Giant Wine Sale & Tasting 3/3/2012 (Cellar on Greene, Columbia, SC): This big boy is the real thing. Unashamed to send us a 15.4% alcohol, purple teeth, almost over the top hedonistic wine. Not all varietals can make a wine this big, that somehow remains balanced . This producer has decades of experience with these grapes, and has figured out how what works. This is textbook Napa Petit Sirah. We expect boysenberry, and this one gives us boysenberry pie. The color is opaque. The nose has violets, cola bubbles, blueberry, sassafras root, and of course vanilla. Most of the time fruit this jammy, leads up to a flabby wine, not this one. Though weighty, we can determine layers of fruit like boysenberry, blueberry, and blackberry, accompanied by spicy undertones of herbs, smoke, minerals, and vanilla. There seems to be an emergence of some of those secondary flavors like cola and caramel. One of those wines so balanced, it seems sweet, which it may be. Not near as rustic as this varietal can be. The oak is understated. Despite the alcohol, there is a smooth softness across the palate. Enough acid to keep things interesting. Big blue fruit finish. Would love to decant a bottle for several hours and let this wine show us what it has.
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Colour: garnet-brick; dark; clear Aroma intensity: aromatic Development: youthful Aromas (pre-aeration): black cherry, spice (post-aeration): mustier and slightly more aromatic dry; full-bodied; lively acidity; flavourful-powerful intensity Tannins: high dry Flavours: Pre-aeration: jammy fruit--black cherry, raisins, some spice Post-aeration: same flavours, but much sweeter and fruitier. much better balance for the tannins. delicious. A huge wine. Aerating vastly improved the experience--added 4 point to my score.
From the winery: Barrel Aging: 14 months in French oak barrels; 25% was new Finished Alcohol: 15.4% Cases Produced: 1050
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This is a big powerful wine. At first sniff we get all kinds of dark fruit, and a big dose of alcohol. At first sip, for just a second, I thought we were tasting another big fruit, one dimensional, high alcohol wine. But as I let things swish around inside the palate, I decided we have to give them credit for trying to bring out some layers and complexity. It does not quite hit the 90 point glass ceiling, but there are subtle little things to bring this above average. Very purple in color. The ripe boysenberry and blueberry fruit are baked and candied, and probably stronger than typical. As I have found with most Petite Sirah's the fruit theme starts at the lips and continues all the way through the finish. Not particularly acidic, we don't drink this to cleanse our palate, but for the fruit. There is some light chocolate, kind of a buttery vanilla flavor, and some black tar, mingling with the fruit.
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5/12/2014 - czarnik wrote: 91 Points
Must decant two hours in advance.
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3/9/2013 - srh wrote:
N: Blackberries, possibly raspberries
P: M body; Tart acidity with a decided astringency. Some heat on the finish? [15.4 % listed alcohol] Seems balanced, & improved with air, so... ??
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3/6/2013 - RNgrapes wrote: 92 Points
Delicious, big, bold, flavorful. Tastes like tart boysenberry pie, spices, a little earthy
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3/3/2012 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 90 Points
Giant Wine Sale & Tasting 3/3/2012 (Cellar on Greene, Columbia, SC): This big boy is the real thing. Unashamed to send us a 15.4% alcohol, purple teeth, almost over the top hedonistic wine. Not all varietals can make a wine this big, that somehow remains balanced . This producer has decades of experience with these grapes, and has figured out how what works. This is textbook Napa Petit Sirah. We expect boysenberry, and this one gives us boysenberry pie. The color is opaque. The nose has violets, cola bubbles, blueberry, sassafras root, and of course vanilla. Most of the time fruit this jammy, leads up to a flabby wine, not this one. Though weighty, we can determine layers of fruit like boysenberry, blueberry, and blackberry, accompanied by spicy undertones of herbs, smoke, minerals, and vanilla. There seems to be an emergence of some of those secondary flavors like cola and caramel. One of those wines so balanced, it seems sweet, which it may be. Not near as rustic as this varietal can be. The oak is understated. Despite the alcohol, there is a smooth softness across the palate. Enough acid to keep things interesting. Big blue fruit finish. Would love to decant a bottle for several hours and let this wine show us what it has.
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9/17/2011 - jacraig wrote: 85 Points
Pretty acidic. Opened up over time.
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8/5/2011 - mobowines wrote: 92 Points
Colour: garnet-brick; dark; clear
Aroma intensity: aromatic
Development: youthful
Aromas (pre-aeration): black cherry, spice
(post-aeration): mustier and slightly more aromatic
dry; full-bodied; lively acidity; flavourful-powerful intensity
Tannins: high dry
Flavours: Pre-aeration: jammy fruit--black cherry, raisins, some spice
Post-aeration: same flavours, but much sweeter and fruitier. much better balance for the tannins. delicious.
A huge wine. Aerating vastly improved the experience--added 4 point to my score.
From the winery:
Barrel Aging: 14 months in French oak barrels; 25% was new
Finished Alcohol: 15.4%
Cases Produced: 1050
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6/4/2011 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 89 Points
This is a big powerful wine. At first sniff we get all kinds of dark fruit, and a big dose of alcohol. At first sip, for just a second, I thought we were tasting another big fruit, one dimensional, high alcohol wine. But as I let things swish around inside the palate, I decided we have to give them credit for trying to bring out some layers and complexity. It does not quite hit the 90 point glass ceiling, but there are subtle little things to bring this above average. Very purple in color. The ripe boysenberry and blueberry fruit are baked and candied, and probably stronger than typical. As I have found with most Petite Sirah's the fruit theme starts at the lips and continues all the way through the finish. Not particularly acidic, we don't drink this to cleanse our palate, but for the fruit. There is some light chocolate, kind of a buttery vanilla flavor, and some black tar, mingling with the fruit.
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