Spontaneous Blind Tuesday night Rhone Varietals (Portland, Oregon): Wow. The nose on this is of striking minerality, olive, herbs, garrigue, and burnt meat. Palate shows dark savory berries, all sorts of peppers, bllody meats and lots of violets. Finishes long, clean, and without heat. 93-94 points
Closing my eyes, this is just like cooler syrah from Washington's Walla Walla region - In the Rocks vineyard. This wine is shockingly like Christophe's efforts at Cayuse and Reynvaan. Great bottle. Completely shocked by this effort..from Dry Creek??. Fantastic wine. Wow
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Lovely black ink in color. Aromas of leather, blueberry, and mocha are present. Surprised this wine doesn't garner a 90 pt rating after the reviews. I found this wine after decanting to be plush, nicely balanced, aromatic, earthy, and with great length.
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A fairly hefty Syrah with blue and dark fruits (plum) on the nose and palate with an appealing earthiness. Plenty of vanilla and spice from the oak along with firm tannins. A nice vein of limestone minerality on the finish, but finishes a bit astringent. I'm thinking this one will benefit from a couple more years in the cellar. PJP 2013.
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Big spicy nose with lots of earth. Flavors had more acidity and dryness than we notice before, making this bottle less appealing than it sounds like our previous one was. Blackberry fruit, but too much acid mixed with the fruit and earth on the after taste. A good bottle, but not a great one.
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Really tasty stuff and a great example of a big balanced smooth extracted style that is perfect for bold BBQ type foods. This wine makes friends easily. Paired beautifully with lamb burgers.
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Decent enough, nothing spectacular. Some soft dark fruit, deep coffee, dust, chocolate, and a little over the top alcohol. Don't think this is going to improve with age. Considering that some of Stolpman, Joey Tensley's efforts are in the same price region, this makes it a poor QPR.
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aroma of blackberry and tobacco. excellent color. taste of blackberry and cherry with earthy tones. strong finish. very nice bottle went well with a tri tip and gumbo. Complemented the meal superbly.
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12/11/2014 - winecat9 wrote: 88 Points
Closed in on first day. Nice bouquet on day 2 but mouth feel slightly impacted by tannins. Decent fruit and finish.
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7/13/2014 - rxlaw95 wrote: 90 Points
I was right. This one finally came together and reached out like a decent Syrah. Have to say that it's better than the average Bella wine.
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5/28/2013 - arthrovine wrote: 93 Points
Spontaneous Blind Tuesday night Rhone Varietals (Portland, Oregon): Wow. The nose on this is of striking minerality, olive, herbs, garrigue, and burnt meat. Palate shows dark savory berries, all sorts of peppers, bllody meats and lots of violets. Finishes long, clean, and without heat. 93-94 points
Closing my eyes, this is just like cooler syrah from Washington's Walla Walla region - In the Rocks vineyard. This wine is shockingly like Christophe's efforts at Cayuse and Reynvaan. Great bottle. Completely shocked by this effort..from Dry Creek??. Fantastic wine. Wow
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4/8/2013 - Chili wrote: 88 Points
Big rich and still a little chewy
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4/7/2013 - rxlaw95 wrote:
As before. Fantastic and still drinking like new.
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4/1/2013 - vinorsk wrote: 92 Points
A good wine with body, complexity, fruit forward flavor and medium tannins. Easily drinkable and great with food.
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2/8/2013 - Foodievines Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely black ink in color. Aromas of leather, blueberry, and mocha are present. Surprised this wine doesn't garner a 90 pt rating after the reviews. I found this wine after decanting to be plush, nicely balanced, aromatic, earthy, and with great length.
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1/12/2013 - ppaluszewski wrote: 88 Points
A fairly hefty Syrah with blue and dark fruits (plum) on the nose and palate with an appealing earthiness. Plenty of vanilla and spice from the oak along with firm tannins. A nice vein of limestone minerality on the finish, but finishes a bit astringent. I'm thinking this one will benefit from a couple more years in the cellar. PJP 2013.
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12/5/2012 - blabbott wrote: 89 Points
Big spicy nose with lots of earth. Flavors had more acidity and dryness than we notice before, making this bottle less appealing than it sounds like our previous one was. Blackberry fruit, but too much acid mixed with the fruit and earth on the after taste. A good bottle, but not a great one.
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8/27/2012 - shakedown wrote: 92 Points
Really tasty stuff and a great example of a big balanced smooth extracted style that is perfect for bold BBQ type foods. This wine makes friends easily. Paired beautifully with lamb burgers.
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3/24/2012 - DMerrill wrote: 92 Points
Loved this wine. Lots of fruit up front. Black cherry and plum notes with a hint of coffee. Wonderfully lush and silky finish.
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2/29/2012 - Foodievines wrote: 90 Points
Black fruit, cocoa, tobacco, white pepper, and toasty on the nose. Rich and plush, with big fruit and some spice on the finish. Big BBQ wine.
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1/6/2012 - blabbott wrote: 91 Points
Lots of fruit, earth, great taste. Explosive nose, big wine. Big debate if this or the A Rafanelli cab was the favorite of the evening.
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12/25/2011 - bowmanbc wrote: 93 Points
93 might be too high, but I loved it and the others that drank it loved it. big fruit to start, then a smoothed out finish.
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7/28/2011 - arthrovine wrote: 88 Points
Decent enough, nothing spectacular. Some soft dark fruit, deep coffee, dust, chocolate, and a little over the top alcohol. Don't think this is going to improve with age. Considering that some of Stolpman, Joey Tensley's efforts are in the same price region, this makes it a poor QPR.
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3/27/2011 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 88 Points
2011 Rhone Rangers Tasting San Francisco (Fort Mason, San Francisco, California): Charcoal, roasted black fruit nose; charcoal, roasted black fruit palate; medium-plus finish 88+ points
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1/23/2011 - Lbmargavio wrote: 92 Points
Fruit forward and balanced. Great structure, soft tannins.
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1/22/2011 - oldbbplayer wrote: 84 Points
aroma of blackberry and tobacco. excellent color. taste of blackberry and cherry with earthy tones. strong finish. very nice bottle went well with a tri tip and gumbo. Complemented the meal superbly.
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12/23/2010 - rxlaw95 wrote: 92 Points
This was everything I anticipated. Will be interested to try it again in a year or two. Fruit forward with no offensive texture. Good depth of finish.
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9/11/2010 - oaklandwinelover Likes this wine: 90 Points
fruit forward with mold, well balanced flavors, with a hint of warm Mediterranean spice
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3/13/2010 - rxlaw95 wrote: 90 Points
Accidentally opened too soon. Big fruit and chalky texture. Should come together well but dont consider tasting agin for another few years.
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