Tag Archives: syrah

Chateau Belle-Vue La Renaissance Red 2009, Mount Lebanon, Lebanon

08 Tuesday Jul 2025

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Deep ruby colored bordering on garnet with copper highlights.  Slight staining on the wall, and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV) are getting me ready for a heavy hitter with some age.  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of cassis, tar, tobacco, vanilla thread, mulled blackberry, stewed cranberry, pomegranate molasses, chocolate and spice box.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that are chalky yet fine grained.  The intensity is pretty high and the flavors mimic the nose.  The acidity slides in on the mid palate and turns the whole experience slightly tart, yet refreshing.  The tannins are very polished and velvety.  The age of this wine is evident by the color and the mature state of the fruit, yet the structure is very solid and holding this wine up nicely, yet another testament to the power of Lebanese wines.  This beauty ran me $35 plus shipping (I hate that). and will last for another 10 years.  This blend of 40% Cabernet Franc, 40% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon gets 93 points from me and 5 stars.  Well worth the effort to look out for it.  Delicious by itself, it would pair beautifully with roast Duck, Filet or Shish Kebabs.  Salut….

chateau Belle-Vue La Renaissance

Domaine Durieu Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reserve Lucile Avril 2020, Rhone, France

09 Monday Jun 2025

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The closer at the 40th virtual wine tasting was this CDP.  Medium ruby colored with a high viscosity (15.5% ABV).  The group found medium intensity aromas of black cherry, bramble berry, funk, blackberry, leather, green leaf and a benzene note.  On the palate it was dry, with medium (-) acidity, a full body, and medium tannins.  Flavorwise- it was syrupy with black raspberry, bramble berry, overstepped black tea and black cherry.  Slightly astringent, it finished long.  It was not my favorite by a long shot and only garnered 15 points out of a possible 20 on our tasting sheet but technically speaking- this $45 effort got 90 points making it a 3 star wine.  It has some cellaring capacity even though it’s currently open for business. My buddy gave it a perfect score but then again he was pretty cheery by the close and loves Southern Rhone wines in general.  A blend of 80% grenache, 10% syrah and 10% mourvedre.  Salut….

Domaine Durieu Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reserve Lucile Avril

Luis Vieira Reserva Capital 2020, Portugal

18 Sunday May 2025

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Deep ruby colored, with medium viscosity (13.5 % ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, blackberry, licorice, coffee, mint, a hint of game, and cracked pepper.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium body and medium tannins.  Medium intensity flavors of blackberry, black plum, kirsch, licorice, coffee and black pepper.  The finish is medium in length.  Overall this is a well made wine that will drink nicely till 2028 and pair great with steaks, burgers, and pasta.  It gets 88 points from me and for $14- 4 stars.  An interesting blend of Trincadeira (40%), Syrah (40%), and Aragonez, aka Tempranillo making up the balance.  Salut….

Luis Vieira Reserva Capital

Gramercy Cellars Lower East ‘The Bowery’ 2018, Walla Walla, Washington

25 Friday Apr 2025

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Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of game, lavender, violet, black plum, black raspberry, a whiff of vanilla, some coffee, a licorice.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins that are silky.  Medium (+) flavor intensity of black plum, black raspberry, violets, a touch of game, and some licorice.  The vanilla and coffee disappeared.  The finish is medium in length and shows off the meaty side of the blend (46% Carignan, 29% Mourvèdre, 15% Grenache and 10% Syrah).  A very Southern Rhone style wine, with the heat to go along with it.  Even though it registers 14%, I am aware of it on the mid palate and back end.  A lovely drop that runs $25 and gets 91 points from me making it a 5 star wine.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Gramercy Cellars Lower East the bowery

Domaine la Soumade Rasteau 2019, Rhone, France

06 Sunday Apr 2025

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Deep purple colored with copper highlights, slight staining, and a high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red and black raspberry, black cherry, violets, game, blackberry, black licorice, and saline.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins that are youthful and frontal.  The intensity of the palate is slightly less than the nose but echoes the varied red and black fruit, spice nuance and gamy note.  It’s a touch astringent, the tannins feel a bit green and persistent.  The alcohol is noticeable, not only on the nose, but on the mid palate and finish.  It eventually blows off.  The finish is medium (+) in length and concentrates on the black raspberry and game notes. I picked this wine to pair with rack of lamb, I think it will work out nicely, the tannins should resolve with the fat of the dish.  89 points from me for this Southern Rhone blend of Grenache (70%), Syrah (20%), and Mourvèdre (10%).  At $17, it gets 3 stars from me.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Domaine la Soumade Rasteau

