fruit, chocolate, and roasted meat. Awesome.
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12/31/2010 - wildedge wrote: 90 Points
This was an extremely tasty Syrah with bright blackberry and pepper notes throughout. Enjoyed this with my man sayward on NYE 2010/11.
Would like to grab a bunch of these for my cellar.
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12/31/2010 - sayward wrote: 92 Points
a great bottle of syrah. wish i could find quantities of this wine for $37. drinking great at the moment. and still plenty of mileage ahead of it.
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12/5/2010 - bmwcarl wrote:
Popped and poured. Inky blackness in the glass with the viscosity to match. Incredible rich nose of tar, leather, smoke, and dark berry fruit. Doesn't have the 'sparkler' smell of The Fight. I could just sit and smell Red Car syrahs and be happy. On the palate it has a very good backbone to partner with the heavy fruit. Very little in the way of oakiness, and the alcohol is very well hidden. Very well balanced for such a big, decadent wine. Awesome.
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7/3/2010 - Freyja wrote: 92 Points
Had with ravi
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12/29/2009 - sdatl wrote: 90 Points
Very dark, very inky, but rich with flavor and firm tannins... a crowd favorite
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9/4/2008 - sdatl wrote: 90 Points
Too young, but very promising; inky dark purple with bacon, violet, and pepper on the nose; rich teeth-staining texture and bacon, olive, dark fruit, and pepper notes throughout
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4/23/2008 - winestem wrote: 94 Points
Wait a second! This stuff is amazing. Probably infanticide, but what the hell! Dark to the very edges, bouquet of violets and chocolates (bittersweet, of course). This wine is smooth, viscous and pure. Real weight in the glass with a terrific mouthfeel of richness.
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4/9/2008 - SWatson wrote: 93 Points
Gave it a week to settle from shipping, then opened one to see if its as good as expected. Jesus, what an experience decanting one of these is. The smell alone is like eating a blackberry pie. A quick taste showed some tightness, a bit of alcohol (it is 15.5%, afterall), chocolate and graphite and cedar. All very promising.
An hour in: great integration of wood and fruit. The tannins have receded slightly. Very smooth. Wonderfully elegant. In a year, this may well warrant a 94.
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