Retail $30. Big Ass Bottle (901g; 1lb 15.8oz). 100% Syrah. The in-laws had left, my football team had lost, we were watching an Academy Award nominated film (so that, you know, we could consider ourselves "hip"), and my wife wanted "one more glass". So I delved deep into the cellar (literally, I got my pants caught retrieving this bottle and it took a while to finagle myself free). This had been one of her favorite producers back in the day (they no longer operate, as far as I know, long story) and while this is still Very Good and a nice trip down the street of recall (aka "Memory Lane" but I did not want to be cliché), it is likely on the downward slope and it is time to drink up.
Still getting plenty of jammy fruit, plum and cherry, but the main characteristic today was baking spices, nutmeg and cardamom, tannins not in evidence any more. I'll have to see if it survives a vacuvinning. Got six for $35 at an Acker auction, so if it was drinkable at all it was a bargain. Day 2: It survived non-vacuvinning (flawed vacuvin cork) and was even better the next day.
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Retail $30. Big Ass Bottle. Weird. For the first time in well over a year, we had people in our house that were not of our inner circle. And we did what we always do--we popped a few corks. While certainly weird, that was not the weirdest part (OK, maybe it was). I opted for a couple of wines, somewhat randomly that had/have absolutely nothing to do with one another. Other than the fact that the last bottle I popped of each of the wines occurred almost a year ago to the day. Weird? Consistent notes.
Retail $30. It has been a couple of years since we have a bottle of this gem and it is still shining brightly tonight. Dark and brooding in the glass with dark fruit (blackberry, plum), black pepper, and spice. Yowza. The palate is equally enthralling: rich fruit, dark spice, earth, subtle tannins, and a lengthy finish. Sadly, we have but two bottles left, but they should endure for another couple of years, at least. Whoa. thedrunkencyclist.com
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One of my favorites! mellowed a bit from the last one I remember having a year or so ago. Still nice fruit - cherry, plum - and some earthiness. well balanced and easy to drink without needing food. thedrunkencyclist.com
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Two years ago I noted that I didn't see this improving with age. Should have heeded my own advice. For lack of a better descriptor, this comes across as clumsy. Extractedand and still has gobs of fruit, but weak-ish tannins and a lack of acidity lead to a poor finish. Certainly has some nice individual features, but the total package doesn't work as well as it should.
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Slightly cloudy dark ruby. Smoke meat, black cherries, and leather nose. Medium bodied, sweet cranberries, blackberries, well integrated tannins, sage, a touch of heat, and a medium to long fruit-infused finish. Really good, especially night 2.
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Notes of blackberry, blueberry, charcuterie, a hint of tar, dried flowers, and a hint of a medicinal quality. Medium plus bodied with medium plus acidity and a long, pleasing finish. Popped and poured. In a great place now. Amazing QPR.
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I agree with JORASQUE on this . . . . Starts off with quite a bit of spicy pepper & hints of funk that channel Gigondas. Then it transitions into a well balanced body of rich non-jammy fruit with cedar & mocha. It does start to fall off after awhile, but this is excellent for the price. I don't see it improving with age.
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Second bottle of this Tallulah Syrah. A well-balanced, smooth, rich mouthfeel. Enjoyable nose of cherry and cola. Structured tannins. Good flavor-clean, dark fruit. Will try to wait until 2015 for the next bottle.
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Dark plum in color, this wine showed black pepper, blueberry, blackberry and graphite on the nose. The mouth feel was dense, with added elements of cassis and camphor. The finish was medium-long in length with gripping tannins and dark cocoa that framed the fruit in a well integrated fashion.
Purchased for $22US from lastbottlewines.com, this wine had both the bright fruit of New World style and the silky tannin, elegant aromas of Old World, Northern Rhone syrahs. Drinking well now, I believe this wine will get even better with another year or two in the cellar. This was my last bottle and if it's ofered again, I'm in for more.
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Dark plum in color, this wine showed black pepper, blueberry, blackberry and graphite on the nose. The mouth feel was dense, with added elements of cassis and camphor. The finish was medium-long in length with gripping tannins and dark cocoa that framed the fruit in a well integrated fashion.
Purchased for $22US from lastbottlewines.com, this wine had both the bright fruit of New World style and the silky tannin, elegant aromas of Old World, Northern Rhone syrahs. Drinking well now, I believe this wine will get even better with another year or two in the cellar. Thankfully, I have more of this to enjoy in 2015+.
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1/28/2024 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 91 Points
Retail $30. Big Ass Bottle (901g; 1lb 15.8oz). 100% Syrah. The in-laws had left, my football team had lost, we were watching an Academy Award nominated film (so that, you know, we could consider ourselves "hip"), and my wife wanted "one more glass". So I delved deep into the cellar (literally, I got my pants caught retrieving this bottle and it took a while to finagle myself free). This had been one of her favorite producers back in the day (they no longer operate, as far as I know, long story) and while this is still Very Good and a nice trip down the street of recall (aka "Memory Lane" but I did not want to be cliché), it is likely on the downward slope and it is time to drink up.
www.thedrunkencyclist.com
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11/2/2023 - mazik wrote:
as before.
