Brief TN: 2004 Rhys Alesia Syrah Chileno Valley (USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast)

Jeff_Fish · October 8, 2009, 11:02am

2004 Rhys Alesia Syrah Chileno Valley - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (10/7/2009)
Upon opening, popped and poured a bit into a glass. Major reduction and funk jumping from the glass. Poured another glass using a Vinturi and it helped a little bit. Opened enough to pair okay with some oven baked pasta with homemade tomato sauce. But on its own, it was just too funky and seemed a bit sweet to really enjoy. My last and least enjoyable of three bottles.

Dennis_Atick · October 8, 2009, 2:10pm

Kevin and crew have acknowledged issues with this one.
Listed as recalled on the website IIRC.

Jeff_Fish · October 8, 2009, 2:34pm

Yep. The 2 prior were much more drinkable/enjoyable. I thought I’d roll the dice with my last bottle. I’ll open a pinot this weekend for redemption.

Tom_Gutting · October 8, 2009, 3:04pm

Sometime in the next month I’m going to retrieve another bottle of this from off-site. I was hoping perhaps it would smooth out with some time … going to check in. One more bottle to go. First one was like burnt rubber. Nasty. But we’ll see!

Paul_Hiyake · October 8, 2009, 3:20pm

I also pulled one of these this week. First night upon opening, it was definitely funky (on the nose and palate), although it did recede a bit over dinner and the black fruit started to peak through. Let it sit out on the counter as I put the kids to bed, and revisited later that night - the funk had receded even more and I recall picking up strong roasted coffee notes on the retaste. Revisited the remains on Day 2, and it was much better than the first day - just a hint of funkiness now that actually made the wine a little more interesting for me. I have 1 bottle left, which I will probably crack into within the next year…

Chris_Presutti · October 8, 2009, 4:45pm

There’s a recall? I wish I had known about this recall before attempting to drink, and then dumping, my bottles of this mess. I opened my last bottle last weekend and, as I stated in the “what are you drinking this weekend thread,” it tasted like I would imagine ass soda tastes. And it was even worse the next day. I was afraid it would eat through the glass bottle like Alien spit. Fortunately all of their post-'04 wines are killer though and we can start putting these unsavory experiences behind us.

edit/correction: it was the '04 Chileno Pinot Noir that was opened last weekend and tasted like death. I recall that the Syrah had similar issues but not as bad as the PN’s. I have no hard feelings. Was it growing pains perhaps? Bring on the '07’s!

Yoni_O_v_a_d_i_a · October 8, 2009, 6:20pm

Very rarely does someone say something on the board that I wish I had thought of. This is funny. I don’t care what wine it was, this is just awesome. I am stealing this for my sig if you don’t mind.

Chris_Presutti · October 8, 2009, 11:37pm

I’m very flattered. Thanks, Yoni!

Loren_Sonkin · October 9, 2009, 5:23am

I had a poor bottle a couple of weeks ago. One left to try. Perhaps a 12 hour decant might help. Its great of Kevin et al to do a recall. Not sure what that is about, but just the fact they offer is another reason to keep ordering!