Opaque dark purple color, smokey nose of bacon fat, garrigue and blueberries. Big and full-bodied like many California syrahs, but with a cool climate/Northern Rhone eleganc and flavor profile (olive tapenade, beef blood, rustic lack fruits). There are some floral notes as well, bright acids and a firmly tannic finish. This is a tongue-stainer. I've always thought that Copain makes some of the best syrahs in the New World, and recent experiences with older vintages such as these reaffirms that they not only taste great young, but age well too. This was consumed over three days (no Coravin, no gas) and was still going strong even on the last glass, so I have to respectfully disagree with FMIII about its aging curve. Wish I had another bottle to put down for another 5 years.
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I've loved this in the past, but this bottle was a bit muted. Cork was a bit dried out, but wine wasn't fully flawed, just not as exciting as others. Smoky, olive oil, plums, scorched earth nose. Plump on the palate, tannins on this seem much weaker than the bottle I had earlier this year. Still plenty of beefy, smoky, olives, scorched earth elements. But lacking the depth I know this wine has. Auction purchase, and while it looked good, I'm guessing storage was an issue.
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From prior notes: "Dark purple color to the rim, nose was rich blue/red fruits, bacon, floral notes. Riper than I remember the last HB I had. Tart blackberry, blueberry, spices, pepper, smoke. The wine was balanced and softer than I expected. The ABV is 14.6%, but no noticeable heat...finish was about 30 seconds."
This bottle had thinned out in texture, depth and finish. Probably peaked a few years ago. Not bad but lacking the expression I recall from a few years ago...drink up
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Copain Syrah Tasting (My Place - Washington, DC): Dark and fruity nose with rich plums and blackberries and a spicy/smoky element. Rich but bright on the palate with structured tannins, bright acidity, and I get a lot of tart currant and plum fruit. Charcoal, smoky bacon, roasted red pepper, coffee grounds, rich earth. On Day 2, this got even more expressive. Still time ahead, but this is very impressive. More put-together and prettier than a bottle of this I had in 2016. Lucky me!
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Pop and pour with family dinner. Smells of bacon, fatty meat, black olive, and coffee grounds on top of saucy dark fruit. Still going strong with the tannins, some medium-low acidity helps tame the rich boysenberry, plum and black cherry fruit. Notes of bacon fat, black pepper and roasted red pepper accent the fruit. A very pretty wine, but I'm glad I opened it now instead of holding onto it for a few more years. I love a lot of aged Copain Syrah, but I'm guessing this peaked a few years ago and is simply holding on because it has so much stuffing. That said, this is lovely stuff.
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Great nose of dust, wood, sap, pine, pepper, warm rocks. Fat fruit on the palate and in the mouth. Strong tannin balanced by equally strong fat, concentrated jam and silky notes. Black and bitter coffee notes swim under tart berries. Finishes with long notes of pepper, spice and mature fruit. All the while, intense yet nicely balanced. A lot going on.
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At home with my Pork and Green Chili Verde over brown texmati rice...turned out to be an inspired pairing. The spice in this needs something with some "stuffing", this is a great combination of maturity and big fruit
Consistent with prior notes: "Dark purple color to the rim, nose was rich blue/red fruits, bacon, floral notes. Riper than I remember the last HB I had. Tart blackberry, blueberry, spices, pepper, smoke. The wine was balanced and softer than I expected. The ABV is 14.6%, but no noticeable heat...finish was about 30 seconds."
This is in its zone - wont improve, drink now. Will finish this stash in the coming year
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Based on recent reviews saying this was at peak, I decided to drink. PnP and consumed over 3.5 hours. Others have described the nose and flavors pretty well, though I will say I picked up very little bacon/game/smoke, which was disappointing. The green olive note, which the 2003 had in spades, was there but in the background. Noticeable, and at times overwhelming, alcohol. Not nearly as smooth or refined as the 2003, but good nonetheless. I definitely prefer the 2003 to this and in retrospect would not have opened it for a few more years to let more of the earthy olive notes develop (if they even would). For what I paid, a great QPR.
89 points; purchased from winebid.com on 12/16/2013 for $28.75
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In the cellar with Valerie/Lauren/Eileen/Karen. Last bottle of the night, PNP, I remembered this opened quickly and it did. Nice on first pour, seemed fully open in 20 minutes.
