-- decanted immediately before initial taste -- -- tasted non-blind over a couple hours -- -- 83% Syrah, 9% Mourvedre, 8% Bobal --
NOSE: cigar wrapper up front, with a brooding black cherry Twizzler note laying underneath; smells "big" and, generally, dark-fruited.
BODY: medium-full bodied; dark violet color of great depth; cork stained dark purple.
TASTE: tannic; cigar wrapper; oaky; medium-low to medium acidity; ripe, big, but not ridiculous-big; somewhat tertiary --- some pleasant wood-aged tawniness to it; a bit of heat (labelled at 14% alc.); paired very well with steak and caramelized onions; drink now and over the next handful of years --- I highly doubt 10+ additional years is a good idea. Gut impression score: 90.
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This has certainly held up, though I'm not sure if it's any better than a few years back. It has developed a good bit of bottle boquet...the expressive nose was the most alluring part of the wine. Relatively big on the palate despite the years, the tannins are still there in the background, but largely resolved. enough structure to make if pleasant. Somewhat savory, but it seems to have more of a warm than cold climate flavor profile. 90-91 ish
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Color: bright ruby Nose: earth, plum Taste: musty plum, mushroom, anise, pencil lead This is simple, but very enjoyable. A bit of a finish that evaporates quickly. No real tannins but I think this has a few years left.
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Deep inky purple with a tinge of brick on the outer rim from the age. Leather, black liquorice, and beef jerky, bacon fat, and a touch of black cherry and mint. This is a big wine. Really big. Highly concentrated and tannic with an extremely long finish. Impressive but not my favorite style.
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Tasted blind. Black fruit, mint and chocolate dominate, but some tarry notes are here, too. Sweet on the palate and structured--at first I thought it likelier to be cabernet than syrah.
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Riesling and Barbera (South Queens Edition): Aussie Shiraz meets Northern Rhone. Black fruit, meat...hints of mint. middle is a powerhouse - steak wine. Savory and spicy with black fruit and underbrush. Tannic finish with herbs and pepper. Big Bold and damn tasty.
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From opening, to first taste to seeing it evolve over 2-3 hours, it was reminiscent of a great Aussie shiraz. The tannins and alcohol have subsided and you have an initial aroma of stewed red, jammy fruit, pepper and smokiness. On the palate it's a similar story, with an earthy, savoury, slightly spicy hit upfront, transitioning to sweetness on the long finish but not overly so and still enough alcohol to keep it all together. Wonderful.
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Yowza, this wine is Dense! For the Amarone crowd - though the nose shows nice development and almost Bordeaux like pencil shavings and tobacco. Get's a little tiring in the long run but definitely very high quality.
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Black with a deep ruby rim. Lots of deep, black fruit flavor, with notes of licorice and stone dust. Full bodied on the palate with good balance and presence.
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Solid Spanish syrah. Decanted for 90 minutes. Big aromatics of dark red fruit, eucalyptus, band-aid and dusty under-brush. In the mouth it was cola, tart black plums, and under-ripe blueberries. Big with a long finish. Some toasty oak there, too, but not in an over-bearing way. Concentrated. Good match with roasted chicken with cinnamon and paprika. Drink or hold for another 1-2 years.
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Still drinking very well. Great nose of fruit, pepper and vanilla. Taste has a nice balance fruit and spice moves to a great finish. I've always been a fan of this wine.
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This was a great bottle and the best performer out of three Syrahs on the night (one 2004 Aussie, and a (too young) 2008 Central California). Balanced, harmonious, with rich fruit but plenty of structure and enough acidity. Smooth, long finish. Well done!
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After about 2 hours in a decanter. Dark purple in colour. Interesting nose, with gamy notes, earth, smoke and blueberries. Medium-full bodied, with a silky, velvety, slightly sweet palate, though there are some smooth, ripe tannins in there as well. Concentrated blackfruits, chocolate, black licorice, pepper, vanilla and blueberries appear in this very interesting, powerful wine. Ready now with a decant, but will last a few years too (A-).
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Aromen von Bitterschokolade, Teer, Holz, Tabak, Kirsche und Brombeere, am Gaumen stoffig, Pfeffer, weich und lang, etwas alkoholbetont; leicht zehrend im Abgang
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Color: Opaque Purple Nose: Plum, Prune Taste: Anise, plum, pepper with a touch of smoke. This is rather dry with a hot finish, not well integrated and although lingering tannins, not very complex. Sorry I have more of these. Rather disappointing.
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decanted and drunk over the course of a couple hours. The last glass was Far better than the first. Needed about an hour and a half to come into balance and hit its stride. Tannins were barely noticeable early on...certainly clamped down after a few hours. Fairly syrah in flavor profile, with elements of new and old world on the palate. A pleasant surprise.
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This was actually a decent step better on night two though I would place it in a fairly modern category overall. I think the Mourvedre and Bobal additions are really helping give this some interest. Smoky, peppery notes pick up the purple berry fruits. Very tart dark berry palate where the tartness almost seems like tartaric additions and isn't married to the fruit. There is some nice braised meats and pepper keeping this from being completely boring. Decent acid and light tannin for a young Syrah. I did like this a notch better on the second night as mentioned but overall it did seem fairly typical of modern Syrahs. I didn't get any hints of overt new oak treatments. Its actually not very soft even with the big fruit. Fans of bigger wines will be more thrilled with this than I am. At least its keeping me interested overnight so I'd recommend a harsh decent or a couple more years in bottle.
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The wine was showing its syrah today. Rich and lush black fruits, cracked pepper, with a little nip of oak spice on the finish. Full-bodied but with enough acidity to keep it lithe. The tannins were a little gritty. Overall, it was very tasty.
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Black with a deep ruby rim. Up front modern style, muskiness on the nose with a lot of ripe black fruit essence. Medium bodied on the palate with great presence and good acidity through the middle.
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This is a very big wine. The bouquet is dominated by oak, burnt brown sugar, pepper and some dark fruit. The finish is exceptionally dry with dark berries, cedar and a tocuh of vanilla. The wine will likely lose it's fruit before the "heat" settles down. Drink NOW after a long decant.
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Nose: Clean, developing with med+ aromas of black fruit (mainly blackberries), dark plums and coffee/chocolate Palate: Dry, medium levels of acidity and tannins. Full bodied with med+ intensity and length. Aromas of black fruit (mainly blackberries) and dark plums. It does not taste as warm as I would expect. Animal aromas of leather and oak aromas of smoke and tobacco. There is also a clear mineral character here. Conclusion: A very good wine which is ready to drink, but can develop further.
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Sotto325 nailed it on the head, it is a very rich wine. The fruit is very dense but the tannins make it very approachable at this point. Vaccuvined and repopped on day 3 and still held up perfectly. 4 cheeses and it was great with each. Wish I had more than 1 left!
