2018 Sine Qua Non Syrah Ziehharmonika, USA, California, Syrah, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$225.00USD

Checking in on a young wine can be fun even if way before peak.  This was consumed and enjoyed over two evenings.  This is a blend of 82% Syrah, 6.7% Mourvèdre, and the rest Petite Sirah and Grenache.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, blueberries, dark chocolate, gravel, black pepper and roasted meats.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Juicy acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Deep but almost monolithic at the point.  Like a wall of flavor.  Black raspberries, blueberries, char, lavender and spice.  Long finish.  At this stage it wil

2016 Domaine Verset A & E Cornas, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright with some purple swirls.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, roasted meats and slight black pepper.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this seems open and ready to go.  Black cherries, some black raspberries with minerality and some char.  Nice finish.  A nice middleweight Cornas that is nice on its own but better with food.  A good match would be Indian cuisine.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

2000 Lagier Meredith Syrah, USA, California, Napa, Mount Veeder, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2000
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$43.00USD

My last bottle of this and it sure seemed to be at or close to peak.  Purple in color with ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, bacon fat, white pepper and slight dried floral note.  Full bodied.  On the palate, black raspberries, char and slight earthiness.  Complex.  Nice finish.  It threw a lot of sediment.  This will work better with food at this point although nice on its own.  A greart5 match for pizza night.  Drink up.  

2017 Keplinger Diamond Bar Fair Play Skinner Vineyard, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

This is 100% Syrah from Fair Play, California (El Dorado County) and the Skinner Vineyard.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted meats, and slight black pepper.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Lovely slightly plush texture.  On the palate, this is still on the young side but quite tasty.  Flavors of black raspberries with some spice and earthiness.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and will work for meaty dishes but also roasted vegetables over rice.  Drink over the next seven to ten years. 

2021 Marchesi de' Frescobaldi Alie Ammiraglia Toscana IGT, Italy, Tuscan, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$24.00USD

This is an intriguing blend of Syrah and Vermentino made into a Rose from Tuscany.  Deep salmon pink in color, clear and bright.  The nose is clean with cranberries and some strawberries.  Medium bodied.  Slightly sweet on the palate.  Mostly cherries and some strawberries.  Nice finish.  This is a light and refreshing wine but the  Syrah gives it just a touch of seriousness.  Nice on its own and very food friendly.  Drink now.  

2009 Next of Kyn No~3 Cumulus Vineyard, USA, California,

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

For those who doubt some of today's high alcohol wines won't last, this one is 15.6% abv and drinking just fine at age 15.  If, however, you didn't like it young, you still won't.  I loved it.  A blend of 80% Syrah, 14% Grenache and 6% Roussanne.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black cherries, blueberries, black pepper, and roasted vegetables.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Lively acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Lush texture.  Plenty of black raspberries, some blueberries and hints of black cherries with black pepper and cha

2019 E. Guigal Hermitage, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

The best wines from Guigal are generally considered his Cote Rotie's but the Hermitage doesn't lag far behind.  On the other hand, their Hermitage is much more affordable and is certainly worth looking at.  Purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose has black raspberries, clay, spice, some oak, violets and smoke.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Well balanced.  On the palate, there is plenty of black raspberry fruit but overall this wine needs time.  Plenty of impenetrable depth.  Great texture.  Long finish.  Ideally hold this for another seven to ten years and drink over the ne

2014 J.L. Chave Sélection Hermitage Farconnet, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

It was nice to revisit this wine (See https://www.intowine.com/reviews/2014-jl-chave-s%C3%A9lection-hermitage-...) as it gets closer to full maturity.  This wine has really exceeded all of my expectations.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black olives, slight dried floral note and a fresh earthiness.  Full bodied.  great texture.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black raspberries with some underlying funk and hints of va

2015 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Maison Bleue, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

This was the first vintage of this wine as it replaced the La Petit Chapelle bottling.  It seems to be a bottling made for more immediate drinking than the La Chapelle bottling.  It is a very classic Hermitage nevertheless and at age 8, this seems to be just settling in.  Purple in color with ruby hues, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black olives, and smoked herbs.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black raspberries with a slight floral (violet?) note and smoke.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  This is drinking well and should easily go another ten years.  Ni

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