Dark purple color to the rim, nose was rich blue/red fruits, bacon, floral notes. Riper than I remember the last HB I had. Tart blackberry, blueberry, spices, pepper, smoke. The wine was balanced and softer than I expected. The ABV is 14.6%, but no noticeable heat...finish was about 30 seconds.
My best guess is this won't get too much better, probably has 5 years but no reason to wait. Drinking really well now, soft tannins and great mouthfeel.
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PnP (2 nights). Deep violet. This HB features ripe, dark fruit with a smoky meaty, peppery nose that follows through on the palate. The texture is soft, bordering on thick as the tannins are soft and the acidity feels lighter than other vintages. On the second night the meat flavors/aromas emerged more and the fruit started to hint towards raisin as the palate softened even further. I plan to not hold this vintage further.
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Still very good. Purple color. Blackberry, blueberry, smoke, white pepper. Medium-full palate. This is the second '06 Copain that I've had in the last couple of months where the cork has crumbled.
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My sixth (and last) bottle of this vintage of Hawks. I opened this last night and finishing last glass tonight, so it's had sufficient air. However, as I have said in my most recent April 2013 note, and it remains true with this bottle, this vintage of HB doesn't need much aeration as it's softer in tone and much more fruit centric than typical HB. This wine is pretty well resolved and what I'd edit from my note this past April is the drink window, as I don't think this wine should age for three more years. Not that one couldn't but the fruit is the center of focus now, with a core of blue and boysen. The listed alc of 14.6% also shows the vintage's imprint, as this is at least a point beyond what is HB now and that additional ripeness is present in this bottle. As I said in April, it's not boozy but it's not going to exhibit the pepper, stem or any cool climate notes at this stage, nor does it have much acidity left in it, which is why I recommend a drink now on this, while it's at peak. This reminds me more of what might be a resolved Copain James Berry than a Copain HB. Drink now.
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Opened for dinner, gave it a little air but not much so tomorrow's glass will be part of my finishing note, but for tonight.....starts off with a bacony, flowery nose, really aromatic. The palate is plush, fleshy, with charcoal, dark berry and lots of Hawks Butte soil and rocks. When I was finishing the glass, it seemed to be adding some structure and complexity so tomorrow I will fill in the gaps. So Day 2 and will be the end of the bottle, enjoying the wine at room temp (67). This will always to me be a bigger vintage of Hawks Butte, reminding me more of James Berry fruit than cooler climate Yorkville Highlands. The listed alc is 14.6% and is it boozy? No, but that level of riper fruit comes through the aromatic. Texture is very plush today, mostly resolved with some residual chalky tannin. Lots of boysen and blueberry toned fruit, charcoal, apricot/stone fruit pit and a touch of soy, then a loamy, soil note on the finish. A different version of Hawks, one that can drink now (mine here has a day of air) or age through 2016, as I the structure is less present here than say 2005 or 2007.
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purple hue in the glass; nose is dark fruit and licorice. Once open about 30 minutes or so i got more of the fruit on the nose. medium bodied and very smooth mouthfeel. Finish is around 30 seconds. Very nice wine.
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What is notable about the nose is what was absent: oak and heat - none of either, which is a good thing, of course. Initial attack shows a burst of citric acidity, which then recedes. Palate is smooth, still primary blue/black fruit, smooth sides, soft tannins. The oak is in check. Smooth mouthfeel. Overall, pleasing and balanced, but I would hold this another two or three years and hope for some additional complexities which would give this wine, hopefully, a cerebral side that it now lacks. Purchased at the winery on our trip in 2009 and brought to Sean and Cari's house, paired with steak.
Quick TN: Not much of a TN, but I was surprised how open this wine was for drinking now. Taken to a restaurant by mistake (meant to grab the Roussanne which was sitting next to it, it was opened along with 7 other bottles of syrah. Dark, earthy fruit and a hint of bacon fat. Tannins not particularly evident. Drinking very well at the moment, particularly with a buffalo strip steak.