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Aromas of ink, damp animal fur, plum skin, resinous, slighty dilly oak. Smooth, a dark chocolate note, again that touch of dill, stately, serious. Lingering finish, full of brightness. Old world vitality, white pepper throughout.
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My second and last bottle. This was not approachable 3 years ago.I t is now a wonderfully rich, mildly complex wine showing all of the power of the 04 vintage. Not subtle nor overpowering bur very very rich in the deep center with lush blueberry, black berry and some licorice notes. The syrah of the early bottling was more complex and aimed toward a different blended purple goal.The 04 is now ready and will provide a terrific food wine (steak or cheese)
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On the nose, dark fruit and a little spice (left over oak?). In the mouth, dark fruit, tannin, good balance. Modern in style, but drinking well with some upside in the near future.
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Beautiful aroma of black fruit and cassis. Med-heavy body. Chocolate covered blackberries and a bit of black pepper. Refined tannins. Did a short decant but possibly needed more. May update this note tonight as we finish the bottle.
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Inspired by recent CT notes, I pull this last night. Of the '04-'06 this is clearly the best. Great aromas, flavors and, above all, balance. Oak is now where is should be. The body/weight is very pleasing as is the acidity. Should hold at this level for some years.
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Been a long time since I had a bottle of this. The nose initially shows a lot of funk. With air it blew off a bit. I like the funk, but some don't. Earthy, barnyard and black raspberries. Some spice (Nutmeg?) as well. Great thick texture. On the palate, this is complex and moving towards mature. It has lost much of its exuberance, but there is plenty of fruit holding it up. Much changed in the last few years, but still very good. Drinks like a CdP from the same vintage IMO.
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I have always loved this wine, from my first sip at a tasting two years ago to this last bottle. Nose is complex and earthy. For me, just perfect. Full bodied and rich with blackberries and earth. The medium-length finish is excellent. A group tasted blind and many guessed Rhone, but without the funkiness/metal that comes with many of those wines. This is a tremendous QPR and it was the WOTN for a few of us. I can't wait to try my 2007. If you can, pair it with a heavily-peppered steak.
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Intriguing. Deep ruby color, almost opaque. Very dark nose, a bit reluctant, best described as blackberry medicine. On the palate, a blast of very dark fruit with great purity on the attack, followed by cocoa powder and mineral notes taking over the finish. Where'd the fruit go? I think I really like it, but it certainly requires more contemplation. Not for everyone I'd guess...
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Full bodied but very nicely balanced with dark plumb fruits showing some pleasant age and smokey, leathery notes and a very long finish. More interesting than many syrahs, this is drinking very nicely now.
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Double decanted initially, then tasted over two days. I'm a little worried here. Some of the rich plum and berry remains but a lot seemed gone. The depth of fruit plus meat and mint seems a bit hollowed out, with a ton of oak ships at the end. Hoping some bottle variation or more stuffing in other ones.
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Took to a party so limited notes, but most importantly you need to let this breath for at least two hours before it really hits its stried. But once it's open and integrated this is a delicious offering with plenty of dark fruits on the nose and palate with a long, long finish. Would recommend.
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RUSSK Dinner at Mike and Taylor's. Really showed well tonight. Wish I had a glass right now. Chilled, no air time. No bitterness this time. Deep and solid. Glad I have more.
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i have to downgrade this a bit. still a mouthful of black and red fruits, but it was more disjointed than i remember from prior experience, with the alcohol sticking out too much. it had a warm cinnamon component on day 3 that i enjoyed. the back label says 14% alcohol, but it felt like much more than that to me. still a very good, fruit-forward bottle of wine, but it lacked the complexity of prior experience.
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Maybe 93. Dark purple..inky colour. Takes a while for the nose to show itself but then flowers,oak.berries and cassis. A tart cherry on the palate. Tannis smooth. Finish lingers. Pleasurable. Time to drink the inventory?
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50+5+13+15+7 Very dense and inky with a slight bricking on the edges. Nose gives us the Syrah with classic notes. On the palate the tannins were slightly course--typical of the region, plum, cinnamon, and tart red berries. Nice finish, balanced acidity.
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I opened this at my 5/15/10 Syrah Tasting. It had an unusual bouquet of cranberry, cherry, blackberry, dirt, mineral and spice aromas. The palate was smooth, balanced and tasty with very TART CRANBERRY, cherry, blackberry, earth, mineral and spice flavors. 90+
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Plum, boysenberry, freshly roasted coffee, white pepper, orange blossom, spice and earth notes. Medium bodied, lively and taut. Lots of white pepper on the muscular finish. An enjoyable blend of old-world secondaries and new-world fruit.
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Whites with Teochew Food (Lee Kui (Ah Hoi) Teochew Restaurant, Mosque Street): A pretty decent wine - I thought this was a new world Syrah when tasted blind. Nose showed rubber, spice and plenty of glycerol, somewhat South African in aspect, along with rich plums, prunes and a healthy dash of pepper. Palate was rather more impressive. Fine tannins and nice balance marked the ground for rich flavours of prunes and plums seasoned with some orange peel. Finish had a nice, clean ring to it, with more pepper and some anise-led spice notes.
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Syrah in the New World style. Smooth tannins and decent mouthfeel but an unattractive aspect that may be bitterness and alcohol. I am not sure how to describe it, but I know I don't like it. I find this flavor profile in many Syrahs/Shiraz's though the Il Bosco doesn't seem to have it. So is it the grape or the winemaking style?
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As I drank this wine I kept saying to myself, "There is nothing really special about this" and the the next sip I would say "this is really good wine." I am left with a mixed impression. It definitely was sweeter then the dark color would suggest but it quickly turns to something more rustic. I was disappointed but what I felt was too short of a finish as well. Not a helpful review I am sorry.
RUSSK Day 2, after vinvac and frig. About the same. The wine begins beautifully. Very nice nose, inviting sweetness. But then it finishes a bit more bitter (which i find with many Syrah) and more alc (feels more like 14.5).
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RUSSK Good right out the bottle. Better after 1hr decant. More time did little. Very nice nose. Well balanced and well made. Alc and fruit restrained compared to an Ausie sharaz. More like a WA state. Wanted to keep drinking. Glad I have more. Drinking fine now but should last a few more yrs.
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Purchased today and opened bottle 1 hr before going home. At dinner decanted, and changed markedly for the better with Vinturi Aerator. Delicious supple syrah with air more Calii/Aussie like. Great with Tomme de Crayeuse and Tomme de Savoie. Will buy a 6 pack on closeout.
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UCD wine group (My House, Denver, CO): Double decanted 4 hours. Reddish violet. Blue and red fruits, coffee, licorice, spice and chocolate-oak on nose. Palate had medium intensity fruit with a little complexity. Very low finesse. Velvety tannins do add a bit of a backbone to hold it together. Very nice, but lacks excitement.
