Another in our Saturday evening 'What's dying in the Celllar' series, and much like others in the past month or so, this one was remarkablly fresh with minimal signs of age, (the only 'bad' wine we've had in this series was a K-Vintners Syrah from Washiington, and I thought the Ojai could have a similar result. With 16% Alc. I was really fearful about this one, thinking the fruit would be all gone and the only thing left would be the alcohol, and surprisingly I would suggest it may be more integrated and balanced than the first bottle of this vintage we had 13 years ago with minimal signs of age strangely, and the ultimate question is bombastic wines like this likely don't evolve much so why bother with cellaring, but it was damn tasty when all was said and done - Black, full bodied with a strong nose of blueberry, plum, pepper and vanilla, definite heat, but manageable, and surprisingly balanced and integrated for 16% alc. sweet, velvety smooth on the palate, a touch of burn but outstanding length, likely won't evolve beyond what it has, so drink up before the inevitable collapse (90 Points).
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L'ouverture de la bouteille a été problématique. Le bouchon était très sec jusqu'au miroir et s'est littéralement décomposé, peut importe l'ouvre-bouteille utilisé. Une étiquette supplémentaire a été apposée sur la bouteille, vraissemblablement par l'importateur ou la LCBO. Indication de 16% alcool/volume. Le vin s'est présenté rouge bleuté très dense. Un nez ou l'alcool sse manifeste mais laisse tout de même passer des notes de framboises noires. En bouche, les tanins intégrés mais encore solides, le vin a de la mâche, les notes généreuses de fruits cuits. Étonnament pas de lourdeur ni de sucrosité prononcé. C'est bon et en accord avec le couscous royal. Pas apprécié de tous .
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Deep purple. Pronounced nose of cherries and tobacco. On the palate medium acidity, high alcohol, cherries, pepper, chocolate. Long finish. Outstanding wine, in its prime or slightly past.
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Colour was still quite dark showing little signs of maturity. Nice bouquet of dark fruit. In the mouth it was very round, blackberry flavours with a hint of spice and a reasonably long finish. A pleasure to drink.
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High fill level. Deep garnet color in glass with thin cherry rims. Lovely earthy mushroom bouquet. Lots of ripe fruit on palate with volatile acidity noticeable which seems to moderate with aeration. A good bit of sediment. At peak but needs decanting to deal with the VA.
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UWS; A mixed set of wines (@ JB): Beautiful bouquet with dark berries and eucalyptus. On the palate chocolate and dark berries, sweet spices like cinnamon and soft, round tannin. Completely ready now and a great pleasure.
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Still remarkably black in colour, quite youthful looking. Very expressive nose of blackberries and blueberries with some hints of spice. The palate has become more tame since the last bottle we had in 2013. The tannins are now fully integrated; there to provide structure but not obtrusive. There is a lovely plushness to the mouthfeel; very Californian. Flavours of blackberry liqueur and blueberry gain nuance from notes of tapenade and some cracked pepper on the finish. Fully mature, this wine has developed a soft and sexy mouthfeel while still giving it all in terms of intensity. At peak right now. www.advinetures.ca
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Dark in colour, and with a very nice, deep nose of redfruits, olives, smoke, iron and meat. Fairly full bodied and with a concentrated palate reflecting the nose. A nice viscous and veltvety texture to the wine adds interest. Still seems youthful at year 10, but ready now with some decanting (A-).
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Friday Night Tasting in Toronto (VinT's Place): This was initially quite concerning with a quite a lot of dark very ripe fruit and a fair bit of alcohol, however after 2 hours of air it became more complex and rounded out: black olive, blackberry, dried black currants, tar, powdered sugar, pie crust and blueberry pie filling. Still not quite as restrained as the Wind Gap and with a slightly darker profile, but equally interesting and complex in my view. The palate has medium minus tannin and medium acid on the long dark finish. Nice wine. Will hold my next for a while yet.
This needed several hours of decanting, but it smoothed out and came around. Dense and overripe black fruits with thick tannins. Some sweet Oak and dried herbs, but it was more about the fruit that came in waves.
