2006 Sineann Cabernet Sauvignons: Baby Poux & Cold Creek

2006 Sineann Cabernet Sauvignon Baby Poux Vineyard Columbia Valley. Floral notes on the nose, this is bright red fruited with gobbs of youth and promise. Red Currant with tar, cedar and cocoa, this is pretty and feminine, but no light weight. 93.5/100

2006 Sineann Cabernet Sauvignon Cold Creek Vineyard Columbia Valley. Bright red and eucalyptus, this is pure and smooth. Great length and mouthfeel. 92/100

2005 Wolf Family Cabernet Franc

(3% CS). Pretty and exact, this Cab Franc delivers elegance and full flavor. I am usually not a fan of Cab Franc alone, but this made me a believer. 93/100

2005 K Vintners Morrison & Milbrandt Syrah & Ovide

2005 K Vintners Syrah Morrison Lane, Walla Walla. A beautiful example of whats going on in Walla Walla. Great nose of candy and spice with some smokey dark blue berries and a wonderful acid level. Tannins in check, this is surely a pleaser. 93/100

2006 K Vintners Syrah Millbrandt, Walla Walla. Candy cane and gummi bears; this is a real 'fun' Syrah to behold. Full and fleshy, it is somewhat similar to the Morrison, but more in your face, where the Morrison is a bit more restrained....just a bit. 93/100

2005 K Vintners Ovide, Walla Walla. 67% Cabernet and 33% Syrah. This is a very interesting and serious wine for sure. Its structured like a cab, but explodes like a syrah. Dark fruited of cassis with stones, tar, and coffee, this is full throttle but precise. 94/100

2006 Arnot-Roberts Syrahs & 2005 Cabernet Bugay

2006 Arnot-Roberts Syrah Adler Springs. This had wonderful structure, blueberries & crushed pebbles. Fragrant and not over the top. I like what was done with this. 92/100

2006 Arnot-Roberts Syrah Hudson. 6 months more barrel time than last years Hudson, this is a brute of a wine that needs time in the bottle to show its full self. Its super concentrated and tightly knit. This reminds me of a classic Cote Rotie 92/100

2006 Arnot-Roberts Syrah Griffins Lair. Deep purple and very fragrant, this showed wonderful blueberry and black plums. Pure and class, this is a deftly balanced sublime wine indeed. 91/100

2005 Arnot-Roberts Cabernet Sauvignon Bugay, Sonoma County. I like this one this year better than the Clajeux (formerly wild iris). It had pure red black and blue fruits with a wonderful balance of acid and tannins. The tannins were finely meshed and well integrated. 90/100

2005 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon and 2005 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon 'True Vineyard', Howell Mountain

2005 Outpost 'True Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain, This was one of my surprises of the day; intense, dark, and layered with red fruits this was fragrant and lovely. 92/100

2005 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain, if there are still qprs in Napa, one must be willing to pay$50-$60 for them. Here is one: Elegant and smooth full of blackberries and cassis. Bright and stellar. 90/100

2005 Merus

Polaner: 4/15/2008 In case you don't already know, this is the schnizzle. It is dark and brooding with explosive black and red fruits of currant black berry, black cherry, and black plums. It has super length and incredible mouth feel. Wow. 97/100

2005 Lucia Susan's Hill SLH

3/08/2008-Decanted 4PM.5PM:Initially somewhat primary. Super dark color. Purple edges. amazing pure saturated blackberry and blueberry. Beautiful floral notes.This will get better and better...6:40P:This nose is just exploding with black fruit. An incredible lush tannin and acid level showcases the blackberries, tar, white pepper, bacon fat. A super long finish . Wow. No Glad I've got 10 more and will seek more yet. This is an elegant classy pure pretty Syrah. Well worth the $40 price tag. I will never drop from ths list and will continue to ask for 2x the allotment. 94/100

2004 A Donkey and Goat 2004 Syrah Carson Ridge El Dorado

Much more fragrant. Great bright red fruits abound. Medium dark color. A more forward type of Syrah than the Kunin. The palate revealed dark cocoa, cinnamon, red raspberries, slight blueberry and tar. A medium to high weight Syrah and a more ‘in your face’ wine, this had great body, maybe a little short on the finish though. Initially I enjoyed this quality, but in the long run, the Kunin won out for me. 90/100