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Going to withhold a score as it was drank late in the meal/evening. Decanted for only a few minutes before tasting. Initially was hot and woody without much fruit to balance it. Big, dense but the finish was harsh and short. Over the course of the night it came into better balance and the wine softened but by then my taste buds were shot.
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This is an outstanding bottle of wine. Mostly Syrah with a touch of Mourvedre and a kiss of Bobal, it is very well made. On pour, it has that inky opaque look in the glass. Swirling the wine shows just how concentrated this bad boy is. On the nose there is bold black fruits, loads of vanilla, and a nice peppery note. The entry is plush without being overwhelming, coating the mouth with more delicious black fruit. The finish brings the wood and pepper to the forefront, followed by spice and sweetness. You can tell they didn't cut corners with this one, and I highly recommend it. Drank on its own as a pop and pour, so don't know how well it will do with food, but I drink wine and rate it on its stand-alone merit and could care less what it does with food.
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Hit me kinda flat. I'd tasted a bunch of wines earlier in the night though and its lack of sweetness may have been the issue. Still a quality wine i know, but again i feel like i should love it, but not sure if i do.
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Dark garnet/purple color, wonderful nose of fruit and oak. Brambly and rocky on the palate, with a nice core of dark fruit. This wine is all about balance, with great acidity that leads right into a long, dry finish. Excellent.
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The wine has not budged since my previous tasting note nearly two years ago. It's big, tannic, brambly, loaded with minerals and roasted herbs, and with nice black fruit characteristics. The most tannic syrah (mostly syrah) I've ever had, it shows more regional character than varietal character. Excellent and interesting wine. Day two, tannins have settled down considerably and rich leather notes have come out. Definitely decant this wine. 92
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Very dark purple, bright edges. Muted black fruit nose with black licorice. Medium to full bodied, rich black fruit, black licorice, dry finish. Inky, rich wine, dense black fruit, dry finish.
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Less wild, more civilized showing than a year ago. Sophisticated nose of boysonberry, campfire ash, game, iodine, a little barnyard and gravel. Creamy black fruits on the palate with white pepper, dry tobacco adding a lift. A long finish with some tannic strength displaying plummy fruit and dusty rock. An interesting blend of old world rocks and dirt combined with new world ripeness. Should improve (and show its European roots) over the next 5-7 years.
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PnP. Seems both more intense and more integrated than last year's great showing. Dark blue/black berries and spicey coffee/earth on nose; weighty layed fruit, firm tannins and just lovely acidity.
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Blackberries, cassis, tabacco, and herbs on the nose, a bit hot in the mouth to start, over time sweet tannins kicked in to give a burnt mocha finish. Full bodied and long, a good buy.
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Aromas of tea, tobacco, raspberry, pepper and maple bacon. Soft extraction on the palate with plush blue fruits, vanilla and pepper...even some slight tertiary flavors...perhaps a little disjointed into the finish.
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Dark, inky, huge black luscious fruit with great depth and attack on the mid-palate. Silky smooth and soft on the palate, probably as a result of the oak treatment which is obvious with vanilla notes but well integrated. There does appear to be some minerality and secondary flavours hiding behind the fruit so I will wait before having my last bottle to see if it evolves.
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This is a strong 93. A closet syrah. Dark red/violet colour, Powerful,exotic with an intese nose of floral and berries, A long finish that is sweet,clear and spicy. Drink this now or who knows! I only have 14 bottles left and am already sad.
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Rich red almost purple color. Not very much on the nose. I drank this wine without any dinner so I suspect that it would show much better with food. I like this wine quite a bit and would look for it on a restaurant (especially a steakhouse) menu as a very good alternative to an overpriced Cab or Bordeaux. With food I would move up this score up. Very good QPR
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Black berries, ripe black cherries and black chocolate on the nose. Black and sour cherries on the palate, supported by sweet tannins, good, refreshing acidity, chocolate and tobacco. Good balance, not heavy or overly sweet in any way, accessible right after opening the bottle and remaining so over the course over the evening. Very sexy, delicious, modern tasting wine.
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Double decanted - 2 hours and brought to ECWS Exec meeting. Oak and good red fruit on the nose. Still young. A little too much oak and good dark red fruit in the mouth. Good but primary now. Should be very good with a little time.
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Color: Dark purple, lighter at the rim. Nose: Wonderful nose with layers of Dark fruit (black cherry, Plum), cola, mocha, hints of vanilla, leather, and violets, smoke. Body: medium bodied. Light to medium tannins and nice structure. Mouth: Velvety texture. Some oak, tannins, and heat. This is a wonderful old world syrah. Flavors matching the nose include muted dark fruits, cola, mocha, some coffee, pepper, chocolate/mocha and a bit of vanilla.
This just got better and better as the night went by. Highly recommended. I would think would drink much better in 3 to 4 years.
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OUTSTANDING An outstanding Syrah blend that treats one to a nice break from the "Australian" style. This is more old world with the Coffee and Mocha being perfectly mixed into the black fruit flavors. I don't see where ten years of ageing is neccesary on this bottle, though it has the backbone to last. Drink now or hold.
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WOTN (out of 4) for me. Pretty, iridescent purple. Sweet violets and blueberries. Medium body that seemed to thicken with air. Short finish. Would like to try this in a few years. Might have to grab another bottle for that.
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Pulled one out to try to help decide whether to buy some '05. Not decanted. Very dark and dense. Lovely soaring nose of black/blue fruits and loads of 'other stuff'; notably coffee, underbrush, earth, flowery spice and mineral. Terrific mouth feel with layered dense fruit, mineral and balancing tannins and acid. To me a great old world wine with a 'big' style. For holding or drinking now. I'm now a fan and will get the '05 and beyond.
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Deep purple color. Dark fruit, plum, wood, and leather in the aroma; the palate exhibits a full mouth feel, intense jammy flavors, but good acidity and soft tannins. Although not particularly complex, this is an excellent bottle.
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Wild aromas of iodine, smoky blackcurrant, white pepper, crushed gravel, a little "merde". Lazer focused, mineral rich in the mouth. Powerful finish. Needs 2-3 years to relax a little. Lots of upside. I like the Euro sensibilities combined with ripe fruit.
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This wine showed far more old world characteristics than I anticipated: with layers of forest notes, minerality, peppery spices, and woodsmoke, even a little brett, perhaps. Underneath all this is powerful, dense fruit. In the mouth, it's medium- to full-bodied, and spicy, with an unusual acidic berry note (that I'm actually ambivalent about---is it a pleasant counterpoint or a distraction, or lack of balance?). The tannins are fairly fierce and rustic, but the wine has a long, finish carrying through all the flavors of the midpalate. It seems a year or two too young at this point, but shows interesting potential.
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Spain (Farpointe Cellar): The nose was very perfumed - lots of floral notes, and graphite, plus blackberry and cherry. The palate showed lots of minerality, mixed with dark fruit, bitter chocolate, and violets. The tannins were were firm and the finish long.