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Monthly Tasting Group EEE #035; A mixed set of white, red and sweet (@ My place): This wine developed so much for the better. I served it completely blind and many thought it was Northern Rhone. I don’t know if Ojai considers that as a compliment, but I do. In the bouquet dark berry fruits, minerals, leather, licorice and a pleasant touch of barnyard. On the palate rustic with dark fruits like blackberries, smoke, toast, coffee, chocolate, pepper and also some tea. Good acidity and tannin and a pleasant bit of sweetness in the long finish.
The cork crumbled on opening but the wine was still in tact. Dark cherry, olive and pepper aromas with consistent flavors. Nice structure and integration with lengthy finish.
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Fabulous, especially given the broad, unprestigious "bien nacido vineyard" designation. Perfect balance of fruit and structure making it easy to drink, with big flavors and a long finish. Doing great now, don't imagine this getting any better and will hold for a while, but drink when you want.
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Doesn't need a couple of hours any more. Opens wide and full, still somewhat tannic but full of fruity berry notes and earth. Nice nose, high pitched mouth that's a tiny bit distracting, and long, also high pitched, length. No real subtlety here, but this wine's quite a looker. High score for sheer audaciousness!
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Took nearly an hour to open fully. Dense dark fruits to the core. Smooth by the tannins still have plenty of density and firmness underneath. Long finish. Sweet Oak.
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Very dark, almost black. Blackberries, tar, and fennel on the nose. Very fruit forward, but with enough nuance to keep it interesting. Full body, somewhat tannic, it is a big, rich, mouth-filling wine. Just entering maturity, it is likely to improve for at least another 5 years. www.advinetures.ca
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First tasted 2 years ago and had to have again. Simply one of my favorite US Syrahs. Smoke, meat, bacon fat, and blueberries on the nose. Loooooonnnngggg finishof fruit, smoke, and spice. Seriously, this is the Syrach against which I measure all others. Still available at the winery
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Dark purple color. The nose has blueberry, smoke, spice. This has settled nicely, still lots of fruit, but nicely integrated. Medium-full palate. Still firm tannins support everything. Delicious wine.
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Three hour decant. A black-garnet color, fully opaque, and glass coating. A full savory bouquet- black olive, cedar, blackcurrant, and cured meat. Open fruit greets the palate, with plenty of blueberry and currant notes. Underlying olive, violet, herb, meaty, and espresso aromas emerge. Rich feel, juicy acidity, and firm ripe tannins. Lasting finish of savory fruit, cedar, and espresso notes. A killer bottle of Syrah hitting its prime, with plenty of life ahead.
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Quite a bomb, but quite tasty and enjoyable at the same time - Black, full bodied with a nose of blueberry, plum, pepper and vanilla, a lot of heat, but manageable, very interesting, sweet, velvety smooth on the palate with excellent length, nice but forgetable (90 Points).
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Upon opening, it's an uninteresting, grapetastic 87 or so. 30-60 minutes in it begins to get great -- peppery and smoky and blueberried. 5 hours in it's something else still -- suddenly there's a bit of fat on the back end, and the berries are darker now -- though I'm not sure if I don't prefer the tautness of that late first hour. A nice wine, and one to get more of. Would be fun to put this away for a few years.
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PnP'd. Delicious fruit-forward wine. Tannins were faded but the fruit was still coming on strong after an hour. The bottle was consumed within two hours but it was opening up nicely when the last drop was drunk. Would like to try this again in a year or two with a little more bottle age. I think the fruit would a little better balanced with the rest of the wine. In summary, very nice full-bodied wine, but not too complex - although that could be a function of the limited time when it was open.
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Best glass was the last. Drank over 4 hours. Decanted and drank immediately. A bit awkward and tanic at the beginning. The complexity and the fruit kept on coming out. Wait a couple of years for the next.
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Dark and brooding color, nose of meat, smoke, dark fruits, and a hint of chocolate. Nice, long finish with well integrated tannins and the kind of bright, old-school acidity that comes from picking earlier than most. I highly recommend this wine.
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For me, this is still getting better. Beautiful nose of blueberry, smoke, and black pepper. Huge body, but the fruit is delicious. There's a little savory component, and some spiciness as well. For me, this is right on the edge of too big, it's a little challenging to pair it with food. Tannins are smooth and integrated, there's just enough acidity to keep it together. Excellent.
