A nice middle ground between oak and steel finish. Not overly fruity but the Chardonnay fruit is there. Smooth finish with a little butter. Great with food. — 4 years ago
The description: "Flavours of garrigue, black cherry, blackberry, ground herbs and crushed-rock-like minerality. It has a traditional feel, yet does not lack for purity, balance or polish either." Wine Advocate 93/100
The opinion: actually brilliant value (125 per bottle) I have tasted much worst at a lot more. This is brilliant! I am going to buy a couple more bottles — 2 months ago
Intensely lifted, fresh, and concentrated and showing incredible youth at nearly a decade in bottle. Perfectly ripe blackberries and black cherries are enveloped by aromas and flavors of fresh ground coffee, wet fall leaves, leather, menthol, and vanilla. The wine finishes long and with a crave-worthy mineral/graphite finish. This can cellar for years to come but is excellent now with herb-roasted lamb chops or grilled steak tips. Delicious! — 2 years ago
Love this! No decant (imho it doesn’t need it). This is everything you want. Balanced fruit and acid. Served with bbq ribeye (the rub with brown sugar and ground coffee is what brought these together). Second night sautéed chicken with rosemary and a pesto pasta was also perfect. Love this! SS — 5 years ago
Every time I have a wine from Pierre Gonon, I know it’s going to hit every note I’m looking for. These wines are absolutely delicious and are exactly what I love to drink.
First time with a slightly older bottle of Iles Feray and I’d say this is in the perfect zone. Very much in the vein of the StJo with the dark florals and herbal aromatics (just stemmy enough to show it’s there, but not as much as the StJo). Peppered raspberries and blackberries, green stems on the mid-palate. Great texture/weight. Granite and iron show early on. Tannin structure is in the middle ground…holds everything together but isn’t a beast. Not as layered as the StJo, but still so enjoyable to drink when wanting a beautiful, pure expression of Syrah.
Followed over a few days and stayed consistent. I’d buy a bunch of this if prices for these wines weren’t as high as they’ve been the last few years. — 2 months ago
2016 vintage. Last tasted 7.7.21. Dark cherry, ground black pepper and spicy oak nose. Medium body with enough plushness for those looking for a palate pillow and enough acidity/tannins for those looking to retain red street cred. Plummy finish. Maan…this is getting mo better. Need to pick up another 3-6 bottles and bury them. The nice price. — 3 years ago
v18. Very nice. Soft white pepper and smashed black cherry nose. Rich black cherry and blackberry fruit. Smooth, tight, cola, mocha , soft leather and ground pepper finish. Lot of words , but well balanced! — 4 years ago
Tom Garland
It's Open That Bottle Night(last Sat in Feb), and thought this would be a nice pull to celebrate the occasion.
1 hour decant(decent sediment). A striking still dark garnet with some bricking. On the nose: perfumed stewed cherry/plum, smoked meat, worn leather, cigar ash,milk chocolate, rich soil, some band-aid(brett) Taste: smooth, polished, vibrant wine with plum, tobacco, bitter chocolate, worn leather, earth, and a long graphite coffee ground finish. YUM!!!! — 19 hours ago