Signature des Princes Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2023, Rhone, France

14 Friday Mar 2025

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Medium ruby colored, with medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red raspberry, rhubarb, cranberry, acai berry, violet, orange peel, dusty oak (reminiscent of sawdust), licorice, and some spice box.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors with a touch of bitterness lead to a red-fruit dominated finish that is medium in length with some obvious heat coming through.  It’s quite nicely balanced except for the alcohol hit at the end. A blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre- typical for the region.  89 points from me and for $35, it gets 3 stars.  It will cellar nicely till 2028 and pair with lighter game, filet mignon or a hearty stew.  Salut….

Signature des Princes Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Domaine du Grand Montmirail Vacqueyras Mas Carre 2022, Rhone Valley, France

18 Tuesday Feb 2025

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Medium ruby colored turning to a watery meniscus, with high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose of this Grenache/Syrah blend has medium (-) intensity aromas of blueberry, red raspberry, tar, juniper, licorice, charred oak, acai berry, and tomato stalk. The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins that are a touch gritty.  Flavors of raspberry, blueberry, acai, tar, licorice and green notes of juniper and tomato stalk.  There’s an interesting astringency that keeps me wanting another sip.  The finish is medium in length and somewhat austere.  I kinda like it!  The heat is noteworthy on the back end unfortunately.  This is a delicious, slightly green wine that will pair nicely with stews, game meats or Duck breast.  It gets 90 points from me and for $25, 4 stars.  Drink till 2032.  Ps. It has opened up nicely with a bit of air.  Salut….

Domaine du Grand Montmirail Vacqueyras Mas Carre

Domaine Clavel Régulus 2023, Côtes du Rhône, France

07 Saturday Dec 2024

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Medium garnet colored with high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red raspberry, red plum, smoke, game, tomato stalk, red licorice, pomegranate, and blackberry.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium  body, and medium tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of dark raspberry, plum, blackberry, pomegranate, with some less intense red licorice, smoke, game and green from the stalk.  The finish is quite short but well received- it’s certainly fruity and has some nice juiciness thanks to the acidity.  This is a very delicious wine that drinks nicely now and could perhaps evolve till 2028.  It gets 91 points from me and at $14- a 5 star winner.  A blend of Grenache 60%, Syrah 30% and Marselan 10%.  Salut….

Domaine Clavel Régulus cotes du rhone

Miriam Syrah 2021, California

02 Monday Dec 2024

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Deep ruby colored with slight staining and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe red raspberry, black plum, game, vanilla, cocoa, and blackberry. The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium (-) tannins that melt away.  Flavors of ripe raspberry, plum, and blackberry with telltale meaty notes.  There is a hint of cocoa and maybe some vanilla.  The finish is medium (-) in length but pleasing.  Not an overly complex wine, it drinks easily and will go well with a variety of dishes ranging from steaks and pasta to roasted chicken.  Overall it gets 86 points from me and at $12, 4 stars.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

Miriam California Syrah

La Reserve De L’enclave Cotes du Rhone Villages 2022, Southern Rhone, France

21 Thursday Nov 2024

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Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red and black raspberry, steeped black cherry, rhubarb, tobacco leaf, blueberry, wildflower, black pepper and granite.  The palate is dry (very), with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins.  Flavors of dark red fruit- cherry and raspberry, with some green notes of fresh tobacco leaf, wildflower, pepper (both green and black), as well as some granite.  The fruit/tannins are quite sharp and produce a distinct dryness on the mid palate.  The finish is a bit mouthwatering and of medium length.  The astringent nature of this wine is akin to over steeped black tea- but it’s quite pleasant.  A blend of 65% Grenache and 35% Syrah- I don’t get the gaminess associated with the latter, but it does offer up the candied red fruit I dislike.  Overall this $18 is very tasty and will cellar nicely till 2030.  91 points from me and 5 stars.  Grilled meats are the ticket here.  Salut….

La Reserve De L'enclave Cotes du Rhone Villages