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Last bottle was 6 months ago. I really enjoyed that bottle, but commented then about how drinkable and riper styled it seemed to me. With that as a backdrop, onto this bottle. Opened and poured, no decant. Aromatically, lots of white flower/bacon fat, that very floral smell that some syrah can really generate. No pepper here, no smoke, nothing cool climate, at least not right from the chute. Texturally, medium weight with lots of smooth blue fruit, black cherry but again gentle and as with the bottle from last year, sans the structure that Hawks can often show. The fruit does show the Hawks purity, which is the hallmark for me in the 2007. With more air, this settles into some more palate richness, while the aromatic tones down. In fact, more blackberry and black cherry come forward and the blue edges fade away. Interesting how oxygen really transforms the perception of flavor......A day later, the bacon fat aromatic hangs around and the note of smoke and garrigue finally arrives. The structure missing from last night also arrives, and although there is not a large dose of it, there is enough light tannin now to help liven up the palate. The fruit is unchanged, showing a marriage of plush blackberry and zesty black cherry, fleshy and generous. This vintage of Hawks really is more about flavor and generosity then complexity, rocks and finesse, which for me is the 2007. All that said, the drink window here is now (it drinks fine without air) through 2014. Terrific.
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Drank over 3 days. Initially quite primal, with a heady grapey nose accented by crushed stones and mint. With air, the mineral aspects became more pronounced, though also revealing tar and herbs de provence notes to go with the blackberry fruit. Pretty big on the entry, but with a freshness from the firm acid structure on the midpalate that gives this a deceptive lightness. Tight on the back end with noticeable though well-integrated tannins, and a long finish of creme de cassis and black cherries. This wine seems to epitomize the transition between their bigger/more traditionally Californian style and the lighter/brighter style that began in 2006, as this sits somewhere in between the two. More complex and nuanced than a 2002 I tried recently, but showing a similar bigger frame and higher alcohol. However, this has more freshness, which could be a factor of its youth, though I find this to be a lot more open-knit than the 2007. My only concern about this wine is seems a bit awkward in the middle, as if it is still unsure of its personality. The nose and entry suggest a forward wine, but there is a great deal of restraint and leanness on the back end. An interesting wine for sure, and I am curious how this will develop pin a few years.
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Drank with quesadillas and a 2 handed poker game. We finished this over the course of about 3 hours and I really enjoyed the place this wine is in. Tangy, soft tannin, dark fruit and an aromatic smoky note. Despite the higher ABV of 14.7%, there isn't a trace of heat anywhere in this wine. All taken together, this wine has rounded out quite early and is pretty softened for what is typically a more leaner, cooler climate bottling that has a longer aging curve. If someones was to put this 06 next to the 07, which is a stunning vintage for Copain Hawks, I would never really be able to say this 06 was from the same plot. In sum, this is in a drink now stage, just balanced beautifully and marrying together a more riper styled Hawks profile with just enough nuance to create a great drink.
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Decanted for 1.5 hours and consumed over 3. Don't let the ripeness of the nose or the listed Abv of 14.6 fool you, this is still a restrained effort albeit quite larger than most of the '06 and beyond Copain. There is a great energetic juicy tartness to the fruit here with fully resolved tannins and perfect balance for my palate. Not a trace of heat to the mostly blue fruit and slight touch of wood smoke. Very enjoyable now and probably at its peak for young drinking pleasure. I'm not sure where this will go in the future, but is pretty darn good now.
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Tasted blind. Aerated in the glass for 30 minutes. Dark purple color. Big nose with blueberry and charcoal, it's easy to pick out as a CA syrah. Full bodied, but not over the top, delicious fruit, some toast and herbal components fill out the palate. The tannins have softened a little, but still great balance, just enough acidity to lift the palate. Long, delicious finish. Drinking beautifully now, for me, it's probably at it's peak.
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Opened last night, waited until tonight to post an impression. While I almost pulled my last 2004, I decided to revisit this 2006, as it had been over a year since I had last written one up. This maintains the dark color that I last commented on in 2009. And while it has some of the same structure I wrote about then, I find less of it now this time around. The fruit here shows as a cross between black cherry, black raspberry and blackberry-- a nice mix of red and black. The listed alcohol is 14.7% and the ripeness level in my view shows through in the palate where the wine has a silkier texture, bigger shoulders, bigger than what I think Wells is shooting for in the new realm of Copain. Yes, there is the olive and iron signature that is often part of this wine, along with fresh earth, which all form the core of the palate and into the finish. There is also a nice fresheness that closes the wine, with a zing of acidity, maybe in 2009 what I referred to as 'crushed fruit'. I can see that similarity here, although I think the wine in the last year has softened. It will hold and while I think the 24 hours of slow ox it has seen for this bottle leaves me with a pretty nice drinker, there is some remaining chalk and acidity to liven the wine for several more years. Given the higher alcohol (as the 2007 is 13.4%, so a full point + less), I'd suggest drinking this wine now through 2013, while it is still fresh and the fruit, tannin and color are all nicely in place.
