Gone are the youthful jamminess and bright barrel sample-like components. They are replaced with a deep magenta on the very thin rim, the opaqueness of a brooding red, and tertiary development. The nose of licorice, blackberry, black plum, coffee and lavender; gone is any hint of pepper. The silky mouth glides across the palate. Each sip is different and more complex. Just a touch of heat detracts from the finish. A murky shadow of sediment around the entire bottle. 15.1% alc. With garlic sausage from Yellow Umbrella; killer pairing. 09.19.20. Recommended and, but for the heat, would be Highly Recommended.
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Jeez! Eleven years old but it tastes like it was poured right out of the barrel. The color is bright purple. The nose trumpets blackberry and pepper. The mouth explodes with jammy blackberry, cracked black pepper, fresh blueberry and coffee. Way too young to pull at this point with loads of life ahead of it. A wide and thick shadow of sediment along the entire side of the bottle where it lay. 15.1% alc. With cheeses (valdeon, ashel blue, manchego, and pepper bella vitano) with crusty bread and (pork) fennel sausage. Highly Recommended.
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Nose: mulberries, caramel Palate: alcohol (15.1%) - not objectionable, tannins, smoked wood, currents, sauerkraut in the finish, a little thin, but I loved it.
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An astringent wine that took a solid 2 hours to soften. Excellent balance; well-structured, but not as full-bodied as I remember its bretheren. Plenty of fruit to work with lighter foods, but hearty enough to stand up to lamb chops and roast potatoes.
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Just one more after this. Will hold it a while for fun. Been open a few hours now. The minerality and rich glycerin fruit strike out. Chalky, terroir. Balanced big mouthful of fruit, not sweet, not dry, just perfect. A bit of beef jerkey, then some oak, chalk. Kinda hands with a pleasant lingering note.
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Hello again my old friend. Nice color. Dusty purple. Can smell some bright juice as I write the note. This is settling nicely. Bright Ranchers candy, wet rock, with some light oak on the nose. Dusty, weighty fruit, silky, bright, then some of that limestone, crushed rock, balanced, smooth, some oak, finish is bright, and tasty. This is a really good example of the
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Very good, but too loud. The nose and taste was pepper and spice with a touch of green bell pepper, and a strong finish. Perhaps I did not let it breath long enough, but I found the result balanced, bold and brash, but lacking finesse and most of all, details, like a loud and spectacular symphony with just a few notes.
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Like prior note. Very good juice. Probably at the latter phase of its drinking window but tasting fantastic right now. A pleaser among major aficionados. Yummy
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drank with med-heavy chicken dish (w/ lentil rice) ... a very good match ... the '06 Stolpman didn't step on the food and it had a mouthful of goodness. the second glass was way better than the first - this wine needs a bit of air to really surface its personality ... a bit lighter than some of the other Stolpmans. This would get stepped on w/ a real heavy meat or spice-filled food
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The wine as first tasted would have been rated around 89 to 90 points. After the second day it would be around 92 points. The difference? The alcohol. The first day the wine was very good except for a definite "burn" on the nose. The second day the burn was gone and the wine was fully opened making for a very enjoyable wine. The wine showed deep, rich flavors of dark cherries, kirsch and Asian spice and some smoke. The nose showed the same influences as the palate with the addition of a touch of floral.
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P&P. Been a few months, hello old friend. Dark & dusty looking. Some sweet fruit and cedar, herby, some alch on the nose. The barral treatment really showing through. Nice balance, bright not heavy or fat. Wine just kind of expands in your mouth, w a decent finish early into the first glass.
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Killin' it!! Fabulous wine on many levels. Smooth like a Sunday (okay, we drank it sat night!) morning sunrise. Think some air time may have bumped it up but, really, just an amazing wine.
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dark purple color, nose of dark fruit and violet, medium body, well integrated black cherry, leather, earth,and some smoke.velvet tannis and a medium finish
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Agree w many of the notes. a fine N Rhone wine. Done in the old style, but the Alch keeps this a bit hot since the new world fruit extraction is not there to hide the heat. Still a well made wine, good mid and back palate, finish is nice. Time may help the Alch simmer down, but I am worried the fruit may not last.