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This was delectable. I love Ojai Bien Nacido Syrah, as a rule, but this is the first 2005 I have opened and I absolutely love it. Deep dark fruit flavor with well-integrated tannins. Fantastic!
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Sampled 12/18/10. Teeth staining wine with tannins that still have a little grit and the alcohol comes through just a bit. There is monster black fruits with leather and tar notes. Not sure how both RP and ST concluded this was a 93 pointer, but it is tasty. Maybe in a couple more years it'll round out.
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Day 2- opened for over 24 hours with bottle half full. Vacuum-sealed. Purple-black color. Bouquet of sage, vanilla, white pepper, cedar, and currants- more subdued on day 2. The fruit is electric on the palate, with broader flavors of apple, banana, and red cherry to go along with the lush black and blue fruit from day 1- ripe and juicy with acidity. Secondary notes of tea, cracked pepper, and cedar are still tightly wound within the structure. The fine peppery tannins are a little more integrated, and the finish is consistent with the lush array of fruit and spice- and lengthy. Beautiful supple texture. Outstanding on the second day- even better than on the first. Will look for more, and look forward to where this is in a few years.
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Opened 2 hours, did not decant. An inky purple, with a little metallic sheen to it. A deep and brooding bouquet, with savory aromas of sage, currants, smoked sausage, and pepper. Medium to full-bodied and smooth in texture. The fruit really comes out strong on the palate with nicely ripened red/black cherry and blueberry flavors, over a backdrop of dusty herb and white pepper. Has a feel of vibrant acidity, with peppery tannins- firm and fine- it has nice fruit now, and the structure is such that the savory backdrop should really enhance this with more time in the bottle. Nice, long finish too.
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Dark purple-red color. The nose has blueberry, raspberry, charcoal, and black pepper. Nice red fruit, fairly bright. The smoky charcoal component is quite prominent. Medium-full on the palate. The finish is moderate length, and a bit spicy.
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This the second time a taste this great Syrah. The first time about a year ago i found it to be more Nothern Rhone like with black pepper, leather and stables. This time not so much. but it does'n't matter it was a great wine. Very aromatic. Full of cool red and black fruit, a little pebber, polished tannins, a little sweetnes, and an elegant touch of creamy french oak.
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UWS 2010-01 (@ JB): Grilled meat/bacon, smoky impressions and sweetness. Good dark fruits. Very concentrated and good acidity. Smoky. Oak. Firm amount of alcohol. Very good wine which will benefit with some ageing. Let's say 3 - 5 years to start with. 89 for now with potential for 2 - 3 points more.
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i liked this quiet a bit. I didn't have that many californian shiraz so comparaison for me is difficult. This was clearly no nothern rhone wine but was no aussie shiraz neither. Something in between. Would buy more. Have no idea how this will evolve. 91-92
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Opened for two hours. The now-reticent nose evolved from flamboyant in those two hours, but still shows quite a bit of olive-y earth with some high pitched fruit and some ashy notes. The mouth is well balanced, if less overt than past issues of this bottling, with a different profile than that to which I am accustomed. The length seems a tiny bit attenuated, with the same notes as the nose.
Quite different than past vintages, and strikes me as more in the Melville line, but without the very fine structure that that bottling usually has. Perhaps this new face will just take some getting used to. In the meantime, I'll taste through the other 2005's to make a comparison.
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éclusée à la pendaison de crémaillère, quelque chose comme la 27e bouteille de la soirée, ouverte de peine et de misère, et pas terminée. Typique, grosse syrah juicy un peu too much, et alcooleuse. Pas ma tasse de thé, mais clairement un finisher...
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The nose is mostly blueberry, vanilla, and a little heat. The palate is moderately full, but adds some nice brightness. I would have pegged this as an Aussie Shiraz, but a good one. It's well balanced, but I didn't find a lot of complexity. The finish is long and enjoyable. The tannins are smooth, and the acidity is nicely balanced.