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Dark, dark purple color. Huge nose of charcoal, blueberry, strawberry, herbs, with a little heat. This wine is still huge. There's plenty of fruit in there, but it's fighting its way through the huge structure. I believe it will be nice once it softens up, but IMO, these won't be ready for another couple of years.
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Starting to open up a bit. Nose has crushed dark fruits and some alcohol, palate is blue and black fruit with nice concentration, somewhat sweet and bigger than I would have thought. Overall nice though a bit simple, should improve with more time, but worth checking out now.
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Great texture, lush and round filling the palate without coating it. Strightfoward black fruits finishing a bit sweet. Reticent nose, giving up subtle savory olive notes. A bit simple, but well made. Good.
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Thought I was ready to clear the allergies from my nose, but this wine was not having it. Decanted wine and started to sip indoors. Did not get much on the nose. However, once I stepped outside the aroma changed a bit. Dark fruit with a veggie state. Hoping for more but never evolved. Drinking outdoors did make a difference.
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My first of three, surprised I waited this long. Quite dark, more akin to a Thompson in color. Quite a bit of tension in the wine, even with an overnight decant. Licorice, dark berry but earthy-toned, soil-like with a crushed fruit feel. Amidst the texture, which does have some plushness, is a large amount of rocky minerality, like a fine chalk and slate, along with some olive. This vineyard always seems to talk to me, with the edges and expression of place. I would say decant this wine a lot or let it sit until 2011. It's got a life ahead of it. Very nice.
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14.6% alcohol. Double decanted. Deep plum/purple color. Beautiful nose of blueberry, meat, forest floor, and a bit of creamy oak. In the mouth, quite plush and really enjoyable even this young. Loads of fruit up front, with sturdy complexity backing it up. Strong acidity and a long finish that has well-integrated tannins. A-
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Dark red. Lush fruity aromas. Some alcohol on the nose. Good complexity. Full body on the palate with sweet ripe fruit, moderate tannin, and good acidity. Nice finish with hints of blueberry.
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Another dark as night Syrah. Completely backward, giving up little to evaluate. Hints of bacon fat and faint citrus notes. Full bodied, but devoid of fruit right now. Also missing are the soaring, floral and spicy aromatics that draw me to Copain. Copious tannin and acid balance the sheer weight, and suggest this is one of the more serious offerings requiring a cellar rest for complete integration and complexity. Will wait at least 2 years before trying again.
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10/26/2020 - GrapeScott wrote: 92 Points
Opaque dark purple color, smokey nose of bacon fat, garrigue and blueberries. Big and full-bodied like many California syrahs, but with a cool climate/Northern Rhone eleganc and flavor profile (olive tapenade, beef blood, rustic lack fruits). There are some floral notes as well, bright acids and a firmly tannic finish. This is a tongue-stainer. I've always thought that Copain makes some of the best syrahs in the New World, and recent experiences with older vintages such as these reaffirms that they not only taste great young, but age well too. This was consumed over three days (no Coravin, no gas) and was still going strong even on the last glass, so I have to respectfully disagree with FMIII about its aging curve. Wish I had another bottle to put down for another 5 years.
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2/4/2019 - 1961Vintage Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wish I had bought all of these. These wines are drinking incredibly well and still have some time remaining on the clock.
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1/2/2019 - 1961Vintage Likes this wine: 93 Points
Am really loving Copain Syrah.
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12/19/2018 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 87 Points
I've loved this in the past, but this bottle was a bit muted. Cork was a bit dried out, but wine wasn't fully flawed, just not as exciting as others. Smoky, olive oil, plums, scorched earth nose. Plump on the palate, tannins on this seem much weaker than the bottle I had earlier this year. Still plenty of beefy, smoky, olives, scorched earth elements. But lacking the depth I know this wine has. Auction purchase, and while it looked good, I'm guessing storage was an issue.