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8/15/2023 - mazik Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still getting plenty of jammy fruit, plum and cherry, but the main characteristic today was baking spices, nutmeg and cardamom, tannins not in evidence any more. I'll have to see if it survives a vacuvinning. Got six for $35 at an Acker auction, so if it was drinkable at all it was a bargain. Day 2: It survived non-vacuvinning (flawed vacuvin cork) and was even better the next day.
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5/15/2021 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 93 Points
Retail $30. Big Ass Bottle. Weird. For the first time in well over a year, we had people in our house that were not of our inner circle. And we did what we always do--we popped a few corks. While certainly weird, that was not the weirdest part (OK, maybe it was). I opted for a couple of wines, somewhat randomly that had/have absolutely nothing to do with one another. Other than the fact that the last bottle I popped of each of the wines occurred almost a year ago to the day. Weird? Consistent notes.
http://www.thedrunkencyclist.com
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6/15/2020 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 93 Points
Retail $30. It has been a couple of years since we have a bottle of this gem and it is still shining brightly tonight. Dark and brooding in the glass with dark fruit (blackberry, plum), black pepper, and spice. Yowza. The palate is equally enthralling: rich fruit, dark spice, earth, subtle tannins, and a lengthy finish. Sadly, we have but two bottles left, but they should endure for another couple of years, at least. Whoa. thedrunkencyclist.com
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5/25/2018 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 91 Points
One of my favorites! mellowed a bit from the last one I remember having a year or so ago. Still nice fruit - cherry, plum - and some earthiness. well balanced and easy to drink without needing food. thedrunkencyclist.com
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3/10/2018 - ckinv368 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Stewed meat. Earthy. Prune. Leather. Cedar. Spice box. Still smooth at the end of the palate.
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1/15/2017 - millerarner wrote: 87 Points
Two years ago I noted that I didn't see this improving with age. Should have heeded my own advice. For lack of a better descriptor, this comes across as clumsy. Extractedand and still has gobs of fruit, but weak-ish tannins and a lack of acidity lead to a poor finish. Certainly has some nice individual features, but the total package doesn't work as well as it should.
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9/5/2015 - Vino2Vino wrote: 87 Points
Super jammy
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3/14/2015 - merryberry Likes this wine: 90 Points
Slightly cloudy dark ruby. Smoke meat, black cherries, and leather nose. Medium bodied, sweet cranberries, blackberries, well integrated tannins, sage, a touch of heat, and a medium to long fruit-infused finish. Really good, especially night 2.
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12/12/2014 - wineretriever wrote: 91 Points
Notes of blackberry, blueberry, charcuterie, a hint of tar, dried flowers, and a hint of a medicinal quality. Medium plus bodied with medium plus acidity and a long, pleasing finish. Popped and poured. In a great place now. Amazing QPR.
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11/25/2014 - millerarner Likes this wine: 90 Points
I agree with JORASQUE on this . . . . Starts off with quite a bit of spicy pepper & hints of funk that channel Gigondas. Then it transitions into a well balanced body of rich non-jammy fruit with cedar & mocha. It does start to fall off after awhile, but this is excellent for the price. I don't see it improving with age.
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10/10/2014 - Lizizwhereitiz Likes this wine: 89 Points
Second bottle of this Tallulah Syrah. A well-balanced, smooth, rich mouthfeel. Enjoyable nose of cherry and cola. Structured tannins. Good flavor-clean, dark fruit. Will try to wait until 2015 for the next bottle.
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9/27/2014 - joraesque wrote: 89 Points
This was best after 45+ minutes of air when the nose started resembling a Gigondas... then it began breaking down after about two hours.
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9/9/2014 - cuffthis Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark plum in color, this wine showed black pepper, blueberry, blackberry and graphite on the nose. The mouth feel was dense, with added elements of cassis and camphor. The finish was medium-long in length with gripping tannins and dark cocoa that framed the fruit in a well integrated fashion.
Purchased for $22US from lastbottlewines.com, this wine had both the bright fruit of New World style and the silky tannin, elegant aromas of Old World, Northern Rhone syrahs. Drinking well now, I believe this wine will get even better with another year or two in the cellar. This was my last bottle and if it's ofered again, I'm in for more.
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8/30/2014 - grover91 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Terrific Syrah! Enjoyed with BBQ and it was excellent. Really nicely balanced, with great fruit. A favorite of the crowd.
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4/10/2014 - cuffthis Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark plum in color, this wine showed black pepper, blueberry, blackberry and graphite on the nose. The mouth feel was dense, with added elements of cassis and camphor. The finish was medium-long in length with gripping tannins and dark cocoa that framed the fruit in a well integrated fashion.
Purchased for $22US from lastbottlewines.com, this wine had both the bright fruit of New World style and the silky tannin, elegant aromas of Old World, Northern Rhone syrahs. Drinking well now, I believe this wine will get even better with another year or two in the cellar. Thankfully, I have more of this to enjoy in 2015+.
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4/5/2014 - Boskoop2 wrote: 91 Points
Great wine love it so will LD
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4/7/2013 - Enzo D wrote: 91 Points
Could use a little more time in cellar, but quite nice after running through aerator and decanting.
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