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3/23/2024 - Tarrant wrote: 90 Points
Another in our Saturday evening 'What's dying in the Celllar' series, and much like others in the past month or so, this one was remarkablly fresh with minimal signs of age, (the only 'bad' wine we've had in this series was a K-Vintners Syrah from Washiington, and I thought the Ojai could have a similar result. With 16% Alc. I was really fearful about this one, thinking the fruit would be all gone and the only thing left would be the alcohol, and surprisingly I would suggest it may be more integrated and balanced than the first bottle of this vintage we had 13 years ago with minimal signs of age strangely, and the ultimate question is bombastic wines like this likely don't evolve much so why bother with cellaring, but it was damn tasty when all was said and done - Black, full bodied with a strong nose of blueberry, plum, pepper and vanilla, definite heat, but manageable, and surprisingly balanced and integrated for 16% alc. sweet, velvety smooth on the palate, a touch of burn but outstanding length, likely won't evolve beyond what it has, so drink up before the inevitable collapse (90 Points).
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4/23/2023 - YoRi wrote: 90 Points
L'ouverture de la bouteille a été problématique. Le bouchon était très sec jusqu'au miroir et s'est littéralement décomposé, peut importe l'ouvre-bouteille utilisé.
Une étiquette supplémentaire a été apposée sur la bouteille, vraissemblablement par l'importateur ou la LCBO. Indication de 16% alcool/volume.
Le vin s'est présenté rouge bleuté très dense. Un nez ou l'alcool sse manifeste mais laisse tout de même passer des notes de framboises noires.
En bouche, les tanins intégrés mais encore solides, le vin a de la mâche, les notes généreuses de fruits cuits. Étonnament pas de lourdeur ni de sucrosité prononcé.
C'est bon et en accord avec le couscous royal.
Pas apprécié de tous .
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2/1/2023 - ben7210 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep purple. Pronounced nose of cherries and tobacco. On the palate medium acidity, high alcohol, cherries, pepper, chocolate. Long finish. Outstanding wine, in its prime or slightly past.
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12/23/2021 - Geoff Likes this wine: 89 Points
Plenty of fruit left, strong tannins, somewhat out of balance. Green notes on the finish. That part not to my liking.
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4/5/2020 - LuckyLars wrote: 92 Points
Colour was still quite dark showing little signs of maturity. Nice bouquet of dark fruit. In the mouth it was very round, blackberry flavours with a hint of spice and a reasonably long finish. A pleasure to drink.
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2/8/2020 - scaredone Likes this wine: 90 Points
A bit past it's prime but still was very enjoyable, there was power in the fruit and a bit of acidity but faded quickly. A nice wine.
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11/28/2019 - 41hijinx Likes this wine: 89 Points
High fill level. Deep garnet color in glass with thin cherry rims. Lovely earthy mushroom bouquet. Lots of ripe fruit on palate with volatile acidity noticeable which seems to moderate with aeration. A good bit of sediment. At peak but needs decanting to deal with the VA.
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6/21/2019 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
UWS; A mixed set of wines (@ JB): Beautiful bouquet with dark berries and eucalyptus. On the palate chocolate and dark berries, sweet spices like cinnamon and soft, round tannin. Completely ready now and a great pleasure.
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8/6/2018 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
Weekly tasting group RWP #297: Three interesting flights (@ My place): Just limited notes. Luxurious bouquet with beautifully dosed oak, dark fruits and mineral impressions. On the palate dark fruits, licorice and a good balance between acidity and sweetness.
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5/18/2017 - Stirling Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still remarkably black in colour, quite youthful looking. Very expressive nose of blackberries and blueberries with some hints of spice. The palate has become more tame since the last bottle we had in 2013. The tannins are now fully integrated; there to provide structure but not obtrusive. There is a lovely plushness to the mouthfeel; very Californian. Flavours of blackberry liqueur and blueberry gain nuance from notes of tapenade and some cracked pepper on the finish. Fully mature, this wine has developed a soft and sexy mouthfeel while still giving it all in terms of intensity. At peak right now. www.advinetures.ca
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12/14/2015 - dougie Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for an hour. Just hitting its prime.
