Stood up for 2 wks then decanted off sediment for 1h then back into bottle. Now 3h after decant. Lovely aromas of roasted game meats, olives, rich blackberries, flowers, herbs, and minerals. Palate w rich blackberries, flowers, olives, roasted game meats, herbs and nice minerals. Full body w nice acids and moderate tannins. Still not at peak but beautiful balance and complexity now. Open last bottle in 5+ yrs. 93+
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Strong volcanic violet/Syrah nose, then dark, meaty, almost brooding deep blackberry fruit with streaks of boysenberry and pomegranate, excellent acidity, and fairly strong, slightly grippy tannins. Just classic Syrah, straddling old and new worlds. Cleaner than most northern Rhône’s, but just as complex and interesting. Gorgeous wine.
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Tasted blind. Classic Syrah nose of dark berries, olives, along with some savory/briney flavors. Medium acidity and tannins with flavors of black olives and thyme on the palate. Great, long finish. This tastes a lot younger than it actually is. Great cold climate CA Syrah!
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Chili, BBQ, Syrah and Other Things With River Rat (Brian Tuite's Backyard): Blue fruit, purple flower aromatic. Plush and generous, resolved in texture yet fresh. One thing the group pointed out towards the end of the tasting was a brett-like aroma. I could sense that when they raised it for discussion but did not find it when I had tasted and wrote the notes on the wine a few hours prior. FYI.
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For some reason I was expecting a fruit bomb but was pleasantly surprised. The nose was from the Northern Rhone, with some bacon and just enough funk. Palate more about dark fruit, well-balanced, with minerals. A very nice match with classic pot roast (brisket). No doubt it will hold longer but drinking very well now.
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Drinking perfectly right now. The nose is green pepper, stable, blueberry and peppery spice. On the palate are layers of dark fruits and savory flavors like leather and earth. All spicy and superbly integrated.
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This is what I want all cool climate syrah to drink like. Wonderful aromatics on the nose. Light on its feet. Quite juicy with mix of black and red fruit. Lovely acidity all the way through. In a great place.
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Consumed at 3 a.m. while listening to a replay of the Fare Thee Well concert we had just returned from, so no formal notes, but this performed as expected in line from my previous note. This bottle was acquired from K&L recently as it appears Peay sold off some library stock to them. Lots of 2007 & 2009 wines available at or slightly below the original offer prices and in my case, no shipping either, really peaking now. Great wine!
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Wow. Taken to a restaurant and just superb with bone marrow, pork belly, lamb, and even tuna thanks to its smokey olive and lightly funky plum nose and palate of woodsmoke, earthy red berries, green peppercorn and blackberry cream. A core of cool climate elements with richness and lift. I liked this with bottle age much more than younger versions of La Bruma. Decanted in the glass for less than an hour and showing very well; world class Syrah for the next 3-6 years. 93-95 right now.
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This fell apart on the second night I had it open, but that first night...
What a special wine. Seamless integration of acidity and dark fruit. Something about it is very wild; the palate is full of energy and tension.
A real pleasure to drink. Shows the fruit profile of California, but held in check by the wild acidity. A wine that shows its place very well. Wish I had more!
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Drank from the bottle over 2 1/2 hours at a local restaurant. Very nice cool climate Sonoma Syrah. Opaque, true purple hue in the glass with a violet halo. Great, big nose of ripe bing cherries, dark currants and licorice. The midpalate was well structured mirroring the initial senses and having some bitter spice layers. The finish was of good length with a nice, bitter currant ending. This is a quality Sonoma Syrah that is a step-up from the majority of mid-level players. I liked it.
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tremendous again. a gorgeous nose, much more open than before, w/ iron, violets, olives & lavender w/meaty undertones. full juicy blackberry & blueberry fruit on the palate w/ leather/mineral finish. ripe but well balanced.
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Winemakers you know (Mike G. visits) (Mike Posk's): Very much a norther California style Syrah. Nice black raspberry fruit. Everything in moderation. Young and I think it gets better as it develops. Seems really well made.
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Has a distinctive, sauvage layer of game, but that's just one component of the already surprisingly well-integrated wine, along with blue fruits, violets, and elegant smoke. Rich impression in the middle without losing definition. Showed pretty well upon opening and better still on day 2.
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This was just tremendous. Not too many meaty notes, but some violets, funk & ample complexity in the nose. Pure dark/plum fruit but a little restrained on the palate. Loads of minerals on the finish. Firm tannins that provided an ideal texture & structure. Outstanding on the verge of extraordinary.
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The first thing I noticed on this wine was the impressive color, a deep violet with a garnet rim. The aroma was subtle but nice; smashed blueberries, brown rice, and slight orange zest. Very elegant Syrah, and as it opened it became extremely rich and balanced. Flavors on the palate included blueberry, unripe plum, and some forest floor. Good acid in this wine as well. Light tannins. Another win for a cool climate Syrah. Decanted for 3 hours, consumed over 3 hours.