Day II. Still a sweet nose. Fruit bounced back over night, this is better. So, decant for a couple of hours if drinking today or hold for further development.
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A lighter color Syrah than I am used to. But then again I fancy Barrosa Valley & Cali Cults. This throw back had a funky nose off the P&P, which settled into the traditional beef blood, some barnyard as well, herby, almost Grenache Pinot nose. Not sure I like the nose, but find myself swirling and taking deep sniffs just the same. Really extreme playfulness. The palate just extends through front, middle back. Balanced for such a "simple" wine. There is big fruit here supporting the structure, yet it is not fruity, it is old world respect around the fruit, it becomes, earth, mineral, meat, blood, all the while you know it is a big fruit beast under the cloak of old world. Wine making w a hands off approach here, traditional let the grapes play with nature. Likey. See what Day II brings, but think this, unlike their Sangiovese, is ready in the here & now.
Day II. Real smokey on the nose today. Real rich liquid fruit. Nice & smooth. Finish is a bit in the mouth.
A quick glance at Ben C's notes and the barrel treatment explains a lot of my comments. Rousanne? Stolpman loves to let their wine sit in barrel, and I can't hate that.
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Drank after the 05. Not quite as together, but similar potential. Darker fruit, alcohol more singular. Can't decide on the spice, but adds a nice element. Will wait a bit longer on the next one. I will continue to purchase.
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Very nice Stolpman syrah. Not as big as some other vintages, but still pretty big with dark fruits and serious minerality coming through as it opened up over a 2-3 hour period. Not tannic but still has adequate structure although I don't think it will benefit from further aging.
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Drank this alongside the Amon -Ra. This very much in the syrah camp. Some pepper on the nose and a more pleasant wine to my taste. There was a freshness here missing in the shiraz. Good acidity and more Rhone styled. No rush with this at all. Made in a fruit forward style but with complexity. Must re-buy/try
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Stolpman Winery Tasting (Stoplman tasting room, Los Olivos, California): Tasted non blind at the tasting room. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of perfume, currants, blueberries and a hint of talc. Flavors of currants, black berries, black cherries and a bit of plum. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink now with some air or continue to hold. 90-91.
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Dark purple color. Brambly black fruit nose. Tastes of blackberry, blueberry, leather, and earth. Heavy handed with the oak but it has integrated fairly well with the huge fruit core. Full bodied. Rich powerful finish. A bit disappointing compared to past vintages.
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Much more expressive on the second day open. More raspberry with touches of game and spice. Harmonious palate, held and together. So just needs some time in the bottle.
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Day 1 - rich black fruit and some clove on the nose. moderate tannin on the palate. nice structured finish and a solid acid backbone. Day 2. Opaque and purple color. Seeming unfiltered. Fruit bottoms. Wow. Day 2 this is rocking. Opened up wonderfully. Buy.
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Randy said "my god". This is from the lowest yielding blocks, brought in at about 3/4 ton per acre, and 75% new french (may have missed that point). To try and tame it they blend this wine into the roussane barrells without cleaning them. And then let it sit down for another 18 months in those barrells (I think). Raspberry fruit on the nose. Big structure on the body. Tannins at medium + and out riding the body. But lots and lots of stuffing. My assumption would be (does anyone have experience with this?) that it will flesh out like Ojai's Stolpman Syrah, which I have found takes about six years from vintage to show. Very structured, lengthy finish, dry, well done. I would buy it for $45.
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Smooth, medium-bodied blackberry fruit with mocca, spice, and black tea flavors, tight and restrained, seems to lack complexity, preferred the estate Syrah
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Fruit forward with easy upfront appeal. Nothing beyond the wall of initial fruit. I expected more. Far below the quality level of other vintages. Very basic.
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9/19/2020 - timewithwine wrote:
Gone are the youthful jamminess and bright barrel sample-like components. They are replaced with a deep magenta on the very thin rim, the opaqueness of a brooding red, and tertiary development. The nose of licorice, blackberry, black plum, coffee and lavender; gone is any hint of pepper. The silky mouth glides across the palate. Each sip is different and more complex. Just a touch of heat detracts from the finish. A murky shadow of sediment around the entire bottle. 15.1% alc. With garlic sausage from Yellow Umbrella; killer pairing. 09.19.20. Recommended and, but for the heat, would be Highly Recommended.