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Once Upon a Vine XIII - New Orleans, LA by Martin Wine Cellar (Pavillion of Two Sisters): Very nice flavorful little Shiraz from Spain with 9% Monastrell and 8% Bobal added. Not something you see very often. Full of crushed and candied fruits with a distinctive floral wildflower nose, almost like a mix of violets, and magnolias. Bordering on berry bomb status in the mouth. Tons of juicy blackberry and plum fruit. Decent structure and a hint of a woodsy, smoky, earthy Old World style in the midpalate where you find tannins that pull together the spicey, dirty finish that gives this wine a bit of intrigue not found in many Aussie shiraz. Good balance with acidity and tannin keeping the big fruit in check. The structure is well integreated and the body is smooth and silky. This wine is like a classy, educated, well-dressed Spanish senorita who seems demure, but slightly flashy upon first glance, but after a few drinks, once you get to know her, she is a savage, slutty fiend of a woman, an out-of-control temptress with a wild side that would put Motley Crue to shame. So, enjoy both sides of the personality, but don't be confused, neither one of them will ever go away. Put a few in the cellar as I feel that this is one of the wine with potential to improve dramatically over 5-10.......91+ points with big potential for improvement.
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Decanted 3 hrs, but it didn't change too much in this time. Deep ruby/purple to the rim. Nose of earth and funk, with a very spicy core and loads of dark fruits. This was a monster on the palate as well, with similar tastes, high acidity and lots of refined tannins. Excellent when paired with moose, but this wine needs 5+ years in the cellar before I'd open another.
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Jancis: "how refined Spanish wines have become in the past few years. This is sweet and spicy and dry on the finish. I don't find the tannins uncomfortable, but it needs food. It tastes more of its 14.5% alcohol than the Colome".
Me: Dark black/red colour, colours glass, fills mouth but leaves a metallic tang on the finish.
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Dark purple, clear edges. Big complex nose of dark fruits, spices, some earth, funk and sweet buttery oak. Not tasting this one blind but it still felt very Spanish for some reason - the earthiness/funk?. Big and fruity with mouth clenching tannins. Concentrated but not lacking acidity nor freshness. Long. No way would I identify this as mainly a syrah. Nevertheless, very good albeit too young. Barely budged in the decanter over several hours.
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10/21/2019 - grafstrb wrote:
-- decanted immediately before initial taste --
-- tasted non-blind over a couple hours --
-- 83% Syrah, 9% Mourvedre, 8% Bobal --
NOSE: cigar wrapper up front, with a brooding black cherry Twizzler note laying underneath; smells "big" and, generally, dark-fruited.
BODY: medium-full bodied; dark violet color of great depth; cork stained dark purple.
TASTE: tannic; cigar wrapper; oaky; medium-low to medium acidity; ripe, big, but not ridiculous-big; somewhat tertiary --- some pleasant wood-aged tawniness to it; a bit of heat (labelled at 14% alc.); paired very well with steak and caramelized onions; drink now and over the next handful of years --- I highly doubt 10+ additional years is a good idea. Gut impression score: 90.
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5/4/2018 - edjBoca Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good balance and beautiful! Should drink well for another couple of years. Enjoy.
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10/20/2017 - thalver wrote:
This has certainly held up, though I'm not sure if it's any better than a few years back. It has developed a good bit of bottle boquet...the expressive nose was the most alluring part of the wine. Relatively big on the palate despite the years, the tannins are still there in the background, but largely resolved. enough structure to make if pleasant. Somewhat savory, but it seems to have more of a warm than cold climate flavor profile. 90-91 ish
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4/24/2017 - bonedoc wrote: 89 Points
Pretty aromatics, great attack... then mid palate drops off quickly and finishes little fruit and some bitter tannins.
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2/16/2017 - smahk wrote: 89 Points
Color: bright ruby
Nose: earth, plum
Taste: musty plum, mushroom, anise, pencil lead
This is simple, but very enjoyable. A bit of a finish that evaporates quickly. No real tannins but I think this has a few years left.
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12/13/2016 - Elycohn wrote:
Deep inky purple with a tinge of brick on the outer rim from the age. Leather, black liquorice, and beef jerky, bacon fat, and a touch of black cherry and mint. This is a big wine. Really big. Highly concentrated and tannic with an extremely long finish. Impressive but not my favorite style.
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10/27/2016 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Tasted blind. Black fruit, mint and chocolate dominate, but some tarry notes are here, too. Sweet on the palate and structured--at first I thought it likelier to be cabernet than syrah.
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1/29/2016 - iamandyc wrote: 90 Points
Still going strong. Normal deep, dark, earthy, chocolate flavors. Fruit is buried beneath all the strong flavors.
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12/13/2015 - Mlermontov wrote: 92 Points
Riesling and Barbera (South Queens Edition): Aussie Shiraz meets Northern Rhone. Black fruit, meat...hints of mint. middle is a powerhouse - steak wine. Savory and spicy with black fruit and underbrush. Tannic finish with herbs and pepper. Big Bold and damn tasty.
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1/24/2015 - Jubby Likes this wine: 92 Points
From opening, to first taste to seeing it evolve over 2-3 hours, it was reminiscent of a great Aussie shiraz. The tannins and alcohol have subsided and you have an initial aroma of stewed red, jammy fruit, pepper and smokiness. On the palate it's a similar story, with an earthy, savoury, slightly spicy hit upfront, transitioning to sweetness on the long finish but not overly so and still enough alcohol to keep it all together. Wonderful.
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1/19/2015 - edjBoca Does not like this wine: flawed
Corked
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1/4/2015 - RussK wrote: 90 Points
Russk. WIC + wives at Brio. 2hr decant. A bit muddy, dirty and hot. 90+
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12/28/2014 - bonedoc wrote: 91 Points
Limited notes, dark CDP like style w some garrique, licorice.
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12/27/2014 - bonedoc wrote:
No notes, 90-92
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12/25/2014 - Spencer wrote:
Almost overripe, but just barely manages to toe the line. Not really my style, but others liked it. I would drink this now.
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9/1/2014 - SineQuaNon Likes this wine: 90 Points
Yowza, this wine is Dense! For the Amarone crowd - though the nose shows nice development and almost Bordeaux like pencil shavings and tobacco. Get's a little tiring in the long run but definitely very high quality.
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8/27/2014 - dougsmith Likes this wine: 91 Points
Black with a deep ruby rim. Lots of deep, black fruit flavor, with notes of licorice and stone dust. Full bodied on the palate with good balance and presence.
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6/15/2014 - drmarclevine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Solid Spanish syrah. Decanted for 90 minutes. Big aromatics of dark red fruit, eucalyptus, band-aid and dusty under-brush. In the mouth it was cola, tart black plums, and under-ripe blueberries. Big with a long finish. Some toasty oak there, too, but not in an over-bearing way. Concentrated. Good match with roasted chicken with cinnamon and paprika. Drink or hold for another 1-2 years.
