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Rich and Bold
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Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Texan - Wine Nerd Herd Member

3158 wines • 551 followers • 629 following

Powell & Son

Barossa Valley Roussanne Marsanne 2019

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Shay A

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9.3

My last of three bottles. When I first had this a couple years ago, I was smitten. I love Marsanne in all forms and thought this was (and is) a fun expression.

Opened alongside a 2020 Vasse Felix Filius Chardonnay and a 2021 Cloudburst Chardonnay, so three Aussie whites. Honeycomb galore aromatically…honey drizzled tropical fruits, honeyed marcona almonds, spiced pear. Texturally this has all the waxy and rich Marsanne notes but there is a distinct plantain note alongside burnt vanilla that jump out. It’s warm, rich and full-bodied but a great expression from Australia. Great pairing with garlic fries!

Followed over a few days and stayed consistent. Based on how this is drinking now and the style it was made in, consuming these in the next few years is probably best if you are looking to enjoy a balanced profile.
— 5 days ago

Bob, Paul and 17 others liked this

Andremily

California Rosé Blend 2019

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Shay A

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9.4

Thought I had a couple more of these but realized after the last glass that this was my last 2019! A perfect wine for early Fall in Texas.

I don’t recall the makeup of this vintage, but I’m assuming it’s close to the usual Syrah/Mourvèdre blend.

Followed over two days.

Translucent ruby in the glass. Massive aromatics of ripe black raspberries, peppered strawberry purée and cherry jerky notes on both the nose and palate. There’s a hint of green herbs/whole cluster spice but not overpowering. At 6yrs, this “rosé” is settling in and showed very balanced and less hot than they can show when young. Shockingly, the last glass I had on day two was my favorite sip. So much flavor and depth in a wine that falls in to its own category (along with Antica Terra’s Angelicall rosé and maybe a handful of others).
— 8 days ago

Joseph, Tom and 19 others liked this

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

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Shay A

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9.4

Shay had this a month ago

Bill BenderScott@Mister A’s-San Diego
with Bill and Scott@Mister
Scott@Mister, Shay and 26 others liked this
Bob McDonald

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@Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego @Shay A Possibly my all time favourite Bordeaux. Had a bottle about 6 years ago.
Paul T HB

Paul T HB

I see a bottle available locally, think I’ll head down this week to grab it.
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

It. Did. Not. Suck.

M. Chapoutier

Les Varonniers Crozes-Hermitage Syrah 2013

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Shay A

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9.3

I picked up a couple C-H wines last month and this is my second bottle to open following Jaboulet’s Thalbert.

Followed over two days. 91-92 initially, finished at 92-93. Still some room for upside, so scoring accordingly.

From start to finish this was undeniably a more enjoyable wine than the Jaboulet. Day one was a potpurri and floral overload aromatically before ripe dark fruits and green herbs shut it down hard with a wall of tannin at the finish (similar to the Jaboulet). Day two showed what this wine is evolving to be…a softer aromatic profile but so much depth on the mid-palate with lavender, charcoal and dark berries before a finish of black peppered meat. The wine feels well balanced by acid and tannin and the alcohol isn’t obtrusive. Not quite crunchy, but bright and powerful. Lovely C-H from the Chapoutier team. Could cruise another 5+yrs in this same drinking window.
— 2 months ago

Tom, Ira and 25 others liked this

Realm Cellars

Houyi Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

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Shay A

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9.6

I feel like I haven’t opened a Napa cab (or any wine, for that matter) in recent memory that struck me the way this one did in terms of absolute peak drinking. Both fortunately (because I love the wines) and unfortunately (I was priced out of Realm a few years ago) this was undeniably in the zone amongst a table of ‘13 Bryant DB4, ‘07 Insignia, ‘12 Kapscandy Estate Reserve, and others.

Pop and pour. Extremely aromatic with dark fruits (more blue and black side of the spectrum) and dark florals (violets)…very Pritchard Hill. The texture of this wine is a modern marvel…how a 2013 100% Cabernet from PH can be this sexy/opulent but still so bright is beyond me. The rich and dark fruit is surrounded by graphite, espresso, dark cocoa, and sweet (not tart) cassis that carry the weightless yet flavor packed profile to a finish that lingers. Plenty of tannin and acid to keep this balanced for years, but this is absolutely the zenith of where it will be for balance of flavors. Don’t miss this window.

I haven’t been this star struck on a mid-aged Napa cab in a while, but this has it all. After opening the 2015 Realm Dr Crane earlier this year, this was more impressive (and DrCrane is my favorite vineyard). Wish Realm was still in my “realm” of purchasing!
— 8 days ago

Joseph, Tom and 21 others liked this
Somm David T

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If you watch the secondary markets & are patient, you can find newer vintages at the prices you once paid. There is a glut of wine on the market with no real end in sight yet.
Jay Kline

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@Shay A great note. Thanks for sharing!