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1/21/2017 - timewithwine wrote:
Jeez! Eleven years old but it tastes like it was poured right out of the barrel. The color is bright purple. The nose trumpets blackberry and pepper. The mouth explodes with jammy blackberry, cracked black pepper, fresh blueberry and coffee. Way too young to pull at this point with loads of life ahead of it. A wide and thick shadow of sediment along the entire side of the bottle where it lay. 15.1% alc. With cheeses (valdeon, ashel blue, manchego, and pepper bella vitano) with crusty bread and (pork) fennel sausage. Highly Recommended.
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1/24/2015 - BlancdeBlanc Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nose: mulberries, caramel Palate: alcohol (15.1%) - not objectionable, tannins, smoked wood, currents, sauerkraut in the finish, a little thin, but I loved it.
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1/11/2015 - Duckpond Likes this wine: 90 Points
Plenty of fruit and residual tannins, not for the faint of heart.
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11/18/2014 - White Mountain Winos Likes this wine: 88 Points
Solid, but seems to have lot a bit of balance...glad we opened it!
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10/4/2014 - AccaDacca Likes this wine: 89 Points
Much better day two - vibrant fruit, almost too much vs the tannins which have dramatically softened vs my last bottle.
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3/20/2014 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice sweet black fruits with plenty of backbone in the tannins still, but smooth. Alcohol is completely hidden. Modest Oak
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11/16/2013 - drewdown wrote: 90 Points
Showing very nicely right now yet still has some tannin to go on a few more years.
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3/26/2013 - morewineplease! wrote: 91 Points
An astringent wine that took a solid 2 hours to soften. Excellent balance; well-structured, but not as full-bodied as I remember its bretheren. Plenty of fruit to work with lighter foods, but hearty enough to stand up to lamb chops and roast potatoes.
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1/24/2013 - mdfuller Likes this wine: 90 Points
very comparable with the '07 ... a bit softer maybe
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1/14/2013 - tplskylrk wrote:
Just one more after this. Will hold it a while for fun. Been open a few hours now. The minerality and rich glycerin fruit strike out. Chalky, terroir. Balanced big mouthful of fruit, not sweet, not dry, just perfect. A bit of beef jerkey, then some oak, chalk. Kinda hands with a pleasant lingering note.
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12/20/2012 - tplskylrk wrote:
Hello again my old friend. Nice color. Dusty purple. Can smell some bright juice as I write the note. This is settling nicely. Bright Ranchers candy, wet rock, with some light oak on the nose. Dusty, weighty fruit, silky, bright, then some of that limestone, crushed rock, balanced, smooth, some oak, finish is bright, and tasty. This is a really good example of the
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10/29/2012 - Rich.Herbs wrote: 86 Points
Very good, but too loud. The nose and taste was pepper and spice with a touch of green bell pepper, and a strong finish. Perhaps I did not let it breath long enough, but I found the result balanced, bold and brash, but lacking finesse and most of all, details, like a loud and spectacular symphony with just a few notes.
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10/29/2012 - Winokdub wrote: 91 Points
Like prior note. Very good juice. Probably at the latter phase of its drinking window but tasting fantastic right now. A pleaser among major aficionados. Yummy
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10/27/2012 - mdfuller Likes this wine: 90 Points
drank with med-heavy chicken dish (w/ lentil rice) ... a very good match ... the '06 Stolpman didn't step on the food and it had a mouthful of goodness. the second glass was way better than the first - this wine needs a bit of air to really surface its personality ... a bit lighter than some of the other Stolpmans. This would get stepped on w/ a real heavy meat or spice-filled food
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10/7/2012 - D.Callahan Likes this wine: 91 Points
The wine as first tasted would have been rated around 89 to 90 points. After the second day it would be around 92 points. The difference? The alcohol. The first day the wine was very good except for a definite "burn" on the nose. The second day the burn was gone and the wine was fully opened making for a very enjoyable wine. The wine showed deep, rich flavors of dark cherries, kirsch and Asian spice and some smoke. The nose showed the same influences as the palate with the addition of a touch of floral.