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3/27/2014 - joshabramson Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is drinking really well right now! Definitely a crowd pleaser... very fruit fwd and velvety.
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5/7/2013 - blash Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still drinking very well. Great nose of fruit, pepper and vanilla. Taste has a nice balance fruit and spice moves to a great finish. I've always been a fan of this wine.
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3/27/2013 - Mr T wrote:
aging well....pleasure to drink
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12/24/2012 - MJHDC wrote:
This was a great bottle and the best performer out of three Syrahs on the night (one 2004 Aussie, and a (too young) 2008 Central California). Balanced, harmonious, with rich fruit but plenty of structure and enough acidity. Smooth, long finish. Well done!
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12/20/2012 - JohnSh wrote: 92 Points
After about 2 hours in a decanter. Dark purple in colour. Interesting nose, with gamy notes, earth, smoke and blueberries. Medium-full bodied, with a silky, velvety, slightly sweet palate, though there are some smooth, ripe tannins in there as well. Concentrated blackfruits, chocolate, black licorice, pepper, vanilla and blueberries appear in this very interesting, powerful wine. Ready now with a decant, but will last a few years too (A-).
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12/16/2012 - wurzel68 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Aromen von Bitterschokolade, Teer, Holz, Tabak, Kirsche und Brombeere, am Gaumen stoffig, Pfeffer, weich und lang, etwas alkoholbetont; leicht zehrend im Abgang
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11/26/2012 - smahk wrote: 88 Points
Color: Opaque Purple
Nose: Plum, Prune
Taste: Anise, plum, pepper with a touch of smoke. This is rather dry with a hot finish, not well integrated and although lingering tannins, not very complex. Sorry I have more of these. Rather disappointing.
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10/22/2012 - thalver wrote:
decanted and drunk over the course of a couple hours. The last glass was Far better than the first. Needed about an hour and a half to come into balance and hit its stride. Tannins were barely noticeable early on...certainly clamped down after a few hours. Fairly syrah in flavor profile, with elements of new and old world on the palate. A pleasant surprise.
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10/6/2012 - pikemasterflash wrote: 91 Points
Rich, teeth-staining last bottle of the night.
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4/15/2012 - WetRock wrote:
This was actually a decent step better on night two though I would place it in a fairly modern category overall. I think the Mourvedre and Bobal additions are really helping give this some interest. Smoky, peppery notes pick up the purple berry fruits. Very tart dark berry palate where the tartness almost seems like tartaric additions and isn't married to the fruit. There is some nice braised meats and pepper keeping this from being completely boring. Decent acid and light tannin for a young Syrah. I did like this a notch better on the second night as mentioned but overall it did seem fairly typical of modern Syrahs. I didn't get any hints of overt new oak treatments. Its actually not very soft even with the big fruit. Fans of bigger wines will be more thrilled with this than I am. At least its keeping me interested overnight so I'd recommend a harsh decent or a couple more years in bottle.
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4/14/2012 - ChrisR wrote: 89 Points
The wine was showing its syrah today. Rich and lush black fruits, cracked pepper, with a little nip of oak spice on the finish. Full-bodied but with enough acidity to keep it lithe. The tannins were a little gritty. Overall, it was very tasty.
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4/12/2012 - dougsmith wrote: 91 Points
Black with a deep ruby rim. Up front modern style, muskiness on the nose with a lot of ripe black fruit essence. Medium bodied on the palate with great presence and good acidity through the middle.
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3/20/2012 - dougsmith wrote: flawed
Corked.
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1/6/2012 - bwaverley wrote: 90 Points
This is a very big wine. The bouquet is dominated by oak, burnt brown sugar, pepper and some dark fruit. The finish is exceptionally dry with dark berries, cedar and a tocuh of vanilla. The wine will likely lose it's fruit before the "heat" settles down. Drink NOW after a long decant.
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12/10/2011 - Riezin wrote:
Nat cork. Very modern in style, lots of vanilla from new oak. Peppery with dark fruit, a big wine. Blowsy. Long finish. Well made but not my style.
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10/16/2011 - vollis wrote: 91 Points
Nose: Clean, developing with med+ aromas of black fruit (mainly blackberries), dark plums and coffee/chocolate
Palate: Dry, medium levels of acidity and tannins. Full bodied with med+ intensity and length. Aromas of black fruit (mainly blackberries) and dark plums. It does not taste as warm as I would expect. Animal aromas of leather and oak aromas of smoke and tobacco. There is also a clear mineral character here.
Conclusion: A very good wine which is ready to drink, but can develop further.
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9/26/2011 - ljl203 wrote:
A lot of berry, heat, meat and mint.
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6/2/2011 - RussK wrote: 92 Points
RUSSK BLEAU my WOTN. Earthy, animal, with some nice gritty tannin (touch of Morvedre) in the finish .92- should buy more.
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5/31/2011 - Bdbrutus wrote: 91 Points
Sotto325 nailed it on the head, it is a very rich wine. The fruit is very dense but the tannins make it very approachable at this point. Vaccuvined and repopped on day 3 and still held up perfectly. 4 cheeses and it was great with each. Wish I had more than 1 left!
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5/12/2011 - pgordon62 wrote: 91 Points
Aromas of ink, damp animal fur, plum skin, resinous, slighty dilly oak. Smooth, a dark chocolate note, again that touch of dill, stately, serious. Lingering finish, full of brightness. Old world vitality, white pepper throughout.
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4/21/2011 - Sotto325 wrote: 91 Points
My second and last bottle. This was not approachable 3 years ago.I t is now a wonderfully rich, mildly complex wine showing all of the power of the 04 vintage. Not subtle nor overpowering bur very very rich in the deep center with lush blueberry, black berry and some licorice notes. The syrah of the early bottling was more complex and aimed toward a different blended purple goal.The 04 is now ready and will provide a terrific food wine (steak or cheese)
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3/25/2011 - Jazzman wrote: 91 Points
Just opened the last of my '04s. Love this wine and it needs a little time to open up. Unfortunately i don't!
This was fantastic. Cocoa, dark fruits, vanilla, and cinnamon notes on the nose and palate. Really a beautiful wine.
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3/5/2011 - gbauer wrote:
On the nose, dark fruit and a little spice (left over oak?). In the mouth, dark fruit, tannin, good balance. Modern in style, but drinking well with some upside in the near future.
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2/14/2011 - kcsteve Likes this wine: 90 Points
Beautiful aroma of black fruit and cassis. Med-heavy body. Chocolate covered blackberries and a bit of black pepper. Refined tannins. Did a short decant but possibly needed more. May update this note tonight as we finish the bottle.
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2/12/2011 - pikemasterflash wrote: 92 Points
Very good this evening. Right build up and food pairing to get to this wine. Crowd pleaser.
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2/5/2011 - thomaskeil wrote: 92 Points
Inspired by recent CT notes, I pull this last night. Of the '04-'06 this is clearly the best. Great aromas, flavors and, above all, balance. Oak is now where is should be. The body/weight is very pleasing as is the acidity. Should hold at this level for some years.