2004 Kunin Syrah – Santa Barbara

Double decanted ½ the bottle 2 hours earlier. Wonderful dark brooding color. The nose is a bit restrained, but opened up nicely with some air. A nose of great raspberry, blueberry, anise, and a slight hint of cassis. Wonderful medium balance. Great mouthfeel, again the raspberry out front, followed by the blueberry and cassis once again. Also evident were some violets and coffee. This is a very pretty feminine style Syrah that will please for a few more years. Not a very tannic style Syrah, more cool climate in profile. A nice long finish completed this nicely. Thanks to Seth Kunin for sending it to us for trying. We will do the 2001 (also sent) next time…. 92/100

2003 PAX Syrah Cuvee Keltie

This was the bigger styled Syrah on the table…No surprise. Great Blue and red fruit medley of Cherries, Blueberries, violets, bacon fat, white pepper, and soy. This screamed decant. This evolved nicely after an hour and a half. Super structured with a slightly elevated acid level, the tannins were in ‘da house. Some sensed heat, I did not. This showed nicely. A decent finish. This will be a real treat in about 2 years. I always say PAX does best after 5 or 6 years in the bottle. 91/100

Virtual Californa Syrah Tasting

Right now (Friday, Mach 7th, 2008, 7:48PM) there is a virtual Cali Syrah tasting going on. It is actually going the whole weekend. The brainchild of the parker board member Frank Murray III. Bravo Frank!

There has been much talk of late about Cali Syrah not getting its due. In my mind it is the single most interesting varietal right now. There are so many styles to be attracted to. Nothing like Shiraz, the grape has found its place in the US nicely. I prefer the cooler climate style, not bruisers.

Unlike Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir, this grape does well under many conditions, cool, warm, high, and low. There is something for everyone.

Tonights choice:
2005 Lucia Susan's Hill SLH Syrah- Decanted 4PM.
5PM:Initially somewhat primary. Super dark color. Purple edges. amazing pure saturated blackberry and blueberry. Beautiful floral notes.This will get better and better...
6:40P:This nose is just exploding with black fruit. An incredible lush tannin and acid level showcases the blackberries, tar, white pepper, bacon fat. A super long finish . Wow. No Glad I've got 10 more and will seek more yet. This is an elegant classy pure pretty Syrah. Well worth the $40 price tag. I will never drop from ths list and will continue to ask for 2x the allotment. 94/100

This coming Tuesday a few friends and myself are getting together to cap off the Virtual Tasting Weekend, by tasting a few more California Syrahs, albeit 2 days late, but who keeps track of such minutia? Bloggers, that's who.

2004 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Right Bank (USA, California, Napa Valley)

Since I have been banned from stepping foot in Ghost Horse’s caves, I have to drink the next best thing available. I reached into my cellar and grabbed this: (by the way, since this ridiculous fiasco of a thread happened on ebeb, I've had 3 gracious invites (from others) to taste wines when I do visit Napa):

Medium in color. Not as intense as I might expect, but very vibrant. The nose is pure vanilla and dark blackberry & red raspberries. The palate had shown some wonderful pure dark black and red fruits of raspberries and blackberries with some Bing cherry, soy, & tobacco. A very restrained style of Cali blend that has more in association with the actual 'right bank' of Bordeaux than anywhere else. The Cab Franc is first and foremost, but does the tight line walk nicely. An ultra lush mouth feel. Somewhat dry and austere, but giving with some coaxing. The Merlot balances this nicely. This wine needs deep examination and an eye toward the future. It's pure, exact, and with the promise of profound, I would hold any others for 5 years. A decent finish 'almost' rounds this out. This needs to flesh itself out, but than will be incredible. (91 pts.)

1973 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon from a pristine magnum

This had a great lush dark resolved fruit profile that belied its age. The color was dark. There was great dark currant, blackberry, tar, cocoa, and so much more going on. I kept this glass alive until the end of the night. It changed and evolved getting lusher and deeper. The finish was long. If tasted blind I would place this at about 6 or 7 years of age. This 35 year old was amazing. (Comforting like a warm blanket) 94/100

1975 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon from a pristine magnum

This wine in itself was worth the price of admission for the night. Dark brooding color. Silky dark fruited and jam packed full of character. This had a wonderful fully resolved tannin level acted like a conveyor for all else. Some soy, cedar box, tobacco, & cassis. This wine needed a night to watch. A long finish that was like hitting a birdie on 18 that gets you smiling and planning your next outing even before you get back to the cart., here, your next taste. 96/100