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7/22/2015 - JohnSh wrote: 91 Points
Dark in colour, and with a very nice, deep nose of redfruits, olives, smoke, iron and meat. Fairly full bodied and with a concentrated palate reflecting the nose. A nice viscous and veltvety texture to the wine adds interest. Still seems youthful at year 10, but ready now with some decanting (A-).
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4/24/2015 - Wine Canuck wrote: 89 Points
Friday Night Tasting in Toronto (VinT's Place): This was initially quite concerning with a quite a lot of dark very ripe fruit and a fair bit of alcohol, however after 2 hours of air it became more complex and rounded out: black olive, blackberry, dried black currants, tar, powdered sugar, pie crust and blueberry pie filling. Still not quite as restrained as the Wind Gap and with a slightly darker profile, but equally interesting and complex in my view. The palate has medium minus tannin and medium acid on the long dark finish. Nice wine. Will hold my next for a while yet.
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3/29/2015 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 91 Points
This needed several hours of decanting, but it smoothed out and came around. Dense and overripe black fruits with thick tannins. Some sweet Oak and dried herbs, but it was more about the fruit that came in waves.
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2/4/2015 - Zweder Likes this wine: 92 Points
Monthly Tasting Group EEE #035; A mixed set of white, red and sweet (@ My place): This wine developed so much for the better. I served it completely blind and many thought it was Northern Rhone. I don’t know if Ojai considers that as a compliment, but I do. In the bouquet dark berry fruits, minerals, leather, licorice and a pleasant touch of barnyard. On the palate rustic with dark fruits like blackberries, smoke, toast, coffee, chocolate, pepper and also some tea. Good acidity and tannin and a pleasant bit of sweetness in the long finish.
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1/30/2015 - davidspieker wrote: 90 Points
The cork crumbled on opening but the wine was still in tact. Dark cherry, olive and pepper aromas with consistent flavors. Nice structure and integration with lengthy finish.
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1/6/2015 - levinml wrote: 93 Points
Fabulous, especially given the broad, unprestigious "bien nacido vineyard" designation. Perfect balance of fruit and structure making it easy to drink, with big flavors and a long finish. Doing great now, don't imagine this getting any better and will hold for a while, but drink when you want.
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8/8/2014 - acheng wrote: 91 Points
Similar profile as last tasted. Hoisin, sweet with olive and savoury notes. A burnt rubber and peppery note is also present. Sweet and potent.
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6/11/2014 - lolo66 wrote:
This was excellent. no formal notes. brought to a block party. drank out of plastic cups. damn good juice.
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5/4/2014 - jbaron wrote: 92 Points
Doesn't need a couple of hours any more. Opens wide and full, still somewhat tannic but full of fruity berry notes and earth. Nice nose, high pitched mouth that's a tiny bit distracting, and long, also high pitched, length. No real subtlety here, but this wine's quite a looker. High score for sheer audaciousness!
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11/11/2013 - hawk30 wrote: 92 Points
This was excellent. A sublime combination of pepper, meat, and dark fruits, with superb balance. This really caught me by surprise.
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10/18/2013 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Took nearly an hour to open fully. Dense dark fruits to the core. Smooth by the tannins still have plenty of density and firmness underneath. Long finish. Sweet Oak.
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8/4/2013 - Stirling Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very dark, almost black. Blackberries, tar, and fennel on the nose. Very fruit forward, but with enough nuance to keep it interesting. Full body, somewhat tannic, it is a big, rich, mouth-filling wine. Just entering maturity, it is likely to improve for at least another 5 years. www.advinetures.ca
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2/24/2013 - fudp wrote:
First tasted 2 years ago and had to have again. Simply one of my favorite US Syrahs. Smoke, meat, bacon fat, and blueberries on the nose. Loooooonnnngggg finishof fruit, smoke, and spice. Seriously, this is the Syrach against which I measure all others. Still available at the winery
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2/3/2013 - JavaMonkey Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark purple color. The nose has blueberry, smoke, spice. This has settled nicely, still lots of fruit, but nicely integrated. Medium-full palate. Still firm tannins support everything. Delicious wine.
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10/19/2012 - acheng wrote: 92 Points
A concentrated wine with complex bbq Chinese roast pork and smoke. Sweet and potent with great balance.
