2019 Yann Chave Hermitage, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Inky purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, clay, black pepper and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is deep and youthful.  Delicious.  Black raspberries, roasted herbs and black pepper  Long finish.  This is a big wine that will benefit from another five to ten years in the cellar.  It will drink well for twenty years, but if drinking soon, then give it a few hours in a decanter.  It will work with bigger foods.  Roasted duck should work nicely.

2020 Tardieu-Laurent Hermitage, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$79.00USD

Purple/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is initially quite spicy.  With air, there is also black raspberries, black pepper, slight bacon fat and slight roasted herbs.  Medium to full bodied.  A nice backbone of  acidity. On the palate, black cherries, black raspberries, and black pepper with underlying char.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well already and quite open.  Drink over the next eight to ten years.  Very nice on its own, this would be great with a Braised Lamb stew.  

2011 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$175.00USD

This is one of the superstar wines from Hermitage.  The vintage is good but not great and the wines are maturing perhaps a bit sooner.  That said, what a treat to drink a mature bottle of this wine.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, a bit of chocolate, black pepper, cloves and slight bacon fat.  Full bodied.  Tannins mostly resolved.  Good balance.  On the palate, there is a nice complexity.  Layers of black raspberries, roasted herbs, and black pepper.  Moderately long finish.  This is delicious and at or close to peak.  No hurry

2019 Pax Syrah Sonoma Hillsides, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$42.00USD

The styles of Pax wines have changed over the years.  The newer ones, like this, use 100% stems, and are aged in concrete or neutral vessels and usually have lower levels of alcohol (under 14%abv for Syrahs).  Inky purple in color, opaque and shiny bright.  The nose has black raspberries with spice, and slight tobacco notes.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is tasty with black raspberry fruit.  While personally, I would like a bit more oomph, there is no denying this is a hell of a wine.  It is still young and will benefit from five years in a good cellar

2018 Domaine Durand Cornas Empreintes, France, Northern Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This is a vintage that does drink well at such a young age.  Inky purple, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, black cherries, roasted herbs, and black pepper.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, clay, black raspberries, slight floral quality and spices.  This has some depth but it unwinds in the glass.  Delicious.  It will mature and may improve but it is drinking well now.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  This would work great, of course, with Cassoulet, but it will also work well Indian food.  

2008 Carlisle Syrah James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Not quite as good as the 2007, but still excellent.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, char, black pepper and roasted meats.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, juicy acidity.  Black raspberries, black pepper and char.  Long finish.  This seems about at peak.  Drinking great on its own, it would also work well with roasted vegetables or meats.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  

2007 Carlisle Syrah James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

James Berry Vineyard is one of the great Syrah vineyards in the world.  It is the home vineyard for Saxum.  Carlisle's version is a bit less blousy perhaps but really a wonderful wine.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, slight bacon fat, slight gamey meat with some white pepper.  Wonderful, almost seamless, texture.  Great energy and balance.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Complex and just about at maturity.  Notes of black raspberries, black pepper and char.  Long finish.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

2016 Torbreck RunRig, Australia, Barossa Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$177.00USD

This is a blend of 97% Shiraz (Syrah) and 3% Viognier.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  Thee nose is great with boysenberries, blueberries, slight dark chocolate, dust and char.  Full bodied.  Very firm tannins.  Lively acidity.  On the palate, this is both huge and tight.  Black berries, black currants, some blueberries, a bit of alcohol with underlying char.  This is deep and almost impenetrable.  Long finish.  This is outstanding today, but a huge and unwieldly wine.  Give it another five to ten more years in the cellar and it will flirt with a top score.  If opening now, give

2016 PharaohMoans WestSide, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$400.00USD

Tasted on the Celebrity Millennium  Cruise ship off the coast of Alaska.  It is 100% Syrah.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is earthy with black raspberries, char and black pepper.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black raspberries with underlying char.  A bitter note on the finish.  This is drinking well on its own and would work with big meat dishes.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

2015 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde, France, Rhone, Wine review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

Consumed on the Celebrity Millennium off the coast of Alaska.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is earthy with black raspberries and slight bacon fat.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black cherries with black raspberries and underlying char.  Long finish.  This is starting to show a bit of maturity but will continue to develop more.  It drinks great on its own, but better with food.  Cassoulet would be classic, but this will go well with Indian food, too.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

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