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9/9/2012 - EvanJB wrote: 90 Points
Part of vertical tasting of 2002, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09. My last of many 06 bottles. Compared to others, was a bit tight, but still quite good
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8/5/2012 - rogerr wrote: 92 Points
Very will integrated and balanced right now. Hilltops is my favorite Stolpman bottling and this did nothing to alter my opinion.
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5/29/2012 - Winokdub wrote: 91 Points
Excellent syrah. Balanced. Dry integrated tannins. Waves of fruit and spices. Decent finish. Yummy
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5/13/2012 - tplskylrk wrote:
P&P. Been a few months, hello old friend. Dark & dusty looking. Some sweet fruit and cedar, herby, some alch on the nose. The barral treatment really showing through. Nice balance, bright not heavy or fat. Wine just kind of expands in your mouth, w a decent finish early into the first glass.
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4/8/2012 - EvanJB wrote:
Think this bottle went bad, not corked, but lost it's fruit.
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2/15/2012 - mdfuller Likes this wine: 88 Points
it was just too baked for me the first night ... if it's different the second night i'll update ... it wasn't as good as i was expecting
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1/28/2012 - sbfireman wrote: 94 Points
Killin' it!! Fabulous wine on many levels. Smooth like a Sunday (okay, we drank it sat night!) morning sunrise. Think some air time may have bumped it up but, really, just an amazing wine.
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1/10/2012 - misco wrote: 89 Points
dark purple color, nose of dark fruit and violet, medium body, well integrated black cherry, leather, earth,and some smoke.velvet tannis and a medium finish
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1/5/2012 - tplskylrk wrote: 91 Points
Agree w many of the notes. a fine N Rhone wine. Done in the old style, but the Alch keeps this a bit hot since the new world fruit extraction is not there to hide the heat. Still a well made wine, good mid and back palate, finish is nice. Time may help the Alch simmer down, but I am worried the fruit may not last.
Day II. Still a sweet nose. Fruit bounced back over night, this is better. So, decant for a couple of hours if drinking today or hold for further development.
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10/29/2011 - jupiter33 wrote: 93 Points
This is delicious. Big Syrah but in a balanced good way.
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10/18/2011 - tplskylrk wrote: 91 Points
A lighter color Syrah than I am used to. But then again I fancy Barrosa Valley & Cali Cults. This throw back had a funky nose off the P&P, which settled into the traditional beef blood, some barnyard as well, herby, almost Grenache Pinot nose. Not sure I like the nose, but find myself swirling and taking deep sniffs just the same. Really extreme playfulness. The palate just extends through front, middle back. Balanced for such a "simple" wine. There is big fruit here supporting the structure, yet it is not fruity, it is old world respect around the fruit, it becomes, earth, mineral, meat, blood, all the while you know it is a big fruit beast under the cloak of old world. Wine making w a hands off approach here, traditional let the grapes play with nature. Likey. See what Day II brings, but think this, unlike their Sangiovese, is ready in the here & now.
Day II. Real smokey on the nose today. Real rich liquid fruit. Nice & smooth. Finish is a bit in the mouth.
A quick glance at Ben C's notes and the barrel treatment explains a lot of my comments. Rousanne? Stolpman loves to let their wine sit in barrel, and I can't hate that.
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4/9/2011 - wineretriever wrote: 91 Points
Drank after the 05. Not quite as together, but similar potential. Darker fruit, alcohol more singular. Can't decide on the spice, but adds a nice element. Will wait a bit longer on the next one. I will continue to purchase.
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2/4/2011 - maderay wrote: 94 Points
VG-DEL. Licorice, chocolate.
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11/27/2010 - redrhonewine wrote: 91 Points
Very nice Stolpman syrah. Not as big as some other vintages, but still pretty big with dark fruits and serious minerality coming through as it opened up over a 2-3 hour period. Not tannic but still has adequate structure although I don't think it will benefit from further aging.
