2016 Bedrock Wine Co. Syrah Griffin's Lair, USA, California, Sonoma, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Another top notch Syrah from Bedrock.  Consumed over two days, it was better on day 2.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, black pepper and char.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this has slightly restrained, black raspberry fruit over char and slight earth.  Deep but tight.  Good balance.  If drinking soon, give this some air.  It should continue to improve for another five to eight years and be good for ten more after that.  It drinks well on its own but would work better with some fatty/fried foods.   

2015 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah Foothills Reserve, Washington, Walla Walla, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

Reynvaan makes some great Syrah's in Washington state.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with boysenberries, slight burnt rubber, black pepper and slight bacon fat.  Full bodied.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, the boysenberries come thru over a nice minerality.  Long finish.  This is drinking well right now.  it is not robust but very concentrated.  Drink over the next eight to ten years.  This will work well with Indian food or stews.  

2013 Saxum Terry Hoage Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$90.00USD

This is 57% Syrah, 29% Grenache, and 14% Mourvedre.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, black cherries, black pepper, slight roasted meats and herbs, and spice.  Full bodied.  Fruit forward.  Quite tasty.  This is drinking well if still young.  Lots of jammy black raspberry fruit over char and some black pepper.  Maybe a bit of black cherries.  This is a real crowd pleaser.  It should continue to evolve over the next ten to twelve years.  it drinks great on its own and will work well with roasted veggies or meats.  

2019 Jaffurs Syrah, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

My first time trying this vintage.  One of my go to value wines every vintage.  Ownership changed hands a few years back and they haven't missed a beat.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, roasted meat, slight black olive and black pepper.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has a great texture.  Rich but with suppleness.  Lots of black raspberry fruit over spice and slight earthiness.  Medium tannins.  This is obviously young but should drink well for the next seven to ten years.  It drinks well on its own and will work well with roasted or grille

2012 Carlisle Syrah Papa's Block, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

This is my favorite Carlisle Syrah.  At age 8, it really was a bit young to be opened, but it was delicious after a couple of hours of air.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, bacon fat, black olives and white pepper.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, black raspberry fruit over a charred earthiness.  Great balance.  Lively.  Deep.  Long finish.  This probably will continue to mature for another five to seven years, and be good for another ten after that.  It drinks great on its own and will work well with fatty meat dishes but also Indian or hea

2019 Domaine de Châteaumar Côtes du Rhône Cuvée Vincent, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$17.00USD

My current favorite in value wines.  Even better than the 2017.  And, under $20!  Purple in color.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black pepper, slight bacon fat, and slight roasted meats.  Great texture.  On the palate, lots of concentrated black raspberries over char and  clean earth.  Light tannins.  Nice finish.  This has some complexity and might still get better.  It should drink well for seven to ten years.  Great on its own, it will work well with fatty fried foods.  

1990 Penfolds Grange Shiraz Blend, Australia, South Australia, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1990
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$450.00USD

Australia's most iconic wine.  Always a pleasure to try one and this, at age 30 is just showing traces of age.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, vanilla, spice and slight black pepper.  On the palate, this is full bodied with medium tannins.  Plenty of black raspberry fruit.  Fresh with lots of energy.  Plenty of depth.  This is drinking well now but may still improve as it matures.  It should drink well for another fifteen years or more.  This is great on its own and will work with roasts and drilled meat, fowl or veggies.  

2016 Horsepower Vineyards Syrah High Contrast Vineyard, USA, Washington, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$158.00USD

Apparently, one of the reasons for the name is that these vineyards are tended to with the use of horses.  This was tasted side by side with the Tribe.  Of course, which you like better is personal taste but this seems much more backwards at this point.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, white pepper, slight bacon fat, and clean char.  Medium to full bodied.  Firm tannins.  The palate has more boysenberry fruit with the underlying char coming thru.  It is tightly packed, but intense.  It probably needs ano0ther five years to open and maybe five afte

2016 Horsepower Vineyards Syrah The Tribe Vineyard, USA, Washington, Walla Walla,

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$140.00USD

From the same people who make Cayuse in Washington state.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black olives, roasted meat, and black pepper.  Very enticing.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is still young with medium to firm tannins.  Nice black raspberry fruit.  Big, but more youthful than a fruit bomb.  If served blind, I think I guess a young Cornas rather than Washington.  Nice finish.  I have no real experience to judge ageability of these wines, but it seems like it need another five years or so, and then should be good for ten or fifteen more. 

2015 Domaine de Fauterie Cornas, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This was quite tight.  Opened and tried over three nights and on the third night it finally started to show something.  That is, of course, not unusual for a traditional Cornas.  Purple in color, opaque and moderately bright.  The nose has boysenberries, slight bacon fat, black olives and slight pepper.  On the palate, this is medium bodied and very concentrated.  Nice texture which is probably the best clue that there is a nice wine lurking in there once it opens.  Enough boysenberry fruit to satisfy but this is more about minerality and earthiness.  It is quite tasty too.  If opening now,

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