Better than June 2018 tasting. Blackberries, blueberries, currants, and black licorice. Nice complexity, well balanced, full bodied, and a long smooth finish.
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Needs decanting for a couple of hours, Lovely mouthfeel, initially syrah predominates, followed up by cabernet. Would rate higher but there is a lot of alcohol present. Nice though.
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In a pretty good drinking window now, probably will be there for another few years at the least. Iron fist in a velvet glove, decadence reigned in, excellent wine!
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OC Offline With John and Kimberly Cabot (Fratello's Laguna Niguel): Hint of olive, with a pile of dark color. When I poured it, I made a comment about how opaque the wine looked, one of the darkest of the night of the 25 or so bottles on the table. Dark chocolate, plush fruit, needing 1-2 more years. This to me was decadence reigned in, succeeding and probably my WOTN, next to the Saxum Bone Rock 2000.
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Floral nose, with gobs of plum, blackfruit. This has something resembling elegance to it, it is smooth, and there is slight flourish of heat on the finish, but also softened tannins. Blackberry liquer, black currant, and plum flavors are layered and dense. I would like to see more acidity, perhaps more lift, but this has exceeded my expectations in how it has aged, and if anything this is improved since I tasted it a few years ago, all 15.9% ABV of it.
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Decanted about 2 hours before tasting. This was an extremely enjoyable wine. We served it with roasted Chateaubriand and haricots verts and it paired wonderfully. I would enjoy it equally all by itself. It's 15.9% alc so you have to like that big style, but if you do you will not be disappointed. This is the first one of these I have opened, and it is definitely drinking well now. It has enough strength to last quite a while, so I'm glad I have more. I think the value on this having bought from the winery at release is excellent. I'm not real experienced at wines at this quality, but I would not argue with an even higher points score.
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Drank at birthday celebration at Charlie Palmer's, DC. Dark, earthy, and syrah based. EXCELLENT pairing with great steaks at CP. Ready to drink now with about 1 hour decanting.
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Nose of pretty floral, red raspberry, and graphite. After an hour open, starting to show more. Dark chocolate predominates, but nice dark fruit. Will wait to see if it opens further tomorrow.
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Initial nose is soft and sweet full of ripe fruit. The syrah compoenet really stands out in on the palate and the finsh is lengthy but not elegant. As it opens up, the syrah really comes out and over powers most of whats left. Very tannic too.
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WIML92,WA94,WS92 Stephan Vineyard. Tasted September 6, 2006 at an offline. No notes taken. This wine isn’t my style of “syrah” (it is a blend of 50% syrah, 45% cabernet sauvignon and 5% petit verdot) but it is quite tasty juice! I believe the price point is pretty high for this wine but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Hold another year or too. Should be fairly long lived.
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Stamford OL (Morton's Stamford): Slightly muted nose. Nice fruit, nice balance. Tastes like more cab than syrah. A touch acidic. Very nice, but not great. Purple fruits, plums, very nice.
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($60) Here is a massive wine - 15.6% alcohol, but not noticeably hot. Deeply colored in the glass with a weight and sheen that makes it look thick. Very extracted with a texture in mouth suggesting you are drinking something in suspension, like milk or something. The nose is a gorgeous crushed red berry melange with a touch of liqueur. Somewhat tannic and slightly hard edged or austere on the palate - a sort of nod to the old world, but not off-putting. Give this some time and it will sing prettier.
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Paso Robles, Pre HDR: 45% Cabernet, 50% Syrah, 5% Petite Verdot. Liqueur, rich concentrated red and black berry fruit. Tight finish. Interesting retronasal lift, presumably from the Petite Verdot. Nice meaty, inky quality.
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2/25/2022 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Better than June 2018 tasting. Blackberries, blueberries, currants, and black licorice. Nice complexity, well balanced, full bodied, and a long smooth finish.
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6/17/2018 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Blackberries, blueberries, currants. licorice, earthiness, spice, and a hint of floral. Nice complexity, full bodied, and a long finish.
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9/6/2015 - mhewitt wrote: 92 Points
Might be on its decline, but if so, it's a graceful one. Drink now and over the next 1-2 years.
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6/2/2015 - Spyder14 Does not like this wine:
Past it's time
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8/24/2014 - EducatedDrunk wrote: 92 Points
Drinking beautifully now. Seemed more balanced than the last bottle.
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10/19/2012 - EducatedDrunk wrote: 91 Points
Needs decanting for a couple of hours, Lovely mouthfeel, initially syrah predominates, followed up by cabernet. Would rate higher but there is a lot of alcohol present. Nice though.