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9/4/2018 - walkerjfw wrote: 88 Points
Last bottle from a batch bought close to release
From prior notes: "Dark purple color to the rim, nose was rich blue/red fruits, bacon, floral notes. Riper than I remember the last HB I had. Tart blackberry, blueberry, spices, pepper, smoke. The wine was balanced and softer than I expected. The ABV is 14.6%, but no noticeable heat...finish was about 30 seconds."
This bottle had thinned out in texture, depth and finish. Probably peaked a few years ago. Not bad but lacking the expression I recall from a few years ago...drink up
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8/6/2018 - joraesque wrote:
Still drinking well, though unfortunately it's past its prime... earthy and chalky. 14.6% ABV yet dense enough to not be hot yet.
(89 points)
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5/6/2018 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 92 Points
Copain Syrah Tasting (My Place - Washington, DC): Dark and fruity nose with rich plums and blackberries and a spicy/smoky element. Rich but bright on the palate with structured tannins, bright acidity, and I get a lot of tart currant and plum fruit. Charcoal, smoky bacon, roasted red pepper, coffee grounds, rich earth. On Day 2, this got even more expressive. Still time ahead, but this is very impressive. More put-together and prettier than a bottle of this I had in 2016. Lucky me!
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5/18/2016 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour with family dinner. Smells of bacon, fatty meat, black olive, and coffee grounds on top of saucy dark fruit. Still going strong with the tannins, some medium-low acidity helps tame the rich boysenberry, plum and black cherry fruit. Notes of bacon fat, black pepper and roasted red pepper accent the fruit. A very pretty wine, but I'm glad I opened it now instead of holding onto it for a few more years. I love a lot of aged Copain Syrah, but I'm guessing this peaked a few years ago and is simply holding on because it has so much stuffing. That said, this is lovely stuff.
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7/27/2015 - noahbw Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great nose of dust, wood, sap, pine, pepper, warm rocks. Fat fruit on the palate and in the mouth. Strong tannin balanced by equally strong fat, concentrated jam and silky notes. Black and bitter coffee notes swim under tart berries. Finishes with long notes of pepper, spice and mature fruit. All the while, intense yet nicely balanced. A lot going on.
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4/24/2015 - hansenj123 wrote:
Dd
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2/28/2015 - walkerjfw wrote: 91 Points
At home with my Pork and Green Chili Verde over brown texmati rice...turned out to be an inspired pairing. The spice in this needs something with some "stuffing", this is a great combination of maturity and big fruit
Consistent with prior notes: "Dark purple color to the rim, nose was rich blue/red fruits, bacon, floral notes. Riper than I remember the last HB I had. Tart blackberry, blueberry, spices, pepper, smoke. The wine was balanced and softer than I expected. The ABV is 14.6%, but no noticeable heat...finish was about 30 seconds."
This is in its zone - wont improve, drink now. Will finish this stash in the coming year
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6/15/2014 - Mr T wrote:
Surprisingly herbal and not especially Syrah like
Pleasant drink
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3/20/2014 - smcilhen wrote: 89 Points
Based on recent reviews saying this was at peak, I decided to drink. PnP and consumed over 3.5 hours. Others have described the nose and flavors pretty well, though I will say I picked up very little bacon/game/smoke, which was disappointing. The green olive note, which the 2003 had in spades, was there but in the background. Noticeable, and at times overwhelming, alcohol. Not nearly as smooth or refined as the 2003, but good nonetheless. I definitely prefer the 2003 to this and in retrospect would not have opened it for a few more years to let more of the earthy olive notes develop (if they even would). For what I paid, a great QPR.
89 points; purchased from winebid.com on 12/16/2013 for $28.75
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1/17/2014 - walkerjfw wrote: 90 Points
In the cellar with Valerie/Lauren/Eileen/Karen. Last bottle of the night, PNP, I remembered this opened quickly and it did. Nice on first pour, seemed fully open in 20 minutes.
Dark purple color to the rim, nose was rich blue/red fruits, bacon, floral notes. Riper than I remember the last HB I had. Tart blackberry, blueberry, spices, pepper, smoke. The wine was balanced and softer than I expected. The ABV is 14.6%, but no noticeable heat...finish was about 30 seconds.
My best guess is this won't get too much better, probably has 5 years but no reason to wait. Drinking really well now, soft tannins and great mouthfeel.