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Decanted for 2 hrs. Dark purple, nearly opaque. Initially when first opened, fruity berry aromas with iron, blood, violet flowers and rocky aromas and flavors which eventually gave way to the iron, meaty, and peppery aromas and flavors. After 2 hrs in the decanter, very primary ripe blueberry, blackberry with hints of flowers, minerals, earth and iron. A bit of alcohol on the nose. Palate shows more ripe red berries, mint, earth, iron, and minerals. Nice lasting finish of fruit and minerals and a nice peppery kick. New world but complex. Decent acidity and good weight. Will wait 5 yrs before opening the next bottle. 14% abv.
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Peay pickup tasting, April 2010: Gorgeous deep violet fruit, very focused, with laser acidity. I keep coming back to this one, it seems to weave this narrow path through a series of fabulous flavors and palate sensations. La Bruma and Les Titans have flip flipped this year, with the Bruma being the bigger, rounder, fleshier wine, and Titans having the tighter focus. Interesting how these two bottlings do that from vintage to vintage, just when you think you have them pegged, they do the Parent Trap thing on you.
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Great bottle of wine. I was expecting an old world flair to this wine, and it delivered, but with some added new world sunshine. Very Northern Rhone type nose with some barn yard, olive, smoke and leather. Great texture in the mouth. Similar palate to nose but with some nice dark fruit added in. Good spicy finish with length. Much more interesting than most fruit driven new world syrahs.
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5/12/2023 - James Kim Likes this wine: 93 Points
Stood up for 2 wks then decanted off sediment for 1h then back into bottle. Now 3h after decant. Lovely aromas of roasted game meats, olives, rich blackberries, flowers, herbs, and minerals. Palate w rich blackberries, flowers, olives, roasted game meats, herbs and nice minerals. Full body w nice acids and moderate tannins. Still not at peak but beautiful balance and complexity now. Open last bottle in 5+ yrs. 93+
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2/12/2022 - Jdwinedrinker wrote:
This was drinking nicely but I would drink now.
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5/5/2020 - alanr wrote: 94 Points
Strong volcanic violet/Syrah nose, then dark, meaty, almost brooding deep blackberry fruit with streaks of boysenberry and pomegranate, excellent acidity, and fairly strong, slightly grippy tannins. Just classic Syrah, straddling old and new worlds. Cleaner than most northern Rhône’s, but just as complex and interesting. Gorgeous wine.
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5/4/2020 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tasted blind. Classic Syrah nose of dark berries, olives, along with some savory/briney flavors. Medium acidity and tannins with flavors of black olives and thyme on the palate. Great, long finish. This tastes a lot younger than it actually is. Great cold climate CA Syrah!
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3/21/2020 - texaswinelover wrote:
Still holding up well. Used most of bottle to deglaze two pans of short ribs but drank the rest.
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7/28/2018 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Chili, BBQ, Syrah and Other Things With River Rat (Brian Tuite's Backyard): Blue fruit, purple flower aromatic. Plush and generous, resolved in texture yet fresh. One thing the group pointed out towards the end of the tasting was a brett-like aroma. I could sense that when they raised it for discussion but did not find it when I had tasted and wrote the notes on the wine a few hours prior. FYI.
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3/10/2018 - cweiss Likes this wine:
For some reason I was expecting a fruit bomb but was pleasantly surprised. The nose was from the Northern Rhone, with some bacon and just enough funk. Palate more about dark fruit, well-balanced, with minerals. A very nice match with classic pot roast (brisket). No doubt it will hold longer but drinking very well now.
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3/25/2017 - Tudz Drkl Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking perfectly right now. The nose is green pepper, stable, blueberry and peppery spice. On the palate are layers of dark fruits and savory flavors like leather and earth. All spicy and superbly integrated.
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2/7/2017 - wiscgrad wrote: 92 Points
This is what I want all cool climate syrah to drink like. Wonderful aromatics on the nose. Light on its feet. Quite juicy with mix of black and red fruit. Lovely acidity all the way through. In a great place.
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3/27/2016 - jbaron wrote:
What's the final analysis on this weird bottle of wine? It's weird. Something about it.
Opened reduced. Stayed funky.
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6/29/2015 - silton Likes this wine: 92 Points
Consumed at 3 a.m. while listening to a replay of the Fare Thee Well concert we had just returned from, so no formal notes, but this performed as expected in line from my previous note. This bottle was acquired from K&L recently as it appears Peay sold off some library stock to them. Lots of 2007 & 2009 wines available at or slightly below the original offer prices and in my case, no shipping either, really peaking now. Great wine!
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5/23/2015 - Mr T wrote:
very nice...PNP with a bunch of friends back at the house and very yummy...it wasn't long for this world
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3/17/2015 - memphishusky Likes this wine:
This is just coasting along. Seems to have ample life ahead. Bright fruits abound. Enjoyed with grilled lamb
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8/24/2014 - Rico100 wrote: 93 Points
Excellent
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1/12/2014 - silton Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow. Taken to a restaurant and just superb with bone marrow, pork belly, lamb, and even tuna thanks to its smokey olive and lightly funky plum nose and palate of woodsmoke, earthy red berries, green peppercorn and blackberry cream. A core of cool climate elements with richness and lift. I liked this with bottle age much more than younger versions of La Bruma. Decanted in the glass for less than an hour and showing very well; world class Syrah for the next 3-6 years. 93-95 right now.
