Jon Ebsworth

9.0

From 10 Greek Streets little black book…at 2016 maybe losing a little spice and edge but still silky Syrah by any measure — 21 days ago

Max Gottesfeld, FWS, CSW

9.4

Like Northern Rhône in Northern California. Dense yet light with a blackness like charcoal going on. There is olives and iron mixed with dark fruit. — 4 months ago

Conrad Green

9.6

Wow. Intense and pure in the nose. A hint of tang with an amazing fresh core given the age. Dark tang fruit with underbrush and mineral/ iron/ iodine notes. Pure and delicious. A great bottle. — 5 months ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Intense. BlackBerry and a touch of tar. Iron and minerality. Dried herbs. Savory and powerful and young. Great — 6 months ago

with David and Walker

Ron Siegel

9.3

This was open & drinking beautifully with notes of meat, iron, dark fruits, sweet, savory spice, mineral, violet & tobacco notes. — 2 months ago

Shay A

9.2

I initially expected more based on vintage + producer, but also have to keep context in focus that this is Crozes-hermitage.

Followed over two days and very little changed.

I’m surprised at saying that after 48hrs for a C-H…I think this is in a weird phase/shut down. Powerful/heady aromatics (black fruits, olive, espresso). ABV pokes out a bit up front. Good mid-palate weight with peppered dark fruits, herbs and some iron before a curtain of tannin shuts this down hard. Undeniably Syrah at the finish with a rusticity I normally find in Cornas…dark florals, spice, graphite and some charcoal. A serious and structured C-H. — 5 months ago

Shay A

9.4

My contribution to a large Rhône dinner. Standouts were ‘07 Chapoutier Le Meal Blanc, ‘89 and ‘90 Jaboulet La Chappelle, ‘11 Guigal La Mouline.

An over-generalization, but what I love about Cornas is the rusticity and sometimes feral nature of the wines (which I don’t find in Hermitage or CR) and this ‘05 is in that vein. I followed this from pop (after all, we are at the almost 20yr mark) and over the course of three hours.

Interplay of red and black berry fruits, black pepper, slightly herbal (maybe closer to potpurri floral) aromatically. Bright and nimble on the palate, nothing about this is ripe or soft. Energetic acidity all the way through surrounded by notes of iron (sanguine-like) and rocky minerality. Crunchy red and black fruits (whole-cluster?), hint of gaminess but not in the meaty-style I semi-expected. Clean and pure style of Syrah. Big structure at the finish…hard to imagine drinking this 10+yrs ago. Acidity and tannin will carry this a long time, but I think this is peak window for getting depth of fruit and complexity. — 7 months ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Really lovely and punchy. Vivid fruit, loads of savory tangy fruit. Iron and iodine and a hint of strawberry sweetness. Excellent — 2 months ago

with Bex and David

Conrad Green

9.7

An explosive supple nose with rose, hints of tar, gnarly intense fruit in the middle. Fresh and powerful still. Spectacularly complex. Iron and salinity on the finish. Wow — 5 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Easy to drink on pop & pour for such a young Syrah.

Reminded me a bit of the Domaine Rostaing’s I’ve enjoyed. Ripe black cherry, crème de cassis, violets, lavender, pepper, stem inclusion, notes of roasted chestnuts, grilled meats, iron pan, spices, dark flowers, nice acidity with good balance and elegant finish. — 6 months ago