2020 Jaffurs Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Wine Review

This Syrah was co-fermented with 2% Viognier. Inky purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright. The nose is expressive with black raspberries, roasted meats, black pepper, and slight floral notes. Full bodied. Medium tannins. Great energy. On the palate, this is still primary. Big black raspberry fruit. With air some black pepper and meaty notes come out. Also a touch of char. Good finish. This needs a few more years and could handle much more. It should drink well for another 15 years. Very nice on its own, this will need big meaty/roasted flavors for now. Plenty of upside on this.

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2020

2008 Hospice du Rhone Events: Highs & Lows of American Rhone-style Wines Tasted

The Rhone Report: About Rhone and Rhone-Style Wines and Winemakers is part of an ongoing series. The 16th annual Hospice du Rhone events in Paso Robles, California from May 1 to 3, 2008 was an opportunity to consider Rhone-style wines from a fresh perspective. Unlike most tasting opportunities, these events included Rhone-style wines from the Rhone Valley itself (51 wineries), elsewhere in France (4 wineries) as well as from Spain (4 wineries), Australia (17 wineries), South Africa (6 wineries), Chile (2 wineries), Argentina (1 winery) and the United States. The American wines were mostly from California (144 wineries), but a few examples from Arizona (2 wineries) and Washington State (5 wineries) were also included. While this is a California-dominated event, and while many of the Rhone Valley’s best producers aren’t represented, there is still sufficient European and other entries to make for interesting comparisons and contrasts. The events included two general tastings and a series of focused seminars.

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America’s Best Rhone Style Red Wines: 11th Annual Rhone Rangers Tasting Reviewed

The Rhone Report: About Rhone and Rhone-Style Wines and Winemakers is part of an ongoing series. Last month we discussed the white Rhone style wines offered at the 2008 Rhone Rangers tasting event at Fort Mason in San Francisco on March 18. This month we turn to the reds, of which we tasted 50. Among those we tasted were some old favorites and some wineries or bottlings with which we were not yet familiar. We don’t pretend that we tasted a representative group of wines, because our sample was skewed to wines we have loved in the past and others about which we have heard positive comments.

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Top Ten California Syrahs - 2016

I tend to taste and drink a lot of wine over the course of a year. I am in a few tasting groups, sometimes the wines are consumed at various local wine store tastings and a number drunk with friends and family.

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2018 Jaffurs Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Wine Review

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2018

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Sometimes, one grabs the wrong bottle by accident from the cellar. Such was the fate of this bottle.

2013 Jaffurs Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Wine Review

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2013

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Purple in color. The nose is great with black raspberries, roasted meats, some black pepper and hints of violets. On the palate, this has a great texture. Lush and almost seamless. Black raspberries layered with spice and slight roasted meats. Good balance. Nice finish. This would work great with heartier foods or spicy ones too. Drinking quite well though not yet at peak. It might have some more upside as it continues to develop. A real crowd pleaser but if drinking soon, give it some air. Probably will peak in five years and be good for a decade or more after that.

2020 Jaffurs Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Wine Review

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2008 Hospice du Rhone Events: Highs & Lows of American Rhone-style Wines Tasted

America’s Best Rhone Style Red Wines: 11th Annual Rhone Rangers Tasting Reviewed

Top Ten California Syrahs - 2016

2018 Jaffurs Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Wine Review

2013 Jaffurs Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Wine Review