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11/23/2013 - thomaskeil wrote: 90 Points
PnP (2 nights). Deep violet. This HB features ripe, dark fruit with a smoky meaty, peppery nose that follows through on the palate. The texture is soft, bordering on thick as the tannins are soft and the acidity feels lighter than other vintages. On the second night the meat flavors/aromas emerged more and the fruit started to hint towards raisin as the palate softened even further. I plan to not hold this vintage further.
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11/16/2013 - JavaMonkey wrote: 91 Points
Still very good. Purple color. Blackberry, blueberry, smoke, white pepper. Medium-full palate. This is the second '06 Copain that I've had in the last couple of months where the cork has crumbled.
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10/20/2013 - Frank Murray III wrote:
My sixth (and last) bottle of this vintage of Hawks. I opened this last night and finishing last glass tonight, so it's had sufficient air. However, as I have said in my most recent April 2013 note, and it remains true with this bottle, this vintage of HB doesn't need much aeration as it's softer in tone and much more fruit centric than typical HB. This wine is pretty well resolved and what I'd edit from my note this past April is the drink window, as I don't think this wine should age for three more years. Not that one couldn't but the fruit is the center of focus now, with a core of blue and boysen. The listed alc of 14.6% also shows the vintage's imprint, as this is at least a point beyond what is HB now and that additional ripeness is present in this bottle. As I said in April, it's not boozy but it's not going to exhibit the pepper, stem or any cool climate notes at this stage, nor does it have much acidity left in it, which is why I recommend a drink now on this, while it's at peak. This reminds me more of what might be a resolved Copain James Berry than a Copain HB. Drink now.
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5/19/2013 - geeky? not sure wrote: flawed
Corked.
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4/19/2013 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Opened for dinner, gave it a little air but not much so tomorrow's glass will be part of my finishing note, but for tonight.....starts off with a bacony, flowery nose, really aromatic. The palate is plush, fleshy, with charcoal, dark berry and lots of Hawks Butte soil and rocks. When I was finishing the glass, it seemed to be adding some structure and complexity so tomorrow I will fill in the gaps. So Day 2 and will be the end of the bottle, enjoying the wine at room temp (67). This will always to me be a bigger vintage of Hawks Butte, reminding me more of James Berry fruit than cooler climate Yorkville Highlands. The listed alc is 14.6% and is it boozy? No, but that level of riper fruit comes through the aromatic. Texture is very plush today, mostly resolved with some residual chalky tannin. Lots of boysen and blueberry toned fruit, charcoal, apricot/stone fruit pit and a touch of soy, then a loamy, soil note on the finish. A different version of Hawks, one that can drink now (mine here has a day of air) or age through 2016, as I the structure is less present here than say 2005 or 2007.
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4/8/2013 - Jbird73 wrote: 90 Points
purple hue in the glass; nose is dark fruit and licorice. Once open about 30 minutes or so i got more of the fruit on the nose. medium bodied and very smooth mouthfeel. Finish is around 30 seconds. Very nice wine.
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12/1/2012 - Pknut wrote:
What is notable about the nose is what was absent: oak and heat - none of either, which is a good thing, of course. Initial attack shows a burst of citric acidity, which then recedes. Palate is smooth, still primary blue/black fruit, smooth sides, soft tannins. The oak is in check. Smooth mouthfeel. Overall, pleasing and balanced, but I would hold this another two or three years and hope for some additional complexities which would give this wine, hopefully, a cerebral side that it now lacks.
Purchased at the winery on our trip in 2009 and brought to Sean and Cari's house, paired with steak.
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11/3/2012 - JFish wrote:
Quick TN: Not much of a TN, but I was surprised how open this wine was for drinking now. Taken to a restaurant by mistake (meant to grab the Roussanne which was sitting next to it, it was opened along with 7 other bottles of syrah. Dark, earthy fruit and a hint of bacon fat. Tannins not particularly evident. Drinking very well at the moment, particularly with a buffalo strip steak.
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9/21/2012 - pjhr wrote: 92 Points
Not quite as balanced as the last bottle.
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7/23/2012 - pjhr wrote: 93 Points
As delicious as the last bottle!
