2003 Justin Vineyard Syrah - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (12/24/2008) Blueberry, mineral, cocoa, pepper and a floral quality on the palate with a gamy and leathery nose. Give it a little time and the palate becomes a little dry and leathery with blueberry and other elements still there but integrating.
This wine went strange places. Started out with California fruit + Old World detail and then I noticed the nose had that rotting fruit; almost Grenache smell. The palate became a little sweeter (candied red fruit) but it seemed to get acidic and warm. I liked it better at first, but regardless this was a pleasure to drink no matter what.
After being open a while it became tannic and closed. The fruit subdued by tannin and now resembles plum. That is why I don’t decant; look at all I would have missed.
Had a bottle of this last night to accompany pizza and a salad, NY style... 10/30/2009 rated 84 points: Seemed to be starting to turn a brownish hue. Typical Paso, big red jammy fruits on the nose that only opened more as the evening progressed. Seemed to still have a significant amount of tannins hanging on. A bit disjointed upon opening, but seemed to integrate better after a half hour or so. Weird short finish that did not seem to change for the better after an hour of being open. Lots to like even though it does not compare to the reserve 02 I had last year. Still a nice qpr from winebid.
Posts: 465 | Location: San Diego | Registered: Apr 12, 2007
