Syrah

Normally, its better to let Saxum's wait ten years from vintage to really get the best but the Paderewski is a different animal.  It is 34% Mourvedre, 33% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Sirah, 12% Syrah and 8% Tempranillo.  Because of that it changes as it ages with the Zin showing more in its youth and fading a bit back with time.  This bottle was beautiful.  Purple in color.  The nose is deep and intoxicating with black cherries, roasted meats, leather, black raspberries, black pepper and cherries.  On the palate, this has a lush chewy texture.  Delicious.  Lots of fruit right now with black cherr

These usually take at least five years and really ten to open up, but this is drinking very well right now, if a bit tight and young.  It is delicious.  Purple inc olor.  The nose has boysenberries, slight black olive, black pepper and slightly roasted herbs.  On the palate, this has medium tannins.  Juicy black raspberry fruit with underlying char and slight leathery notes.  Deep and tightly layered.  It takes some coaxing but unwinds in the glass.  Long finish.  Needs spicy or meat dishes or even roasted veggies.  Some upside, this needs about five years to peak and should have a decade m

Purple in color.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black pepper, slight charred meats and hints of bacon.  On the palate, this is pretty ripe for St. Joseph but well with limits.  Lovely, full texture.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with underlying earth.  Deep with layers that unwind in the glass.  Still young but getting there.  Needs bigger or spicy foods to match.  Works well on its own.  A bit expensive for a St. Joseph but well worth the $60 tariff release price. 

This wine is a testament to the many different profiles of Syrah.  For the most part this drinks cooler climate, but then boom, a bit of warm California sunshine peeks out.  Purple in color.  The nose has boysenberries, char and black pepper.  With air some leather and black olives come out.  On the palate, this has a nice texture.  Good structure.  Seems to be drinking very well now and close-ish to peak.  Easily another decade left.  Light tannins.  Boysenberries over minerals.  But then a bit grilled meats too.  Nice acidity.  Nice finish.  Rhys is a producer more know for its Pinot Noir

One of the better Shiraz out there.  At 12 years from vintage, this was in a beautiful place.  It is still youthful and will easily go another decade or more.  Inky purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, iodine, black pepper, violets and slight grilled meats. On the palate, this has a lovely texture; glycerin and full bodied but with good acidity that cuts through.  Lots of black raspberry fruit, light tannins and underlying minerality.  Worked well with food.  Nice finish.  Proof that at least some of the huge Shiraz bombs will stand the test of time.  

This is quite good but needs a bit of cellar time to hit its potential.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted meats, leather and slight white pepper.  It seems tight and tannic on the palate.  With air it has pretty sweet black raspberry fruit with some charred meat and an underlying mineral streak.  Good finish.  This has plenty of upside but if drinking before 2020, give it a nice decant.  

This is 97% Syrah with 3% viognier cofermented from the Powerline Vineyard.  This drinks in the style of the Northern Rhone but with a new world flair that works.  It should improve with a few years of cellaring.  Ruby in color, purple at the core.  The nose has black raspberries, black olives and a nice minerality lurking in the backround.  On the palate, this is softer in texture.  Nice black raspberry fruit, slight black pepper and underlying char.  Slight tannins that come out more with air.  Good finish.  This needs heartier foods but has the acidity to work well them.  

Stunning bottle of wine.  100% Syrah.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, slight black pepper, a nice earthy note.  With air, some black olives emerge along with a nice mineral backbone.  On the palate, this has a great texture.  Black raspberries, black licorice, and underlying char and minerals.  Medium tannins.  Long finish.  This is intense, and concentrated and will need a few years to really open up but it is drinking great today.  It needs hearty or spiced foods.  Fantastic with upside.  

Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, black raspberries, and sandal wood.  Also an herbal note that was hard to describe.  A fellow taster said green olives and that is not too far off.  On the palate, the Syrah seem to dominate although this is an 80/20 blend of Cabernet and Syrah.  Black raspberries, an underlying char and some black olive notes.  A very nice texture although a bit soft.  The finish is a bit bitter black raspberry but not in a bad way.  Overall, an excellent wine.  It improved with air and more Cab notes seem to come out.  It will be interesting to see how this ages.  

Inky purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries and black olives.  On the palate, this is very Northern Rhonish.  Black raspberry, nice depth.  Some complexity.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  Long finish.  This needs time and there is a chance for upside improvement.  Right now it is a big, energetic young wine.  It will need bigger (meaty) to pair with.