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11/24/2013 - jupiter33 wrote: 88 Points
Usually a big fan of Peay but this one was just too smokey. Overwhelmed the fruit underneath.
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7/31/2013 - Michael Davidson wrote:
This fell apart on the second night I had it open, but that first night...
What a special wine. Seamless integration of acidity and dark fruit. Something about it is very wild; the palate is full of energy and tension.
A real pleasure to drink. Shows the fruit profile of California, but held in check by the wild acidity. A wine that shows its place very well. Wish I had more!
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3/23/2012 - Jack wrote: 92 Points
Just a little thin when opened but gained weight and was beautiful.
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2/24/2012 - shadow wrote:
funk on the, corked but still drinkable, un-score-able
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12/25/2011 - danski wrote: 88 Points
Seemed closed down. Perhaps this bottle was unhappy with its storage. Well made.
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5/17/2011 - B Dub wrote: 92 Points
Drank from the bottle over 2 1/2 hours at a local restaurant. Very nice cool climate Sonoma Syrah. Opaque, true purple hue in the glass with a violet halo. Great, big nose of ripe bing cherries, dark currants and licorice. The midpalate was well structured mirroring the initial senses and having some bitter spice layers. The finish was of good length with a nice, bitter currant ending.
This is a quality Sonoma Syrah that is a step-up from the majority of mid-level players. I liked it.
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4/30/2011 - celtic67 wrote:
tremendous again. a gorgeous nose, much more open than before, w/ iron, violets, olives & lavender w/meaty undertones. full juicy blackberry & blueberry fruit on the palate w/ leather/mineral finish. ripe but well balanced.
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4/24/2011 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 90 Points
Winemakers you know (Mike G. visits) (Mike Posk's): Very much a norther California style Syrah. Nice black raspberry fruit. Everything in moderation. Young and I think it gets better as it develops. Seems really well made.
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3/6/2011 - silton wrote: 92 Points
Has a distinctive, sauvage layer of game, but that's just one component of the already surprisingly well-integrated wine, along with blue fruits, violets, and elegant smoke. Rich impression in the middle without losing definition. Showed pretty well upon opening and better still on day 2.
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1/3/2011 - alanr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark garnet in color, this is a wonderful wine, with deep boysenberry fruit, violets, great acidity and focus. Fabulous syrah.
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11/28/2010 - celtic67 wrote:
This was just tremendous. Not too many meaty notes, but some violets, funk & ample complexity in the nose. Pure dark/plum fruit but a little restrained on the palate. Loads of minerals on the finish. Firm tannins that provided an ideal texture & structure. Outstanding on the verge of extraordinary.
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11/24/2010 - eric42 wrote: 91 Points
The first thing I noticed on this wine was the impressive color, a deep violet with a garnet rim. The aroma was subtle but nice; smashed blueberries, brown rice, and slight orange zest. Very elegant Syrah, and as it opened it became extremely rich and balanced. Flavors on the palate included blueberry, unripe plum, and some forest floor. Good acid in this wine as well. Light tannins. Another win for a cool climate Syrah.
Decanted for 3 hours, consumed over 3 hours.
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11/7/2010 - Jack wrote: 90 Points
Not as rich as the last bottle. P&P so I think it needed more time to open up.
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10/20/2010 - Jack wrote: 94 Points
Quench 2010 (W Hotel): Wonderful gamey fruit with a great finish.
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6/13/2010 - James Kim wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 2 hrs. Dark purple, nearly opaque. Initially when first opened, fruity berry aromas with iron, blood, violet flowers and rocky aromas and flavors which eventually gave way to the iron, meaty, and peppery aromas and flavors. After 2 hrs in the decanter, very primary ripe blueberry, blackberry with hints of flowers, minerals, earth and iron. A bit of alcohol on the nose. Palate shows more ripe red berries, mint, earth, iron, and minerals. Nice lasting finish of fruit and minerals and a nice peppery kick. New world but complex. Decent acidity and good weight. Will wait 5 yrs before opening the next bottle. 14% abv.
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4/3/2010 - alanr Likes this wine: 95 Points
Peay pickup tasting, April 2010: Gorgeous deep violet fruit, very focused, with laser acidity. I keep coming back to this one, it seems to weave this narrow path through a series of fabulous flavors and palate sensations. La Bruma and Les Titans have flip flipped this year, with the Bruma being the bigger, rounder, fleshier wine, and Titans having the tighter focus. Interesting how these two bottlings do that from vintage to vintage, just when you think you have them pegged, they do the Parent Trap thing on you.
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3/20/2010 - Owasco wrote: 93 Points
Great bottle of wine. I was expecting an old world flair to this wine, and it delivered, but with some added new world sunshine. Very Northern Rhone type nose with some barn yard, olive, smoke and leather. Great texture in the mouth. Similar palate to nose but with some nice dark fruit added in. Good spicy finish with length. Much more interesting than most fruit driven new world syrahs.
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