Tom Casagrande

9.1

I’ll have to look at my prior notes of this wine, but this strikes me as far more acid-driven than the last bottle I had. Nose show red fruits, crushed rock, and smellable acidity. Lean, crisp, but intense. Like a real hybrid of Walla Walla and a Northern Rhone from an older days cooler vintage. It’s got good length and mouthwatering acids. A Syrah- based wine to have with some meat dish in a sauce, as opposed to a simple grilled or roasted meat. — 4 days ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.6

This is phenomenal. So so concentrated. Deep fragrances suggesting tart black plums, wild brambles and blackberries mingle with musky, ferrous scents of blood and perfume. The palate is masterful- sexy and dripping with dark red fruit and savory, salty, primeval flavors. Love this cuvee. ‘12 maybe even better than the ‘15. — 3 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

History of Chapoutier family dates back to the early 19th century when current owner Michel Chapoutier’s great-, great-, great-grandfather Marius purchased estate & famous l’Hermitage vineyards. Medium Ruby with aromas of rich red/black fruits and spice. On the palate raspberry, cherry & black currant flavors with notes of oak. Firm tannins, well balanced ending with fruit, spice and cedar. Very nice! Tasting Sample. Has lots of room to bottle evolve. — 12 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

See previous notes for Little Wine #6. In summary very dark Ruby with purple tinges. Opaque. Luscious mouth filling Shiraz - the old vine source is obvious - soft, plush and plummy. A blend of 2016, 2015, 2013 and 2012 - all good vintages. I took delivery of my allocation of Little Wine #10 recently. — 20 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Deep Ruby with aromas of black berry fruits, herb, earthy spice and flinty notes. On the palate flavors of ripe blackberry and black cherry with notes of black pepper, earthy herbs and tobacco. Fine tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit and mineral character. — 2 days ago

Matt Perlman

9.1

Notes consistent with previous. Showing lots of sweet black fruit, cassis, cedar, mushroom and dried herbs. Drying out ever so slightly on the finish — 19 days ago

Jason and Jennie

9.1

From magnum. 1st day was all about high toned red fruit, herb, secondary characteristics. Now the plum and berry are emerging on day 2 and I’m enjoying it much more. Has more life in it. 13% alcohol. Vinous 92. — 4 days ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Bellingar Estates South Pass Syrah 2018, Oregon


Deep purple in color with a purplish rim.

Fruity nose of black plums, wild flowers, cooked blueberries, light wood, earth, tobacco, chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, violets and herbs.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, light oak, licorice, spices, coffee, chocolates and peppercorn.

Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.

This Syrah from Oregon is drinking very nicely now. rich and fruit forward.

Nicely balanced and elegant. Showing nice complexity with a nice, soft mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle, and better as it opens up. I gave it two hours in a decanter.

This Single Vineyard is interesting and easy drinking. Fragrant and aromatic with a teeth staining color. Feels very much like a good quality California Syrah.

Aged in French oak barrels (10% new) for 24 months. A very small production of only 100 cases.

13.9% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$50. — 3 days ago

Romain Fitoussi

8.9

Beautiful Syrah simple and well built. Full maturated black fruits and well-melted oaky touch for the 2017 cuvée. Good quality/price/pleasure ratio. 🇲🇦

Belle Syrah simple et bien construite. Fruits noirs sur-maturés et pointe d’élevage boisée bien fondue pour la cuvée 2017. Super rapport qualité/prix/plaisir. 🇲🇦 — a day ago

Shay A

9.3

I followed this over two days. For context, I love these wines (big fan of the WA funk), and it’s always really fun to compare these against the Cayuse lineup. So glad @Bill Bender introduced me to these wines a few years back.

For the price, these are such killer wines. To me, this is Cayuse but just dialed a few steps back. If you want funk, you’ve got it. If you want more elegance and floral notes, you’ve got it. On both day 1 and 2, the aromatics didn’t really change...black pepper crusted black cherries, cherry jerky, tapenade, and white pepper. What I did see change in was the palate. Day one was very coiled showing lots of underripe red and black fruits, herbs de provence and a mineral driven streak down the middle. The whole cluster green/stemmy flair is there but not overly crunchy. Really nervy and vibrant. Day two expanded the wine a bit and while the smoked meat was present, it didn’t dominate. This is where No Girls diverges for me...all the Cayuse notes are there, just dialed back. I was shocked at how tannic this was (decanted 3hrs day one, drank from bottle over an hour on day two). Hold, or decant 3+hrs. This will get even better. — 16 days ago