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Featured Wines
Latest News September 24th, 2010
AASK Harvest Crush Wine Benefit
 JC Cellars Winery 6:00pm-8:30pm $20 for select wine tastings, $40 for premium wine tastings & $75 for VIP tickets--For tickets you may call Liz at (510) 553-1748 x 11 or email contact@aask.org 21 or over Wine tasting, winery tour, hors d’oeuvres, raffle, silent auction and mystery wine sales. All proceeds go to Adopt A Special Kid to support their mission to find ‘forever’ homes for waiting children in foster care. |
Tasting Notes Archive
2002 Philary Vineyard SyrahPhilary Vineyards located at almost 1000 feet above sea level overlooking the southern part of the Napa Valley. The vineyard consists of two separate blocks, each with 250 Syrah vines. The first block was planted in March 1996. The second block was planted in March 1998. The planting of each block was a physical challenge created by the unique nature of the property. The combination of extremely rocky soil, steep slopes, uneven terrain and limited physical access precluded the use of any machines or equipment that would typically be used for vineyard preparation and installation. The property dictated that both blocks would have to be established by hand. Thousands of rocks were physically removed to try to clear the vineyard sites for planting which out of necessity was 3 feet between vines and 3 feet between rows (3x3). There was not enough soil existing for planting. Dirt was hand carried in 5-gallon buckets into the vineyard sites. Many rocks were too large to remove and remain in both blocks. As a result, the vine rows could not be made either straight or level. Tasting Notes
A beefy, spicy, densely flavored style, with stewed plum, wild berry, exotic spices and pretty toasty oak that isn't overdone, but ideally integrated. Shows spicy cola and pretty wood shadings in a finish that soars. Drink now through 2009. 48 cases made. –JL
Robert M. Parker, Jr.’s The Wine Advocate: 96 points
Flamboyant notes of tapenade, smoked meats, blackberry liquer,
plums, and a hint of balsam emerge from this beautiful Syrah. Although
it was aged in 100% new French oak, the wine has sucked up the wook as
if it had never existed. Unbelievably rich, full-bodied, and
harmonious, it pushes the envelope on all levels. Drink this big,
pedal-to-the-metal Syrah over the next 10-12 years.
James Laube, Wine Spectator: 93 points
A ripe, opulent style with rich berry, currant and raspberry fruit,
but also a supple texture and a long, graceful finish. Drink now
through 2011. 36 cases made.
James Laube, Wine Spectator: 93 pts
Intense and distinctive, with loads of spice and pepper. Rich and
fleshy on the palate, with ripe plum, currant and wild berry flavors
joining. Tannins are ripe and fleshy on a long finish. Drink now
through 2010.
Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s The Wine Advocate: 90+ points
From a steep, rocky, Napa vineyard, this wine has an opaque
saturated purple color in addition to a backward but promising nose of
smoke, blackberries, and spice. This closed Syrah requires considerable
aeration, but it is exceptionally concentrated, tannic, and among the
most primordial wines of this portfolio. Give it 2-3 years of bottle
age, and drink it over the following 10-12 years.
California Grapevine: 90 points
Medium-dark purplish ruby; attractive, forward, intense, jammy,
peppery, dark currant and blackberry fruit aroma with notes of charred
oak; full body; big, dense, herbal, jammy, viscous, mouth-filling, very
concentrated, very ripe blackberry and sweet raspberry fruit flavors
with overtones of creamy oak; full tannin; hard finish; lingering
aftertaste. Very highly recommended.
Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s The Wine Advocate: 93 points
A big wine, that comes from rocky soils located at a 1.000 foot
elevation. Its blue/black color (reminiscent of vintage port) is
followed by a bouquet of mountain herbs intermixed with gamey scents
intertwined with blackberry, raspberry, and crushed rock-like
characteristics. It cuts a wide swath across the palate, revealing a
seamless integration of wood, acidity, tannin, and alcohol as well as a
blockbuster finish. This exotic beast is surprisingly accessible, but
promises to be even better in another 2-3 years. It should last for
10-12+ years.
James Laube, Wine Spectator: 92 pts
A beefy, spicy, densely flavored style, with stewed plum, wild
berry, exotic spices and toasty oak that isn't overdone, but ideally
integrated. Shows spicy cola and pretty wood shadings on a finish that
soars. Drink now through 2009.
Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s The Wine Advocate: 93 points
Another gorgeous offering, the 2001 Philary Vineyard Syrah reveals
an inky/purple color as well as aromas of ink, smoke, and black fruits.
This dense, full-bodied, chewy, huge, thick, impressive Syrah should
drink well for 10-12 years.
Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s The Wine Advocate: 92 points
The most concentrated is the Amarone-like 2000 Syrah Philary
Vineyard. This huge, brooding effort offers a mouthful of black fruits
intermixed with smoke, earth, and licorice. Powerful, dense, and chewy,
with excellent purity, it is a substantial Syrah from this light
vintage. Drink it over the next 7-8 years.
California Grapevine: 92 points
Dark purplish ruby; very attractive, intense, plumy, jammy, peppery,
very ripe blackberry fruit aroma; full body; big, dense, highly
extracted, peppery, jammy, slightly sweet, very ripe black cherry and
blackberry fruit flavors; full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Needs
several more years of bottle aging to resolve the tannin. Very highly
recommended.
Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine: 1 puffs, 89 points (scale 0-3 puffs, 1-100 points)
This dense, big bodied bottling wanders perilously close to ripeness
and comes up a little too hot for its own good. Its finishing heat
noted, it is still an exotic, concentrated, many layered wine whose
impressions of plums, pepper, loamy soil and chocolate make for a most
fascinating drink that will hit its peak in three to four years.
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James Laube Wine Spectator: 92 points
