Syrah

This is a blend of 97% Syrah with 3% Petite Sirah.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is tight but opens after about an hour.  Spice, black raspberries, some smoke along with roasted meats and herbs and black pepper.  Full bodied.  Has a bit more elegance than prior vintages perhaps due to less Petite Sirah?  On the palate, black raspberry fruit with underlying char and earth.  Some black pepper, too.  Nice finish.  This may still improve a bit and while it drinks well now, it may be worth cellaring for another three to seven years.  Either way, it will drink we

This is a blend of 73% Syrah, and 27% Grenache from Paso Robles in California's central coast.  While this was a difficult vintage, Torrin seems to have no issues obtaining ripeness.  The label lists 16.1% abv.  Inky purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, iodine, tar, with a rich earthiness.  Full bodied.  Great texture.  The acid seems a bit on the lower side.  On the palate, pure black raspberries fruit with underlying char and earth.  Long finish.  This is very tasty and probably easier to drink on its own than to match with food.  If trying

This took about 30 minutes to blow off bottle stink and open after removing the cork.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, smoke and a nice earthiness.  Full bodied.  On the palate, black cherries and black raspberries with a bit of smoke and underlying minerality.  The tannins are all resolved and this is ready to drink.  Good balance.  Long finish.  Drink over the next five years.  It drinks great on its own and will work well with foods off the grill (although not sea food).  

This is 100% Syrah from France.  Garnet in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The  nose has some boysenberries and smoke.  Medium bodied with light tannins.  On the palate, cranberries, black cherries and some char.  Moderate finish.  This is a nice wine although I would have a hard time guessing Syrah if tasting blind.  It drinks easy and price right.  Drink over the next few years.  It would work well with Indian food.  

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

From a different time, back when Pax Mahle was making really big wines in really big bottles.  The label lists 15.5% ABV.  For those who questioned how well a wine like this could age, at 17, this is doing just fine with years left.  Purple in color with ruby around the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, slight black raspberries, spice, slight root beer note and a wisp of smoke.  Full bodied.  On the palate, black cherries, blueberries, spice and slight earthiness.  Long finish.  No sign of alcohol in the wine.  This is fresh and vibrant.  It seems like it could

This is a really special vintage from a special winery.  In fact, this is arguably the best wine that Saxum has ever made.  A real treat to be able to try it again at age 14.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, slight black cherries, black olives, roasted meat and slight smoke.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has that lovely lightness of being while still packing a wallop.  Black raspberries, char, some black olives and slight roasted meats.  Great acidity and balance.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This seems to be at matur

This is a blend of 92% Syrah, 6% Grenache, and 2% Viognier.  It has really been helped by some cellar time (although it has always been great).  Inky purple in color, slight ruby rim, but showing some slight age in color.  The nose is great with black raspberries, char, slight bacon fat, black olives and roasted meats.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has a voluptuous texture.  Black raspberry fruit.  Good balance.  Light tannins.  Some anise on the finish.  This seems to be at peak.  It is still a big wine but less raucous than in its youth.  No hurry as it can do another ten years.  It

Torrin continues to make some of the best, fruit forward, Rhone varietals anywhere.  These are big wines that benefit from extended cellaring.  This one is 100% Syrah.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is intense with black raspberries, black pepper, slight iodine, roasted meats and herbs and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great lush texture.  On the palate, concentrated black raspberry fruit, some blueberries, black pepper with underlying meatiness and char.  Nice acidity.  Lots of energy.  Long finish.  This will still get better over the next five years and drin

This is 100% Shiraz from Adelaide in Australia.  It is a single vineyard wine and it is stunning.  There was a time this was an affordable bottle and less expensive alternative to Grange, but both have seen steep escalation of their pricing.  Still, once in a while, this is doable.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, chocolate, black olives, leather and nutmeg.  Full bodied.  Great vibrant texture.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, this is complex and also delicious.  Black raspberry fruit with layers of fruit, earth and char.  Long finish.  Thi