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2/4/2011 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 92 Points
Been a long time since I had a bottle of this. The nose initially shows a lot of funk. With air it blew off a bit. I like the funk, but some don't. Earthy, barnyard and black raspberries. Some spice (Nutmeg?) as well. Great thick texture. On the palate, this is complex and moving towards mature. It has lost much of its exuberance, but there is plenty of fruit holding it up. Much changed in the last few years, but still very good. Drinks like a CdP from the same vintage IMO.
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1/30/2011 - Decanthor wrote: 94 Points
I have always loved this wine, from my first sip at a tasting two years ago to this last bottle. Nose is complex and earthy. For me, just perfect. Full bodied and rich with blackberries and earth. The medium-length finish is excellent. A group tasted blind and many guessed Rhone, but without the funkiness/metal that comes with many of those wines. This is a tremendous QPR and it was the WOTN for a few of us. I can't wait to try my 2007. If you can, pair it with a heavily-peppered steak.
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12/25/2010 - buddy22 wrote: 89 Points
Really different. Similar fruit to a pinot noir, but with the body of the syrah. Pleasant mouthfeel, supple and rich.
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10/22/2010 - KevinS wrote: 92 Points
Intriguing. Deep ruby color, almost opaque. Very dark nose, a bit reluctant, best described as blackberry medicine. On the palate, a blast of very dark fruit with great purity on the attack, followed by cocoa powder and mineral notes taking over the finish. Where'd the fruit go? I think I really like it, but it certainly requires more contemplation. Not for everyone I'd guess...
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10/4/2010 - StainedGlass wrote: 91 Points
Full bodied but very nicely balanced with dark plumb fruits showing some pleasant age and smokey, leathery notes and a very long finish. More interesting than many syrahs, this is drinking very nicely now.
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10/3/2010 - RussK wrote: 90 Points
RUSSK GC@Katz. Good. yes 3hr decant. Didn't compete well against the Rutini, too heavy handed. Still enjoyable.
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9/6/2010 - ljl203 wrote: 89 Points
Double decanted initially, then tasted over two days. I'm a little worried here. Some of the rich plum and berry remains but a lot seemed gone. The depth of fruit plus meat and mint seems a bit hollowed out, with a ton of oak ships at the end. Hoping some bottle variation or more stuffing in other ones.
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8/14/2010 - BSpdx wrote: 92 Points
Took to a party so limited notes, but most importantly you need to let this breath for at least two hours before it really hits its stried. But once it's open and integrated this is a delicious offering with plenty of dark fruits on the nose and palate with a long, long finish. Would recommend.
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7/18/2010 - RussK wrote: 92 Points
RUSSK Dinner at Mike and Taylor's. Really showed well tonight. Wish I had a glass right now. Chilled, no air time. No bitterness this time. Deep and solid. Glad I have more.
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7/13/2010 - caeleric Likes this wine: 90 Points
i have to downgrade this a bit. still a mouthful of black and red fruits, but it was more disjointed than i remember from prior experience, with the alcohol sticking out too much. it had a warm cinnamon component on day 3 that i enjoyed. the back label says 14% alcohol, but it felt like much more than that to me. still a very good, fruit-forward bottle of wine, but it lacked the complexity of prior experience.
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7/1/2010 - benny wrote: 92 Points
Maybe 93. Dark purple..inky colour. Takes a while for the nose to show itself but then flowers,oak.berries and cassis. A tart cherry on the palate. Tannis smooth. Finish lingers. Pleasurable.
Time to drink the inventory?
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6/16/2010 - riberafan wrote: 91 Points
would buy again, interesting, smooth, rich flavor
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6/14/2010 - ssouth wrote: 81 Points
Distinct VA...not pleasant
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6/12/2010 - annerk wrote: 90 Points
50+5+13+15+7 Very dense and inky with a slight bricking on the edges. Nose gives us the Syrah with classic notes. On the palate the tannins were slightly course--typical of the region, plum, cinnamon, and tart red berries. Nice finish, balanced acidity.
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5/15/2010 - garambler wrote: 91 Points
I opened this at my 5/15/10 Syrah Tasting. It had an unusual bouquet of cranberry, cherry, blackberry, dirt, mineral and spice aromas. The palate was smooth, balanced and tasty with very TART CRANBERRY, cherry, blackberry, earth, mineral and spice flavors. 90+
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5/5/2010 - pgordon62 wrote: 91 Points
Plum, boysenberry, freshly roasted coffee, white pepper, orange blossom, spice and earth notes. Medium bodied, lively and taut. Lots of white pepper on the muscular finish. An enjoyable blend of old-world secondaries and new-world fruit.
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3/30/2010 - Paul S wrote: 89 Points
Whites with Teochew Food (Lee Kui (Ah Hoi) Teochew Restaurant, Mosque Street): A pretty decent wine - I thought this was a new world Syrah when tasted blind. Nose showed rubber, spice and plenty of glycerol, somewhat South African in aspect, along with rich plums, prunes and a healthy dash of pepper. Palate was rather more impressive. Fine tannins and nice balance marked the ground for rich flavours of prunes and plums seasoned with some orange peel. Finish had a nice, clean ring to it, with more pepper and some anise-led spice notes.
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3/15/2010 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured. Needed 1/2 hour to fully reveal itself.
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2/28/2010 - nschmidt wrote: 83 Points
Syrah in the New World style. Smooth tannins and decent mouthfeel but an unattractive aspect that may be bitterness and alcohol. I am not sure how to describe it, but I know I don't like it. I find this flavor profile in many Syrahs/Shiraz's though the Il Bosco doesn't seem to have it. So is it the grape or the winemaking style?
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2/28/2010 - daxjonas wrote: 89 Points
As I drank this wine I kept saying to myself, "There is nothing really special about this" and the the next sip I would say "this is really good wine." I am left with a mixed impression. It definitely was sweeter then the dark color would suggest but it quickly turns to something more rustic. I was disappointed but what I felt was too short of a finish as well. Not a helpful review I am sorry.
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2/26/2010 - RussK wrote: 90 Points
RUSSK Day 2, after vinvac and frig. About the same. The wine begins beautifully. Very nice nose, inviting sweetness. But then it finishes a bit more bitter (which i find with many Syrah) and more alc (feels more like 14.5).
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2/26/2010 - RussK wrote: 90 Points
RUSSK Good right out the bottle. Better after 1hr decant. More time did little. Very nice nose. Well balanced and well made. Alc and fruit restrained compared to an Ausie sharaz. More like a WA state. Wanted to keep drinking. Glad I have more. Drinking fine now but should last a few more yrs.
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2/25/2010 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
Purchased today and opened bottle 1 hr before going home. At dinner decanted, and changed markedly for the better with Vinturi Aerator. Delicious supple syrah with air more Calii/Aussie like. Great with Tomme de Crayeuse and Tomme de Savoie. Will buy a 6 pack on closeout.
