Syrah

In a vertical tasting of Saxum Bone Rock, 2000 thru 2007, this was the groups favorite.  It is in a beautiful, still youthful, place right now.  This is a blend of 88% Syrah, 8% Grenache, and 4% Mourvedre with 15.7% abv.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, some char, some roasted meat and slight floral note.  Full bodied.  Lots of energy and at the same time, almost weightless as it dances across the palate.  Notes of black raspberries with minerality and char.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  Delicious.  Drinking very well on its own, this will wor

93% Syrah and 7% Grenache.  Weighs in at 15.9% abv. but it is not noticeable until you stand up.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, roasted herbs, gamey meats and slight floral note.  This was a warm vintage, but this bottle, bought on release, has held up nicely.  Still drinking youthfully.  On the palate, black raspberries with roasted herbs and a nice iron/minerality note.  Nice finish.  Delicious.  This seems like it should till have another seven to ten years.  Nice on its own, this would go great with a burger.  

Another blend of 92% Syrah, 5% Grenache and 3% Mourvedre from Paso Robles.  15.6%abv.  This is still showing youthfully and its hard to believe this is 22 years from vintage.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, white pepper, slight bacon fat and a bit of char.  Full bodied.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is delicious.  No sign of alcohol on the palate.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with some white pepper and a bit of char.  Based on this bottle, bought on release and cellared, this has another decade of life at least.  Great on its own, thi

This is the first vintage and first wine under the Saxum label.  It is a blend of 92% Syrah, 5% Grenache and 3% Mourvedre.  14.8% abv.

The label on this lists Santa Ynez Valley which is in Santa Barbara County, California.  The grapes were grown there and then shipped to Ohio where the wine was produced.  Interestingly, the label also indicates that this is only sold in Ohio. Garnet in color, purple at the core, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is tight but shows boysenberries, cherries, and a bit of cedar on the nose.  Medium bodied.  Strong backbone of acidity.  On the palate, black cherries and slight boysenberries.  This will work better with food.  Cassoulet would be a good choice.

This is maturing on a nice path is while not at peak, it is getting pretty gosh darn close.  Purple in color with a ruby rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is classic with boysenberries, char, black pepper and bacon fat.  Medium to full bodied.  Well balanced.  On the palate, lots of boysenberry fruit with some black pepper and a bit of char.  Long finish.  This drinks well on its own and will also work with food.  Cassoulet would be a classic pairing.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

This is a blend of 92% Syrah, 6% Mourvedre, and 2% Viognier.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, blueberries, black pepper, chocolate and roasted meat.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Lots of black raspberries with some blueberries over a bit of roasted meat (more char).  Long finish.  Drinking nicely if not fully mature.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, this needs bigger food.  It would work well with Prime Rib.

This wine is a blend of the best individual vineyard barrels of Syrah (50% Thompson, 33% Larner and 17% Verna's Vineyard).  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black pepper, slight bacon fat and roasted meat.  With air a slight "purple" flower note.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Lovely texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Not a fruit monster but not shy either.  Lots of depth.  Still drinking youthfully.  Lot of  black raspberry fruit with some underlying char and minerality.  Nice finish.  Great on its own, this works well with food.  It

This comes from the son of the owner of Sine Qua Non Wines, but Nikolas Krankl is making excellent wines that stand on their own.  This is a blend of 93% Syrah, 2% Grenache, 2% Mourvedre, and 3% Roussane.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, roasted meats and herbs, and black pepper.  Lovely, slightly viscous texture.  This is a big, ripe wine but it is not heavy or plodding.  Delicious black raspberry fruit with black pepper and a gamey note on the palate.  Lots of energy and acidity.  Long finish.  This is still very young but for those who

The devil is in the details and with Cuviason’s Diablo Syrah, the details are key to an exceptional wine. Syrah often is mis-treated and most Syrahs on the market are fairly benign. But winemaker Steve Rogstad coaxes much out of these 21-year-old vines grown is less than optimal soils. A smooth viscosity leads to plum, huckleberry, black cherry, red currant, and light pomegranate notes, with back notes of young tobacco leaf and new leather. This is not a timid wine, but a sensuous one that is definitely meant to work with food, as it’s a little heavier on the alcohol.