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9/30/2012 - Philly-O wrote: 83 Points
Nothing good to say about this wine. sorry.
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7/27/2012 - BOB P Likes this wine: 92 Points
excellent.
ready to go.
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3/30/2012 - jbaron wrote:
Still structured and still needs times. Give it a couple of hours, and...
Try next in 2014...
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3/28/2012 - jmcmurtry wrote: 93 Points
Ooooooutstanding. Loved it. A delicious well balanced "bomb" as one reviewer commented.
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8/27/2011 - MattMauldin wrote: 93 Points
Three hour decant. A black-garnet color, fully opaque, and glass coating. A full savory bouquet- black olive, cedar, blackcurrant, and cured meat. Open fruit greets the palate, with plenty of blueberry and currant notes. Underlying olive, violet, herb, meaty, and espresso aromas emerge. Rich feel, juicy acidity, and firm ripe tannins. Lasting finish of savory fruit, cedar, and espresso notes. A killer bottle of Syrah hitting its prime, with plenty of life ahead.
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7/16/2011 - Tarrant wrote: 90 Points
Quite a bomb, but quite tasty and enjoyable at the same time - Black, full bodied with a nose of blueberry, plum, pepper and vanilla, a lot of heat, but manageable, very interesting, sweet, velvety smooth on the palate with excellent length, nice but forgetable (90 Points).
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7/9/2011 - wormfarmer wrote: 91 Points
Upon opening, it's an uninteresting, grapetastic 87 or so. 30-60 minutes in it begins to get great -- peppery and smoky and blueberried. 5 hours in it's something else still -- suddenly there's a bit of fat on the back end, and the berries are darker now -- though I'm not sure if I don't prefer the tautness of that late first hour. A nice wine, and one to get more of. Would be fun to put this away for a few years.
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7/7/2011 - MusignyBlanc wrote: 90 Points
PnP'd. Delicious fruit-forward wine. Tannins were faded but the fruit was still coming on strong after an hour. The bottle was consumed within two hours but it was opening up nicely when the last drop was drunk. Would like to try this again in a year or two with a little more bottle age. I think the fruit would a little better balanced with the rest of the wine. In summary, very nice full-bodied wine, but not too complex - although that could be a function of the limited time when it was open.
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6/3/2011 - dougie wrote: 91 Points
Best glass was the last. Drank over 4 hours. Decanted and drank immediately. A bit awkward and tanic at the beginning. The complexity and the fruit kept on coming out. Wait a couple of years for the next.
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3/14/2011 - boodra wrote:
lovely. Consistent with previus notes
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2/22/2011 - mikeaukenbals wrote: 92 Points
Probably save the rest for a bit, but drinking well now
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2/21/2011 - fudp wrote: 92 Points
Dark and brooding color, nose of meat, smoke, dark fruits, and a hint of chocolate. Nice, long finish with well integrated tannins and the kind of bright, old-school acidity that comes from picking earlier than most. I highly recommend this wine.
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2/10/2011 - flashvictor wrote: 91 Points
Big but elegant syrah. Very European feel but with central coast fruit. (14+22.5+22.5+32)
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2/8/2011 - JavaMonkey Likes this wine: 90 Points
For me, this is still getting better. Beautiful nose of blueberry, smoke, and black pepper. Huge body, but the fruit is delicious. There's a little savory component, and some spiciness as well. For me, this is right on the edge of too big, it's a little challenging to pair it with food. Tannins are smooth and integrated, there's just enough acidity to keep it together. Excellent.
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12/25/2010 - boodra wrote: 91 Points
Big Syrah. Pepper and liquorice, and sweet red fruit and spice. Great wine, but somewhat overpowered the duckroast meal
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12/19/2010 - stantheman wrote: 94 Points
This was delectable. I love Ojai Bien Nacido Syrah, as a rule, but this is the first 2005 I have opened and I absolutely love it. Deep dark fruit flavor with well-integrated tannins. Fantastic!
