Shay A

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

Shay A

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

Shay A

9.4

Shay had this a month ago

with Bill and Scott@Mister

Shay A

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

Shay A

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

Shay A

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

Shay A

9.5

Shay had this a month ago

with Bill and Scott@Mister

Shay A

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

Shay A

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

Shay A

Shay had this a month ago

with Bill and Scott@Mister