2013 Bien Nacido Vineyards Syrah Santa Maria Valley

Community Tasting Notes (8) Avg Score: 87.2 points

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  8/25/2023 - Lucasmtong wrote: 87 Points

  Too much oak

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  3/11/2023 - Vinedict wrote: 88 Points

  Fruits are at the tail end of freshness, starting to show prune and hawthorn characteristics, maintaining a charming intensity of aroma. Palate is pleasant, but slightly thin on fruit, a tad hollow at the moment. My bottle had a crumbly cork, but if it is indeed an accurate reflection of the wine, then the wine is unlikely to improve with further bottle age and should be drunk now.

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  3/10/2023 - Brucie69 Likes this wine: 91 Points

  After three hours uncorked but not decanted
  
  N: intense nose of black cherry, plums and violets, with some earthy and dust notes. A vanilla overtone joins in at the mid and back end.
  P: slightly juicier on the palate, with the fruits on the nose coming through but then joining it are some nice spice and herb nuances (cinnamon and thyme amongst others).
  Medium bodied with moderate acids and length
  
  I really enjoyed this wine. Apart from the rich fruits coming through on initial sip i would have placed it in the Rhone for it’s inky, herbal and substantial but not showy fruit characteristics. It misses out on top tier status with a slight lack of complexity and short length but it’s a really solid effort and a welcome respite from the tits, teeth and booty ripeness that I personally find difficult in so many California wines.

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  1/24/2023 - Dulcie and Aylwin wrote:

  An earlier Mavens (RIP) acquisition. Noting the current Wine Searcher price, I might have expected more from it, and I see some less than expansive TNs as well. Still, I find a certain nostalgic romance in the name and memories of happy days spent in the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria valleys before the region became really popular, where rustic tasting sheds were more the norm than the elegant complexes now on offer. But to the wine: dark and inky purple, it is very smooth as one might expect, but lacking the complexity and depth that I would hope to find in an almost $50 bottle.

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  1/22/2022 - DonDon wrote: 84 Points

  I bought a 6-pack and this is my fourth. So far I consistently don’t like this wine very much at all! It’s really lacking in complexity and flavour. Has a sort of metallic feel and just lacks both body and soul. I would say the grapes didn’t ripen fully - it’s just too green. I’ve tried this wine several times over a 3 year period and it’s just not for me. Won’t buy again

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