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1/2/2012 - TheFoodieTraveler wrote: 92 Points
rich, dark fruit, big mouthfeel. very nice
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8/4/2010 - jbposell wrote:
In a pretty good drinking window now, probably will be there for another few years at the least. Iron fist in a velvet glove, decadence reigned in, excellent wine!
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1/9/2009 - Frank Murray III wrote:
OC Offline With John and Kimberly Cabot (Fratello's Laguna Niguel): Hint of olive, with a pile of dark color. When I poured it, I made a comment about how opaque the wine looked, one of the darkest of the night of the 25 or so bottles on the table. Dark chocolate, plush fruit, needing 1-2 more years. This to me was decadence reigned in, succeeding and probably my WOTN, next to the Saxum Bone Rock 2000.
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12/14/2008 - FieldingYost wrote: 90 Points
Floral nose, with gobs of plum, blackfruit. This has something resembling elegance to it, it is smooth, and there is slight flourish of heat on the finish, but also softened tannins. Blackberry liquer, black currant, and plum flavors are layered and dense. I would like to see more acidity, perhaps more lift, but this has exceeded my expectations in how it has aged, and if anything this is improved since I tasted it a few years ago, all 15.9% ABV of it.
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7/21/2008 - rmsanz wrote: 92 Points
Drank on honeymoon. Dark and brooding. Perfect pair with steaks and lobster tails. Definitely top three favorite producers!
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2/29/2008 - rmodak wrote: flawed
Corked! Remarkably, there seemed to be a powerhouse with black fruit and graphite detectable underneath.
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2/10/2008 - Deryl wrote: 93 Points
Decanted about 2 hours before tasting. This was an extremely enjoyable wine. We served it with roasted Chateaubriand and haricots verts and it paired wonderfully. I would enjoy it equally all by itself. It's 15.9% alc so you have to like that big style, but if you do you will not be disappointed. This is the first one of these I have opened, and it is definitely drinking well now. It has enough strength to last quite a while, so I'm glad I have more. I think the value on this having bought from the winery at release is excellent. I'm not real experienced at wines at this quality, but I would not argue with an even higher points score.
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10/29/2007 - rmsanz wrote: 93 Points
Drank at birthday celebration at Charlie Palmer's, DC. Dark, earthy, and syrah based. EXCELLENT pairing with great steaks at CP. Ready to drink now with about 1 hour decanting.
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8/23/2007 - ggcouv wrote: 95 Points
Absolutely delicious and has improved with age. Dark, inky, earthy. Needs the right entree and time to open up.
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4/13/2007 - tskrueger wrote: 91 Points
Nose of pretty floral, red raspberry, and graphite. After an hour open, starting to show more. Dark chocolate predominates, but nice dark fruit. Will wait to see if it opens further tomorrow.
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1/22/2007 - jhngo wrote: 85 Points
Initial nose is soft and sweet full of ripe fruit. The syrah compoenet really stands out in on the palate and the finsh is lengthy but not elegant. As it opens up, the syrah really comes out and over powers most of whats left. Very tannic too.
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10/7/2006 - Paul-Richard wrote: 92 Points
great nose, rich fruit, nice balance, concentration, integration, a little simple.
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9/6/2006 - wineismylife wrote:
WIML92,WA94,WS92
Stephan Vineyard. Tasted September 6, 2006 at an offline. No notes taken. This wine isn’t my style of “syrah” (it is a blend of 50% syrah, 45% cabernet sauvignon and 5% petit verdot) but it is quite tasty juice! I believe the price point is pretty high for this wine but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Hold another year or too. Should be fairly long lived.
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4/1/2006 - trankin wrote: 92 Points
Stamford OL (Morton's Stamford): Slightly muted nose. Nice fruit, nice balance. Tastes like more cab than syrah. A touch acidic. Very nice, but not great. Purple fruits, plums, very nice.
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3/2/2006 - winestem wrote: 92 Points
Intense licorice with oak, dark berries and a terrific finish. Opaque, purple color, tick juicy stuff!
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12/4/2004 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
($60) Here is a massive wine - 15.6% alcohol, but not noticeably hot. Deeply colored in the glass with a weight and sheen that makes it look thick. Very extracted with a texture in mouth suggesting you are drinking something in suspension, like milk or something. The nose is a gorgeous crushed red berry melange with a touch of liqueur. Somewhat tannic and slightly hard edged or austere on the palate - a sort of nod to the old world, but not off-putting. Give this some time and it will sing prettier.
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5/4/2004 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
Paso Robles, Pre HDR: 45% Cabernet, 50% Syrah, 5% Petite Verdot. Liqueur, rich concentrated red and black berry fruit. Tight finish. Interesting retronasal lift, presumably from the Petite Verdot. Nice meaty, inky quality.
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