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10/16/2010 - rayq wrote:
Drank this alongside the Amon -Ra. This very much in the syrah camp. Some pepper on the nose and a more pleasant wine to my taste.
There was a freshness here missing in the shiraz. Good acidity and more Rhone styled. No rush with this at all. Made in a fruit forward style but with complexity. Must re-buy/try
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9/18/2010 - EvanJB wrote: 90 Points
This is a wonderful Syrah, drinking well now, but I think has not peaked yet.
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9/11/2010 - jdoakpark wrote: 92 Points
awesome
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9/4/2010 - wineismylife Likes this wine: 90 Points
Stolpman Winery Tasting (Stoplman tasting room, Los Olivos, California): Tasted non blind at the tasting room. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of perfume, currants, blueberries and a hint of talc. Flavors of currants, black berries, black cherries and a bit of plum. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink now with some air or continue to hold. 90-91.
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7/15/2010 - rmodak wrote: 90 Points
Drinking well now with its ripe blackberry, smoked meat, charcoal and violets. Lush mouthfeel with decent acidity on the finish.
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7/14/2010 - LOML2008 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good but takes a while to open up.
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6/20/2010 - EvanJB wrote:
Bold fruit up front, I think it needs more time to peak and soften a bit. Tried the 2007 vintage, which I tthink wil be still better
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6/20/2010 - goofy Yno wrote: 90 Points
more rustic and dirty than the saxum and T.Hoage.
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5/23/2010 - RDCollins wrote: 91 Points
Well structured, has all the elements, but not quite in balance. Needs time! Try after 2011.
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4/7/2010 - milwaukeewino wrote:
Big but structured. Furry tannins. Dark fruit. Not sure I get it at the price but it is very good. Kind of a N Rhone/CA hybrid.
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4/5/2010 - EvanJB wrote: 90 Points
Another reliably good bottle from Stolpman
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4/5/2010 - Burgmike wrote: flawed
Corked
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3/24/2010 - kstoddard wrote: 89 Points
Dark purple color. Brambly black fruit nose. Tastes of blackberry, blueberry, leather, and earth. Heavy handed with the oak but it has integrated fairly well with the huge fruit core. Full bodied. Rich powerful finish. A bit disappointing compared to past vintages.
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2/10/2010 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Much more expressive on the second day open. More raspberry with touches of game and spice. Harmonious palate, held and together. So just needs some time in the bottle.
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2/9/2010 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Day 1 - rich black fruit and some clove on the nose. moderate tannin on the palate. nice structured finish and a solid acid backbone.
Day 2. Opaque and purple color. Seeming unfiltered. Fruit bottoms. Wow. Day 2 this is rocking. Opened up wonderfully. Buy.
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2/9/2010 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Randy said "my god". This is from the lowest yielding blocks, brought in at about 3/4 ton per acre, and 75% new french (may have missed that point). To try and tame it they blend this wine into the roussane barrells without cleaning them. And then let it sit down for another 18 months in those barrells (I think). Raspberry fruit on the nose. Big structure on the body. Tannins at medium + and out riding the body. But lots and lots of stuffing. My assumption would be (does anyone have experience with this?) that it will flesh out like Ojai's Stolpman Syrah, which I have found takes about six years from vintage to show. Very structured, lengthy finish, dry, well done. I would buy it for $45.
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12/31/2009 - fcs wrote: 91 Points
Terrific wine
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10/24/2009 - Amerique wrote: 91 Points
Smooth, medium-bodied blackberry fruit with mocca, spice, and black tea flavors, tight and restrained, seems to lack complexity, preferred the estate Syrah
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10/11/2009 - cjgnyc wrote:
fruity up front, light on palate with some spicy finish, thin with not much depth
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6/8/2009 - JOsgood wrote: 87 Points
Fruit forward with easy upfront appeal. Nothing beyond the wall of initial fruit. I expected more. Far below the quality level of other vintages. Very basic.
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2/15/2009 - the godfather wrote: 91 Points
very good but does not have the complexity or extra depth of prior vintages of hilltops
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10/26/2008 - jonwill wrote: 90 Points
Smooth, dark and seductive Syrah...still very young and not fully developed, very tight despite decanting.
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