SAN ANTONIO WINE GEEKS - THE GREAT LAMB FEAST (WITH SYRAH) - Home of John Webber (2/6/2011)
Big thanks to John Webber for hosting and roasting the lamb (whole) and doing an excellent. Great company and generosity all around. My bottles felt rather inadequate at this tasting, hopefully I’ll do better next time. Presented in order tasted—my palate (and me) was totally fried by the end of this tasting to a degree not seen in quite a while (at least that was my perception), so keep that in mind.
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2007 Sine Qua Non Syrah Labels - USA, California, Central Coast
Fantastic espresso, toast and black fruit nose that gained in depth and complexity through the night adding a little vanilla. The palate was smooth—like butter!—with currants, plum and hint of pepper and spice, but with an exquisite quality of balance and seamlessness. I was amazed how this wine transition b/t nose, palate and finish. Fine lush tannins on the back end with a lengthy finish of great depth and energy. A truly thrilling experience with layers of complexity and fruit While this was certainly polished, it was varietally correct and retained a sense of balance and place. I think this will age gracefully, but was fantastic with 2hrs of air. There were several flavor elements that reminded me of the ’06 Lillian—good to know there’s some White hawk fruit in this too. (96 pts.) -
2005 Lillian Winery Syrah - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
Popped and poured after I thought the Lillian could keep up with the SQN. Unfortunately, it was drained before I could get a re-taste. Nose with a slightly sweet porty dark fruit. Palate was dark and rich with a hint of syrup. Great concentration and depth, and no heat, but seemed to be lacking a little structure. Lengthy finish of espresso , toast, and tar. Good, but a disappointment compared to my experiences with the ’06, which usually adds structure with air and I don’t get a port-like quality. Out classed on this night, but maybe didn’t get enough air time. (91 pts.) -
1999 Delas Frères Hermitage Les Bessards - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Popped and poured. Initially quite closed and somewhat thin. Really opened up through the evening. Floral barnyard nose of coffee, toast, saline, roasted almonds and dark dried fruit. Palate was round, with pleasant acidity, fine drying mostly integrated tannins, currants, dried fruits. Nice lengthy coffee infused finish with a crushed rock note. My first real experience with a somewhat mature well thought of hermitage. This fleshed out and improved through the evening, bumped from 91 to 93. (93 pts.) -
1998 Château La Nerthe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée des Cadettes - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Expressive nose of coffee, currants, cassis, dried fruits, and fig. Palate was smooth round and rich with integrated tannins and a dark fruit profile. Lengthy finish with hint of sandlewood and leather, garrigue and Asia spices. Clean fruit, just the faintest hint of brett. Perfectly mature and well drinking CdP. A favorite of the night. (93 pts.) -
2007 Lagier Meredith Pott Zinfandel Chester’s Anvil - USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder
Initially served blind. There were many guesses to the varietal: new world Grenache, tempanillo, etc, none were close.
Nose with a slight port-like quality with mocha and cream. Pure red fruits on the palate—lots of cassis and cherry with a slight cranberry edge, leading into a lengthy creamy vanilla finish. Lots of American oak it seemed. Good wine, though I found the oak slightly oppressive and lacking complexity compared to the group. (90 pts.) -
2006 Carlisle Syrah Papa’s Block - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Great peppery nose with lots of toasty mocha and spicy oak notes underneath blackberries and wild berry scents. Great concentrated dark berry palate, with big coarse tannins and strong mocha tar element on a lengthy finish. Dark and brooding masculine wine, that hasn’t quite integrated its oak but is delicious anyway. Needs time. (92 pts.) -
2007 Jaffurs Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley
Rather shy nose with a strong coffee and dark berry character. Very concentrate fruity palate that turns somewhat sweet, with cassis, raspberry and currants. Refined somewhat soft palate. Lengthy mocha and red fruit finish. I though this held its alcohol well, though is obviously y a big lush wine. More accessible and integrated than the ’08 Upslope we had recently. This should continue to improve as it drops its baby fat. (93 pts.) -
2007 Rhys Syrah Horseshoe Vineyard - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains
Initially upon opening had a great peppery nose with violets. Served later in the even after a 4hr decant and much of the expressive nose had shut down. Nose was rather shy, hints of ripe dark fruits, even a hint of port, with touch of meat. Dark fruits on the palate with prominent tannins and acidity. Had great concentration and a lengthy finish with tar and earth, turning dry. I think this closed up with extended air time. Certainly needs time to be enjoyable, though appears to be well made in a cooler climate style. (90 pts.) -
2006 Tensley Syrah Thompson Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
had trouble getting into this as the new oak was distracting. Nose was dominated by vanilla cream. Palate with nice acidity and fine tannic structure and nice red fruits underneath a wall of vanilla and toast that extended through a lengthy finish. Tried multiple times through the evening but never really came together. The oak prominence may have been relative to the other offerings, but was quite distracting in this lineup. Maybe needs time. Nice fruit underneath. (88 pts.) -
2004 Novy Family Wines Syrah Rosella’s Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
Great nose of currants, mocha, and the only syrah showing a citrus grapefruit that I picked up tonight. Nose turned rather stinky/funky as the night wore on. Clean red fruit palate, mostly integrated tannins turning slightly sweet on a toasty mocha finish. The Novy syrahs always show a slightly coarse “unpolished” tannic structure to me, and this was no exceptions. Great complexity and QPR, probably near peak now. (92 pts.) -
2005 Pax Syrah Griffin’s Lair - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
I had trouble getting into this wine as well. Roasted prominent fruit nose with a very dark/black fruit profile—lots of currant, blackberries and boysenberry. Concentrated palate, with prominent acidity and light mouthfeel, but seemed tight and unyielding. Didn’t pick up many prominent tannins. Espresso finish. Maybe some palate fatigue as this was the last wine of the night for me, but it might just need some more bottle time to open up. SQN tasted right after to re-check my initial thoughts was still impressive. (90 pts.) -
2005 Betz Family Cabernet Sauvignon Père de Famille - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
The only cab of the evening and the prominent bright reds fruits really stool out from the syrah. Decanted 4hrs prior to serving. Initially very closed upon opening but later had some cassis, coffee, and chocolate on the nose. Palate was rather restrained with prominent course drying tannins, red fruits and pleasant fresh acidity. The finish was lengthy, if drying, with nice complex earth and mocha note. Very primary with little maturity showing. Came across as rather austere at this point in time, if well made with good complexity. Needs lots of bottle time. I certainly with sit many more years on my ‘07’s and ‘08’s after this. Tough to really enjoy and only hints at the future. (92 pts.)
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2006 Navarro Vineyards Gewürztraminer Cluster Select Late Harvest - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Perfect change of pace near the end of the evening. Honey dew, apricot and citrus on the nose. Lush palate, fine acidity, just mouthcooating with just the right amount of sweetness. Great refreshing finish with a mineral note mixed with ripe fruits. Quite nice.
Missed the ’05 Copain JBV but have enjoyed it in the past (93 points). A fantastic overview of Cali syrah with a few other random bottles thrown in and a great hermitage for reference. Many wines were mentioned as WOTN, which should speak to the quality present. My WOTN was clearly the SQN, but the Lillian, Pax, La Nerth, Copain JBV were also mentioned.
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I meant besides you Tex!