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5/1/2012 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Last bottle was 6 months ago. I really enjoyed that bottle, but commented then about how drinkable and riper styled it seemed to me. With that as a backdrop, onto this bottle. Opened and poured, no decant. Aromatically, lots of white flower/bacon fat, that very floral smell that some syrah can really generate. No pepper here, no smoke, nothing cool climate, at least not right from the chute. Texturally, medium weight with lots of smooth blue fruit, black cherry but again gentle and as with the bottle from last year, sans the structure that Hawks can often show. The fruit does show the Hawks purity, which is the hallmark for me in the 2007. With more air, this settles into some more palate richness, while the aromatic tones down. In fact, more blackberry and black cherry come forward and the blue edges fade away. Interesting how oxygen really transforms the perception of flavor......A day later, the bacon fat aromatic hangs around and the note of smoke and garrigue finally arrives. The structure missing from last night also arrives, and although there is not a large dose of it, there is enough light tannin now to help liven up the palate. The fruit is unchanged, showing a marriage of plush blackberry and zesty black cherry, fleshy and generous. This vintage of Hawks really is more about flavor and generosity then complexity, rocks and finesse, which for me is the 2007. All that said, the drink window here is now (it drinks fine without air) through 2014. Terrific.
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3/4/2012 - GrapeScott wrote: 92 Points
Drank over 3 days. Initially quite primal, with a heady grapey nose accented by crushed stones and mint. With air, the mineral aspects became more pronounced, though also revealing tar and herbs de provence notes to go with the blackberry fruit. Pretty big on the entry, but with a freshness from the firm acid structure on the midpalate that gives this a deceptive lightness. Tight on the back end with noticeable though well-integrated tannins, and a long finish of creme de cassis and black cherries. This wine seems to epitomize the transition between their bigger/more traditionally Californian style and the lighter/brighter style that began in 2006, as this sits somewhere in between the two. More complex and nuanced than a 2002 I tried recently, but showing a similar bigger frame and higher alcohol. However, this has more freshness, which could be a factor of its youth, though I find this to be a lot more open-knit than the 2007. My only concern about this wine is seems a bit awkward in the middle, as if it is still unsure of its personality. The nose and entry suggest a forward wine, but there is a great deal of restraint and leanness on the back end. An interesting wine for sure, and I am curious how this will develop pin a few years.
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12/26/2011 - pjhr wrote: 93 Points
Blackberry, olive, and earthy notes on the nose and palate with lovely balanced acidity, tannins, and ETOH on a long tasty finish.
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10/1/2011 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Drank with quesadillas and a 2 handed poker game. We finished this over the course of about 3 hours and I really enjoyed the place this wine is in. Tangy, soft tannin, dark fruit and an aromatic smoky note. Despite the higher ABV of 14.7%, there isn't a trace of heat anywhere in this wine. All taken together, this wine has rounded out quite early and is pretty softened for what is typically a more leaner, cooler climate bottling that has a longer aging curve. If someones was to put this 06 next to the 07, which is a stunning vintage for Copain Hawks, I would never really be able to say this 06 was from the same plot. In sum, this is in a drink now stage, just balanced beautifully and marrying together a more riper styled Hawks profile with just enough nuance to create a great drink.
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9/24/2011 - glaze3 wrote:
Decanted for 1.5 hours and consumed over 3. Don't let the ripeness of the nose or the listed Abv of 14.6 fool you, this is still a restrained effort albeit quite larger than most of the '06 and beyond Copain. There is a great energetic juicy tartness to the fruit here with fully resolved tannins and perfect balance for my palate. Not a trace of heat to the mostly blue fruit and slight touch of wood smoke. Very enjoyable now and probably at its peak for young drinking pleasure. I'm not sure where this will go in the future, but is pretty darn good now.
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7/11/2011 - Sellar Rat Likes this wine:
Smooth, rich, well-balanced, and no hurry. Another fine CA syrah.
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2/27/2011 - JavaMonkey wrote: 91 Points
Tasted blind. Aerated in the glass for 30 minutes. Dark purple color. Big nose with blueberry and charcoal, it's easy to pick out as a CA syrah. Full bodied, but not over the top, delicious fruit, some toast and herbal components fill out the palate. The tannins have softened a little, but still great balance, just enough acidity to lift the palate. Long, delicious finish. Drinking beautifully now, for me, it's probably at it's peak.