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12/19/2010 - mxpbuy wrote: 90 Points
Sampled 12/18/10. Teeth staining wine with tannins that still have a little grit and the alcohol comes through just a bit. There is monster black fruits with leather and tar notes. Not sure how both RP and ST concluded this was a 93 pointer, but it is tasty. Maybe in a couple more years it'll round out.
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12/11/2010 - MattMauldin wrote: 93 Points
Day 2- opened for over 24 hours with bottle half full. Vacuum-sealed. Purple-black color. Bouquet of sage, vanilla, white pepper, cedar, and currants- more subdued on day 2. The fruit is electric on the palate, with broader flavors of apple, banana, and red cherry to go along with the lush black and blue fruit from day 1- ripe and juicy with acidity. Secondary notes of tea, cracked pepper, and cedar are still tightly wound within the structure. The fine peppery tannins are a little more integrated, and the finish is consistent with the lush array of fruit and spice- and lengthy. Beautiful supple texture. Outstanding on the second day- even better than on the first. Will look for more, and look forward to where this is in a few years.
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12/10/2010 - MattMauldin wrote: 91 Points
Opened 2 hours, did not decant. An inky purple, with a little metallic sheen to it. A deep and brooding bouquet, with savory aromas of sage, currants, smoked sausage, and pepper. Medium to full-bodied and smooth in texture. The fruit really comes out strong on the palate with nicely ripened red/black cherry and blueberry flavors, over a backdrop of dusty herb and white pepper. Has a feel of vibrant acidity, with peppery tannins- firm and fine- it has nice fruit now, and the structure is such that the savory backdrop should really enhance this with more time in the bottle. Nice, long finish too.
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11/8/2010 - JavaMonkey wrote: 88 Points
Dark purple-red color. The nose has blueberry, raspberry, charcoal, and black pepper. Nice red fruit, fairly bright. The smoky charcoal component is quite prominent. Medium-full on the palate. The finish is moderate length, and a bit spicy.
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5/7/2010 - boodra wrote: 91 Points
This the second time a taste this great Syrah. The first time about a year ago i found it to be more Nothern Rhone like with black pepper, leather and stables. This time not so much. but it does'n't matter it was a great wine. Very aromatic. Full of cool red and black fruit, a little pebber, polished tannins, a little sweetnes, and an elegant touch of creamy french oak.
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3/25/2010 - Zweder wrote: 89 Points
UWS 2010-01 (@ JB): Grilled meat/bacon, smoky impressions and sweetness. Good dark fruits. Very concentrated and good acidity. Smoky. Oak. Firm amount of alcohol. Very good wine which will benefit with some ageing. Let's say 3 - 5 years to start with. 89 for now with potential for 2 - 3 points more.
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12/7/2009 - PourritureNoble wrote: 91 Points
i liked this quiet a bit. I didn't have that many californian shiraz so comparaison for me is difficult. This was clearly no nothern rhone wine but was no aussie shiraz neither. Something in between. Would buy more. Have no idea how this will evolve. 91-92
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11/15/2009 - jbaron wrote: 90 Points
Opened for two hours. The now-reticent nose evolved from flamboyant in those two hours, but still shows quite a bit of olive-y earth with some high pitched fruit and some ashy notes. The mouth is well balanced, if less overt than past issues of this bottling, with a different profile than that to which I am accustomed. The length seems a tiny bit attenuated, with the same notes as the nose.
Quite different than past vintages, and strikes me as more in the Melville line, but without the very fine structure that that bottling usually has. Perhaps this new face will just take some getting used to. In the meantime, I'll taste through the other 2005's to make a comparison.
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9/2/2009 - Caudalie wrote:
éclusée à la pendaison de crémaillère, quelque chose comme la 27e bouteille de la soirée, ouverte de peine et de misère, et pas terminée. Typique, grosse syrah juicy un peu too much, et alcooleuse. Pas ma tasse de thé, mais clairement un finisher...
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8/4/2009 - JavaMonkey wrote: 86 Points
The nose is mostly blueberry, vanilla, and a little heat. The palate is moderately full, but adds some nice brightness. I would have pegged this as an Aussie Shiraz, but a good one. It's well balanced, but I didn't find a lot of complexity. The finish is long and enjoyable. The tannins are smooth, and the acidity is nicely balanced.
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