Best bottle (Belsers Restaurant, Nürtingen): Glass: Sophienwald Bordeaux Clear, deep garnet color. Very advanced nose with some lovage, warm cooked fruit and spices. On the palate fine tannin, rum pot, stewed fruit, lacks acidity and tension. Well made, but no origin or terroir. Drink now. 90-91
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Syrah - N Rhone vs SA with the N London Crew; 2/29/2024-3/1/2024 (La Cabotte): Oh Columella. This was a little bit disjointed - someone mentioned an almost whisky characteristic on the nose and while I didn't quite get that, I could see the point. There was a kind of drying, powdery finish - not a bad wine by any means but given what this producer can deliver on a good day (and the current purchase price of this wine) hard not to be disappointed.
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Syrah - Rhone vs SA - Cabotte with the NLWTS (Cabotte): Dark fruited, v fresh nose. Bit of leather. Palate is a tiny bit hot; doesn’t feel particularly well balanced. Some primary fruit but not enough to stop if feeling a little bit sharp/spikey; the pretty racy acidity doesn’t feel in line with the rest of it.
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Syrah at Cabotte with the TWS North London Group (Cabotte, London): Quite dark. Nose far less giving than the Colombier, but is initially right there on the palate - a bit racier, a bit fresher, with good fruit that has a nice element of sweetness, but at the same time there is a lack of harmony and vibrancy that I can't explain and I much preferred the Hermitage. Maybe a slightly tired bottle here? High hopes for this following a sensational 2007 but ultimately this fell some way short of those heights.
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Deep ruby color, with light rim discoloration. The nose is subdued with subtle floral aromas and white pepper that becomes more present with air. It also smells like raspberries and fresh red fruits. On the palate it feels somewhat mute as well, with almost a minty note on the back end. The mouthfeel is disappointing as well, starting well then getting thinner half way through, towards a short, slightly hot finish. Though it feels technically well made and it's a good wine, it lacks of something in almost every aspect, as if "elegance" was the only goal of this wine, at the expense of everything you'd expect from a Syrah-dominated wine. At that price, I'd get a French Rhone that'd deliver so much more.
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3/14/2024 - NoTrollingerPlease Does not like this wine: 90 Points
Best bottle (Belsers Restaurant, Nürtingen): Glass: Sophienwald Bordeaux
Clear, deep garnet color. Very advanced nose with some lovage, warm cooked fruit and spices. On the palate fine tannin, rum pot, stewed fruit, lacks acidity and tension. Well made, but no origin or terroir. Drink now. 90-91
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3/1/2024 - lozatron Likes this wine:
Syrah - N Rhone vs SA with the N London Crew; 2/29/2024-3/1/2024 (La Cabotte): Oh Columella. This was a little bit disjointed - someone mentioned an almost whisky characteristic on the nose and while I didn't quite get that, I could see the point. There was a kind of drying, powdery finish - not a bad wine by any means but given what this producer can deliver on a good day (and the current purchase price of this wine) hard not to be disappointed.
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2/29/2024 - Jamieson12o Likes this wine: 90 Points
Syrah - Rhone vs SA - Cabotte with the NLWTS (Cabotte): Dark fruited, v fresh nose. Bit of leather. Palate is a tiny bit hot; doesn’t feel particularly well balanced. Some primary fruit but not enough to stop if feeling a little bit sharp/spikey; the pretty racy acidity doesn’t feel in line with the rest of it.
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2/29/2024 - oenanthe Likes this wine: 89 Points
Syrah at Cabotte with the TWS North London Group (Cabotte, London): Quite dark. Nose far less giving than the Colombier, but is initially right there on the palate - a bit racier, a bit fresher, with good fruit that has a nice element of sweetness, but at the same time there is a lack of harmony and vibrancy that I can't explain and I much preferred the Hermitage. Maybe a slightly tired bottle here? High hopes for this following a sensational 2007 but ultimately this fell some way short of those heights.
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2/5/2022 - frenchiecagowine wrote: 88 Points
Deep ruby color, with light rim discoloration. The nose is subdued with subtle floral aromas and white pepper that becomes more present with air. It also smells like raspberries and fresh red fruits. On the palate it feels somewhat mute as well, with almost a minty note on the back end. The mouthfeel is disappointing as well, starting well then getting thinner half way through, towards a short, slightly hot finish.
Though it feels technically well made and it's a good wine, it lacks of something in almost every aspect, as if "elegance" was the only goal of this wine, at the expense of everything you'd expect from a Syrah-dominated wine. At that price, I'd get a French Rhone that'd deliver so much more.
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