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1/3/2011 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Opened last night, waited until tonight to post an impression. While I almost pulled my last 2004, I decided to revisit this 2006, as it had been over a year since I had last written one up. This maintains the dark color that I last commented on in 2009. And while it has some of the same structure I wrote about then, I find less of it now this time around. The fruit here shows as a cross between black cherry, black raspberry and blackberry-- a nice mix of red and black. The listed alcohol is 14.7% and the ripeness level in my view shows through in the palate where the wine has a silkier texture, bigger shoulders, bigger than what I think Wells is shooting for in the new realm of Copain. Yes, there is the olive and iron signature that is often part of this wine, along with fresh earth, which all form the core of the palate and into the finish. There is also a nice fresheness that closes the wine, with a zing of acidity, maybe in 2009 what I referred to as 'crushed fruit'. I can see that similarity here, although I think the wine in the last year has softened. It will hold and while I think the 24 hours of slow ox it has seen for this bottle leaves me with a pretty nice drinker, there is some remaining chalk and acidity to liven the wine for several more years. Given the higher alcohol (as the 2007 is 13.4%, so a full point + less), I'd suggest drinking this wine now through 2013, while it is still fresh and the fruit, tannin and color are all nicely in place.
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9/30/2010 - arniec wrote: 90 Points
Tart finish
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9/13/2010 - JavaMonkey wrote: 88 Points
Dark, dark purple color. Huge nose of charcoal, blueberry, strawberry, herbs, with a little heat. This wine is still huge. There's plenty of fruit in there, but it's fighting its way through the huge structure. I believe it will be nice once it softens up, but IMO, these won't be ready for another couple of years.
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7/24/2010 - glaze3 wrote:
Starting to open up a bit. Nose has crushed dark fruits and some alcohol, palate is blue and black fruit with nice concentration, somewhat sweet and bigger than I would have thought. Overall nice though a bit simple, should improve with more time, but worth checking out now.
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7/18/2010 - Jody Smith wrote:
Great texture, lush and round filling the palate without coating it. Strightfoward black fruits finishing a bit sweet. Reticent nose, giving up subtle savory olive notes. A bit simple, but well made. Good.
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5/29/2010 - jimmythesaint wrote:
Thought I was ready to clear the allergies from my nose, but this wine was not having it. Decanted wine and started to sip indoors. Did not get much on the nose. However, once I stepped outside the aroma changed a bit. Dark fruit with a veggie state. Hoping for more but never evolved. Drinking outdoors did make a difference.
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1/31/2010 - smokie wrote: 88 Points
Sorely disappointed. My first mediocre HB. A bit green with slightly drying tannins. Wait on this one at least a few years.
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11/22/2009 - Frank Murray III wrote:
My first of three, surprised I waited this long. Quite dark, more akin to a Thompson in color. Quite a bit of tension in the wine, even with an overnight decant. Licorice, dark berry but earthy-toned, soil-like with a crushed fruit feel. Amidst the texture, which does have some plushness, is a large amount of rocky minerality, like a fine chalk and slate, along with some olive. This vineyard always seems to talk to me, with the edges and expression of place. I would say decant this wine a lot or let it sit until 2011. It's got a life ahead of it. Very nice.
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10/7/2009 - jkkane wrote:
Fruity but balanced after a day open with acidity and tannins that soften over time. Substantial and full-bodied but still lively.
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9/21/2009 - gutt22 wrote:
14.6% alcohol. Double decanted. Deep plum/purple color. Beautiful nose of blueberry, meat, forest floor, and a bit of creamy oak. In the mouth, quite plush and really enjoyable even this young. Loads of fruit up front, with sturdy complexity backing it up. Strong acidity and a long finish that has well-integrated tannins. A-
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6/8/2009 - kris.h wrote: 90 Points
Dark red. Lush fruity aromas. Some alcohol on the nose. Good complexity. Full body on the palate with sweet ripe fruit, moderate tannin, and good acidity. Nice finish with hints of blueberry.
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1/23/2009 - Jody Smith wrote: 89 Points
Another dark as night Syrah. Completely backward, giving up little to evaluate. Hints of bacon fat and faint citrus notes. Full bodied, but devoid of fruit right now. Also missing are the soaring, floral and spicy aromatics that draw me to Copain. Copious tannin and acid balance the sheer weight, and suggest this is one of the more serious offerings requiring a cellar rest for complete integration and complexity. Will wait at least 2 years before trying again.
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