1977 Heitz Bella Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon from a pristine magnum

This was pure 1970s California…. fast-forwarded. Slightly edgy and rustic. A nice dark fruit profile that seemed masked by a matured high oak level? Not quite sure. Some currant and spice, and some other nice secondaries. Kevin to my right loved it so, I emptied my glass and got myself more of that '75 Mayacamas. 89/100

1991 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cask 23- From the Cellar of a Gentleman :)

This was dark and brooding. Much more in today’s style of Napa Cabernet. Deep vanilla and cassis on the nose. A wonderful purity. The palate a very elegant currant, tar, cocoa, cedar, & vanilla, this was a hedonistic wine. Structured, classy elegant and brawny all at once. Just a balanced beauty. A long smooth finish that went on for 45 seconds. 17 and acting like 7. 94/100

2002 Blankiet Merlot Estate

Last wine of the night, and quite the surprise. I wish I had 3 hours to appreciate and watch this sexy beast, but alas, I had 30 minutes at best. Plush dark cherry pie and ripe tomato leaf on the nose. The palate had the cherries, black and red plums, cocoa, and anise. The mouth feel was incredible: round and soft, but firm and structured. It harkened memory of a wonderful the Pomerols I had many years ago, (when I drank that sought of thing that is…). I would have rated this higher if it did not remind me initially of Chianti on the nose. 91/100

2002 Brokenwood Shiraz (Australia, South Australia, McLaren Vale / Padthaway)

2/22/2008 rated 90 points: Deep dark color. The nose reveals graphite, blackberry & black cherry. The palate has some wonderful silkiness, blackberry, some blueberries, tar, and anise. Silky tannins and an admirable acid level. A medium bodied Shiraz with a slight metallic note on the finish. All in all a very nice Shiraz, full of character and value. Well worth the $20 I paid.

Some 'cool' Shiraz amongst friends

A few of us gathered at Walkers in Tibeca to partake in some 'cool climate' Australian Shiraz. The wines were interesting, but the company was fantastic.

1999 Greenock Creek Apricot Block - Sweet berries dominated the nose and carried over to the palate. The acid level was slightly elevated. An over ripe example that was an early crowd pleaser, but alas to my taste it got old (the sweetness) quickly, especially when more elegant wines hit the table. 88/100
2002 Berrys Bridge Pyrenees – Pure ripe blueberry pie and flowers. Although had the better nose of the two berry bridges, the ’04 was smoother on the tongue. Somewhat awkward and thin in the midpalate. 87/100
2004 Berrys Bridge Pyrenees - Not without its issues: Goodyear tires on the nose big time, and tractor-trailer size to boot. Strange, once past the nose this showed some elegant blueberry, slight tar, some graphite. A strange wine. Maybe a bit cooler this would have shown better. 86/100
2003 Tintara Reserve Shiraz- I may differ with Greg’s final point about this not being cool climate. This surely was a very different styled wine, but still not jammy and hot, as a matter of fact this was elegant, and pure with a graceful mouth feel. Nicely balanced great black fruits abounded. Slight cassis made this a winner for me and an early WOTN. Which became the night’s No. 2 for me. Glad I have more. 93/100
2004 Heathcote II – Medicinal. So much so I could not bring the glass to my mouth, but when I did I squinted and quivered. N/R
2004 Wild Duck Creek – Great nose, Super red fruits with some tar, cherries, and slight cocoa. A great balance of purity/tannins/and acid made this a WOW wine for me. No perceptible heat to speak of and a long finish made this the WOTN…easily.94/100
2005 Terlato & Chapoutier lieu dit Malakoff- Yeah, the French influence was showing big-time here. I wish it had more stuffing. I found it a bit jammy. I immediately thought Cotes du Rhone. I wish I could have believed Cote Rotie instead. 87/100

2005 Arnot-Roberts Syrah Hudson Vineyards USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros (2/18/2008)

($49.99) Dark with crimson edges, Great nose of blueberry, cracked white pepper, some boysenberry and graphite. The palate had the blueberry pie, the boysenberry, tar, some cedar box, and bacon fat. This needed about an hour to shine, although I liked it out of the bottle. I find there is a real change from moment to moment (hour to hour?) when a quality Syrah is opened...more so than say a Cabernet or Pinot. This had wonderful body. Not the most elegant Syrah I have had, but no brute either. This has the stuffing to go the distance & some bottle time should make this even better. A long finish completed the whole experience. I would wait at least a year to touch one again. (91 /100)