Epoch Estate Wines

Paso Robles Tempranillo 2013

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Shay A

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9.2

I’m in the 92+ range here. Didn’t know how a 12yr Paso Tempranillo would show, but I was pleasantly surprised.

87 temp/ 10 Grenache/ 3 Zinfandel

Everything about this was Paso but I appreciated the slight Tempranillo vibe it pulled off. As I’ve mentioned before, well made Paso wines have this weightless richness to them and while this wasn’t as nimble as others, it smells like Paso through and through. Big, rich, baked dark fruits aromatically with baking spices and some oak presence but a floral note appears with time. Where the fruit presents dark aromatically, it takes a slightly red-fruited turn on the palate with some herbal spice, cherry-vanilla pipe tobacco and plenty of tannin to show its Tempranillo profile.

Followed over two days and stayed strong. Pop and enjoy.
— a month ago

Bob, Bill and 11 others liked this
Paul T HB

Paul T HB

Wait until you try the Reserve
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Great, underrated Central Coast producer.

Château Rayas

Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache Blend 2005

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Shay A

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9.5

Shay had this a month ago

Bill BenderScott@Mister A’s-San Diego
with Bill and Scott@Mister
Scott@Mister, Shay and 25 others liked this
Jay Kline

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🙌
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Effing banging. Thank you @Bill Bender !!
Shay A

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My first Rayas! So grateful to @Bill Bender for the experience (as well as the other wines) to finally check this off the list. I’d say that between the five wines of the evening, this and the ‘06 Krug CdM evolved the most. This is the most powerful and aromatic CdP I’ve ever had. The red/black cran-raspberry profile was like a missle on the palate…so youthful, even tangy the beginning. A lot of CdPs have this dirty/figgy profile but this was so clean and pure. Verve for days. Probably still rocking in another 5+ before evolving to the next stage. Epic.
9.7

Gramercy Cellars

John Lewis Walla Walla Valley Syrah 2008

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Shay A

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9.3

93-94 range

Hard to believe this is a 17yr old WA state Syrah. 100% varietal, all from Les Collines vineyard. 13.9ABV

Sporting a deep purple color even at 17yrs, this feels like it is just now entering prime time. Big aromatics of peppered smoked meats, whole cluster/green herbs, red and blackberry fruits. Floral and balanced with fruit but spices/herbs in the background. Where Cayuse (and all Christophe Baron/Rocks district) wines trend to the savory/sanguine profile (which I enjoy), this balances the dark fruit, smoky/charcoal, savory/spice driven side of Syrah in its typical rustic/feral profile. Nice bridge between cool climate New World Syrah and ripe vintage Cornas. Finish is more vibrant and less requiring of food as the CB wines do.

Followed over three days and shockingly held up. If you have a bottle, open and enjoy but no immediate rush.
— 8 days ago

Joseph, Tom and 19 others liked this

Clos de l'Oratoire des Papes

Les Choregies Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2015

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Shay A

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9.2

I’m in the 91+ range here. Had hoped for a more wow experience but this was simply solid and that’s ok. Not all wines need to be stunners.

80 Grenache/ 15 Mourvèdre/ 5 Syrah. Followed from bottle over the course of two hours.

To this wine’s credit, it presented exactly as it should. Warm 2015 vintage type profile which extracts the Grenache (ripe red fruits, sweet spice, little heat) but also accentuates/deepens the garrigue/potpurri profile. Alcohol pokes out a touch on the palate but it’s mostly juicy red berry fruit, little bit of dirty fig, herbal. On the whole, this is a very clean style of CdP that presents with no Brett/funk but also speaks to Grenache (as opposed to being a typical super CdP blend). Drink or hold another 3-5yrs for this window.
— a month ago

Scott@Mister, Steve and 20 others liked this

Emmanuel Houillon (Maison Pierre Overnoy)

Arbois Pupillin Savagnin 2015

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Shay A

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Shay had this a month ago

Bill BenderScott@Mister A’s-San Diego
with Bill and Scott@Mister
Scott@Mister, Bill and 19 others liked this
Shay A

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Adding a rating to this doesn’t seem fair because my frame of reference is non-existent. I fully expected this to be dominated by “natty” vibes, but boy was I wrong. If this was poured in a black glass, I don’t think anyone calls this correct (and most probably call it the opposite color). A distinct fruit cocktail/punch aromatic with CruBojo-adjacent profile on the palate. It bulked up over the course of the evening and retained great acidity. About as culty as it gets from the Jura, and something that needs to be experienced to broaden knowledge of this hobby/passion we all love called wine.
9.4