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2/23/2010 - thomaskeil wrote: 89 Points
UCD wine group (My House, Denver, CO): Double decanted 4 hours. Reddish violet. Blue and red fruits, coffee, licorice, spice and chocolate-oak on nose. Palate had medium intensity fruit with a little complexity. Very low finesse. Velvety tannins do add a bit of a backbone to hold it together. Very nice, but lacks excitement.
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1/27/2010 - bccdavid wrote: 85 Points
I can't believe Gary Vaynerchuck rated this a 91+. It's way too oaky for me. Yeck!
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12/13/2009 - iamandyc wrote:
Going to withhold a score as it was drank late in the meal/evening. Decanted for only a few minutes before tasting. Initially was hot and woody without much fruit to balance it. Big, dense but the finish was harsh and short. Over the course of the night it came into better balance and the wine softened but by then my taste buds were shot.
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9/2/2009 - caeleric wrote: 93 Points
This is an outstanding bottle of wine. Mostly Syrah with a touch of Mourvedre and a kiss of Bobal, it is very well made. On pour, it has that inky opaque look in the glass. Swirling the wine shows just how concentrated this bad boy is. On the nose there is bold black fruits, loads of vanilla, and a nice peppery note. The entry is plush without being overwhelming, coating the mouth with more delicious black fruit. The finish brings the wood and pepper to the forefront, followed by spice and sweetness. You can tell they didn't cut corners with this one, and I highly recommend it. Drank on its own as a pop and pour, so don't know how well it will do with food, but I drink wine and rate it on its stand-alone merit and could care less what it does with food.
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8/7/2009 - GrandeSerataFuori wrote:
Hit me kinda flat. I'd tasted a bunch of wines earlier in the night though and its lack of sweetness may have been the issue. Still a quality wine i know, but again i feel like i should love it, but not sure if i do.
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8/1/2009 - winecat9 wrote: 90 Points
Solid Syrah fruit was bolstered by the 9% Mouvedre. Dusty dried fruits, earth, very pleasant. Should continue to develop.
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8/1/2009 - RDaneel wrote: 93 Points
Dark garnet/purple color, wonderful nose of fruit and oak. Brambly and rocky on the palate, with a nice core of dark fruit. This wine is all about balance, with great acidity that leads right into a long, dry finish. Excellent.
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3/20/2009 - pgm wrote: 92 Points
The wine has not budged since my previous tasting note nearly two years ago. It's big, tannic, brambly, loaded with minerals and roasted herbs, and with nice black fruit characteristics. The most tannic syrah (mostly syrah) I've ever had, it shows more regional character than varietal character. Excellent and interesting wine.
Day two, tannins have settled down considerably and rich leather notes have come out. Definitely decant this wine. 92
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3/10/2009 - gdbarton1@gmail.com wrote: 89 Points
Very dark purple, bright edges. Muted black fruit nose with black licorice. Medium to full bodied, rich black fruit, black licorice, dry finish. Inky, rich wine, dense black fruit, dry finish.
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3/2/2009 - Gandalf Pyr wrote: 92 Points
Lived up to the hype. Will age well.
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2/13/2009 - pgordon62 wrote: 92 Points
Less wild, more civilized showing than a year ago. Sophisticated nose of boysonberry, campfire ash, game, iodine, a little barnyard and gravel. Creamy black fruits on the palate with white pepper, dry tobacco adding a lift. A long finish with some tannic strength displaying plummy fruit and dusty rock. An interesting blend of old world rocks and dirt combined with new world ripeness. Should improve (and show its European roots) over the next 5-7 years.
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11/27/2008 - Jozefs wrote: 92 Points
Tasted over the course of two evenings; see previous note.
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9/26/2008 - thomaskeil wrote: 93 Points
PnP. Seems both more intense and more integrated than last year's great showing. Dark blue/black berries and spicey coffee/earth on nose; weighty layed fruit, firm tannins and just lovely acidity.
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9/7/2008 - woodofnor wrote: 91 Points
디쌍에게 밀렸다.
하지만 팔래트는 더 나았다.
그냥 돈 값정도 하는 녀석이다.
맛도 있고...
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7/2/2008 - jjclips2 wrote: flawed
Weekend Dinner (JJCLIPS2): Noooo. The only one too :(
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4/6/2008 - Cahill wrote: 92 Points
Blackberries, cassis, tabacco, and herbs on the nose, a bit hot in the mouth to start, over time sweet tannins kicked in to give a burnt mocha finish. Full bodied and long, a good buy.
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3/31/2008 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
'03-'04 Spanish Reds Blindtasted (Rich and Peggy's Home in Los Altos, CA): Group's #2 (my #4) – 21 pts.; 2, 2, 1, 0 – dark red violet color; herbal, floral, berries and red fruit nose; major pepper, talicherry, smoky palate; medium finish 90+ pts. (83% Syrah, 9% Mourvedre, 8% Bobal)
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3/19/2008 - Kamikaze wrote: 91 Points
Lots of structure, very good wine that needs LONG decanting. Alcohol very present now.
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3/16/2008 - LPskeleton wrote: 91 Points
Aromas of tea, tobacco, raspberry, pepper and maple bacon. Soft extraction on the palate with plush blue fruits, vanilla and pepper...even some slight tertiary flavors...perhaps a little disjointed into the finish.
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3/15/2008 - Greg_O wrote: 93 Points
Dark, inky, huge black luscious fruit with great depth and attack on the mid-palate. Silky smooth and soft on the palate, probably as a result of the oak treatment which is obvious with vanilla notes but well integrated. There does appear to be some minerality and secondary flavours hiding behind the fruit so I will wait before having my last bottle to see if it evolves.
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3/12/2008 - benny wrote: 93 Points
This is a strong 93. A closet syrah. Dark red/violet colour, Powerful,exotic with an intese nose of floral and berries, A long finish that is sweet,clear and spicy. Drink this now or who knows!
I only have 14 bottles left and am already sad.
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3/7/2008 - pikemasterflash wrote: 91 Points
Rich red almost purple color. Not very much on the nose. I drank this wine without any dinner so I suspect that it would show much better with food. I like this wine quite a bit and would look for it on a restaurant (especially a steakhouse) menu as a very good alternative to an overpriced Cab or Bordeaux. With food I would move up this score up. Very good QPR
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2/19/2008 - Jozefs wrote: 93 Points
Black berries, ripe black cherries and black chocolate on the nose. Black and sour cherries on the palate, supported by sweet tannins, good, refreshing acidity, chocolate and tobacco. Good balance, not heavy or overly sweet in any way, accessible right after opening the bottle and remaining so over the course over the evening. Very sexy, delicious, modern tasting wine.
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2/16/2008 - cjstrunk wrote: 92 Points
Awesome bottle, no decanting. Nose of vanilla, oak but all in balance. Lots of notes of blueberries and a smooth rich texture. Great wine!
