2006 Gramercy Cellars Syrah John Lewis Reserve

Community Tasting Notes (6) Avg Score: 93.9 points

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  12/23/2017 - Wine Ratings Likes this wine: 95 Points

  A brilliant Syrah – wonderful shades of northern Rhone with a measure of brashness for its own unique Washington style. In my own mind, I’d hyped the John Lewis up to myself based on exclusivity and hearsay (plus excellent ratings, but we know how trustworthy those generally are….); I’m happy to say, there was not even a suggestion of letdown in this bottle despite those heightened expectations. Equal parts ripe fruit, rich spice, and intense savouriness, the wine hit on all fronts with full force (though force is a bit misleading –commanding, yes, but not unpleasantly big or overbearing). In this case, the ‘force’ was all through depth and concentration of flavours; at the onset, currants, ripe raspberry, and red/black cherry, plums mixed with dates and stewed plum, balanced by thyme, eucalyptus, tobacco, and wet gravel. Touches of fennel and peppercorns came through, along with a well-integrated showing of oak. With time, hints of age appeared - sundried tomato, prune, smoked salami – though the wine still seemed to be fairly fresh all around despite the decade+ behind it. The finish brought elements from all angles, providing brown sugar, orange zest, and graphite. The structure was right on point, proving strong enough to contain all of that intensity without taking the least bit away from it. Drinking beautifully now, this bottle gave plenty of suggestion that further aging could (will) result in an even fuller experience. Tough to complain about the current experience though – I know I for one am exceptionally happy to have had it!

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  5/27/2017 - manonthemoon wrote: 94 Points

  Took to a family dinner.
  Nose was strong with black fruits, florals, little olive.
  Palate was strong with currant, blackberries, meat, pepper.
  Finish was long in length, but the acidity is on its last legs.
  Very well made wine and was enjoyed by all.

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  3/20/2017 - Vinomnivore Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Big, fresh fruit flavors. I didn't get much else in secondary characteristics. Tannin seems completely resolved at this point. Dinner guests all enjoyed it.

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  1/24/2017 - vinko84 wrote: 95 Points

  Best domestic syrah

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  2/8/2014 - Valbonne Likes this wine: 96 Points

  The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are medium. There is moderate sediment in the bottle. It smells like black currant (cassis), blackberry, nutmeg, black pepper and lead pencil. The body is medium. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has high acidity.

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View all 6 Community Tasting Notes

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