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1/25/2008 - EMichels wrote: 87 Points
Wine Exchange - The Dark Side: Solid nose; Good depth; A bit of earth
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1/21/2008 - gbauer wrote:
Double decanted - 2 hours and brought to ECWS Exec meeting. Oak and good red fruit on the nose. Still young. A little too much oak and good dark red fruit in the mouth. Good but primary now. Should be very good with a little time.
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12/7/2007 - Jazzman wrote: 92 Points
Color: Dark purple, lighter at the rim.
Nose: Wonderful nose with layers of Dark fruit (black cherry, Plum), cola, mocha, hints of vanilla, leather, and violets, smoke.
Body: medium bodied. Light to medium tannins and nice structure.
Mouth: Velvety texture. Some oak, tannins, and heat. This is a wonderful old world syrah.
Flavors matching the nose include muted dark fruits, cola, mocha, some coffee, pepper, chocolate/mocha and a bit of vanilla.
This just got better and better as the night went by. Highly recommended. I would think would drink much better in 3 to 4 years.
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12/3/2007 - chateaumiller wrote: 92 Points
OUTSTANDING
An outstanding Syrah blend that treats one to a nice break from the "Australian" style. This is more old world with the Coffee and Mocha being perfectly mixed into the black fruit flavors. I don't see where ten years of ageing is neccesary on this bottle, though it has the backbone to last. Drink now or hold.
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11/29/2007 - GrandeSerataFuori wrote: 90 Points
WOTN (out of 4) for me. Pretty, iridescent purple. Sweet violets and blueberries. Medium body that seemed to thicken with air. Short finish. Would like to try this in a few years. Might have to grab another bottle for that.
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11/9/2007 - EMichels wrote:
Red Carpet Wine Tasting: Original; Herbal mint; Good depth and finish; Medicinal in a good way
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11/3/2007 - thomaskeil wrote: 92 Points
Pulled one out to try to help decide whether to buy some '05. Not decanted. Very dark and dense. Lovely soaring nose of black/blue fruits and loads of 'other stuff'; notably coffee, underbrush, earth, flowery spice and mineral. Terrific mouth feel with layered dense fruit, mineral and balancing tannins and acid. To me a great old world wine with a 'big' style. For holding or drinking now. I'm now a fan and will get the '05 and beyond.
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10/15/2007 - bruceb wrote: 90 Points
Deep purple color. Dark fruit, plum, wood, and leather in the aroma; the palate exhibits a full mouth feel, intense jammy flavors, but good acidity and soft tannins. Although not particularly complex, this is an excellent bottle.
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9/24/2007 - PathDoc wrote:
really tasty. after 2-3 hours, gorgeous nose. reminded me more of a bordeaux. will probably buy for $30
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8/26/2007 - Cahill wrote:
Given to N&G.
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7/11/2007 - Tparodi wrote: 93 Points
awesome for the price...spain has the qpr going right now.
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6/27/2007 - winestem wrote:
Super juice! Great with an Italian pasta meal.
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6/22/2007 - pgordon62 wrote: 91 Points
Wild aromas of iodine, smoky blackcurrant, white pepper, crushed gravel, a little "merde". Lazer focused, mineral rich in the mouth. Powerful finish. Needs 2-3 years to relax a little. Lots of upside. I like the Euro sensibilities combined with ripe fruit.
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6/3/2007 - pgm wrote: 91 Points
This wine showed far more old world characteristics than I anticipated: with layers of forest notes, minerality, peppery spices, and woodsmoke, even a little brett, perhaps. Underneath all this is powerful, dense fruit. In the mouth, it's medium- to full-bodied, and spicy, with an unusual acidic berry note (that I'm actually ambivalent about---is it a pleasant counterpoint or a distraction, or lack of balance?). The tannins are fairly fierce and rustic, but the wine has a long, finish carrying through all the flavors of the midpalate. It seems a year or two too young at this point, but shows interesting potential.
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3/24/2007 - mmurry wrote: 93 Points
Spain (Farpointe Cellar): The nose was very perfumed - lots of floral notes, and graphite, plus blackberry and cherry. The palate showed lots of minerality, mixed with dark fruit, bitter chocolate, and violets. The tannins were were firm and the finish long.
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3/22/2007 - Jester wrote: 91 Points
Once Upon a Vine XIII - New Orleans, LA by Martin Wine Cellar (Pavillion of Two Sisters): Very nice flavorful little Shiraz from Spain with 9% Monastrell and 8% Bobal added. Not something you see very often. Full of crushed and candied fruits with a distinctive floral wildflower nose, almost like a mix of violets, and magnolias. Bordering on berry bomb status in the mouth. Tons of juicy blackberry and plum fruit. Decent structure and a hint of a woodsy, smoky, earthy Old World style in the midpalate where you find tannins that pull together the spicey, dirty finish that gives this wine a bit of intrigue not found in many Aussie shiraz. Good balance with acidity and tannin keeping the big fruit in check. The structure is well integreated and the body is smooth and silky. This wine is like a classy, educated, well-dressed Spanish senorita who seems demure, but slightly flashy upon first glance, but after a few drinks, once you get to know her, she is a savage, slutty fiend of a woman, an out-of-control temptress with a wild side that would put Motley Crue to shame. So, enjoy both sides of the personality, but don't be confused, neither one of them will ever go away. Put a few in the cellar as I feel that this is one of the wine with potential to improve dramatically over 5-10.......91+ points with big potential for improvement.
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2/20/2007 - cmbond wrote:
Decanted 3 hrs, but it didn't change too much in this time. Deep ruby/purple to the rim. Nose of earth and funk, with a very spicy core and loads of dark fruits. This was a monster on the palate as well, with similar tastes, high acidity and lots of refined tannins. Excellent when paired with moose, but this wine needs 5+ years in the cellar before I'd open another.
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11/18/2006 - pontac wrote: 84 Points
Jancis Robinson's Truly 21st Century Wines (Decanter Fine Wine Masterclass) (Landmark Hotel, Marylebone, London): Mostly Syrah. 14% £18.50
Jancis: "how refined Spanish wines have become in the past few years. This is sweet and spicy and dry on the finish. I don't find the tannins uncomfortable, but it needs food. It tastes more of its 14.5% alcohol than the Colome".
Me: Dark black/red colour, colours glass, fills mouth but leaves a metallic tang on the finish.
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10/6/2006 - Northern wrote: 92 Points
Dark purple, clear edges. Big complex nose of dark fruits, spices, some earth, funk and sweet buttery oak. Not tasting this one blind but it still felt very Spanish for some reason - the earthiness/funk?. Big and fruity with mouth clenching tannins. Concentrated but not lacking acidity nor freshness. Long.
No way would I identify this as mainly a syrah. Nevertheless, very good albeit too young. Barely budged in the decanter over several hours.
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