We cracked three Saturday night, in an attempt to find something decent:
1. RosenblumCllrs Calif Syrah Vintner'sCuvee (14.6%) V&B by RosenblumCllrs/Sonoma 2006: Med.dark color; some blackberry/boysenberry/Syrah bit Lodi/earthy/mushroomy slight fumey nose; very soft/fat light blackberry/Syrah some bitter bit earthy/Lodi flavor; short soft/fat somewhat bitter light blackberry/Syrah; pleasant enough nose that speaks of Syrah if'n you crank up the hearing aid but dull as dishwater on the palate; not worth the price; speaks mostly of Lodi. $12.00
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2. CanardSauvage Zin DryCreekVlly/SonomaCnty (15.8%; 13% PetiteSirah) Sebastapol 2008: Med.color; rather ripe/blackberry/Zin some vanilla/Am.oak somewhat fumey/alcoholic simple Zin nose; soft/ripe somewhat alcoholic/fumey/hot very ripe/blackberry rather vanilla/Am.oak simple flavor; med.short very ripe/blackberry/Zin rather vanilla/Am.oak somewhat hot/ripe/alcoholic finish w/ little tannins; bit too ripe and dull as dishwater.$10.00
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3. Groom BarossaVlly BushBlock Zin (14.7%) MarschallGroomCllrs/Tanunda 2008: Dark color; strong menthol/eucalyptus/minty rather boysenberry/Syrah-like slight blackberry/Zin some vanilla/oak pleasant nose; soft/fat menthol/eucalyptus ripe/boysenberry/Syrah strong vanilla/oak slight chalky/tannic flavor; long strong menthol/eucalyptus rather boysenberry/ripe/Syrah-like some tannic finish; can use a yr or two of age; little Zin character and more like Oz Syrah; pleasant enough wine but not worth the price. $25.00
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And a wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Rosenblum: This is, to my knowledge, Rosenblum's first Vintnerr'sCuvee Syrah. The VC Zin has always been a juicy/spoofalated rendition of Zin. This Syrah was much different from the VC Zin in that it seemed an attempt to be a more serious wine than the Zin. Made from purchased wine on the bulk market is my understanding. The nose was promising, but it delivered very little on the palate. An easy pass.
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2. CanardSauvage: Presume this is another TraderJoe's label. Even at this price, an easy pass.
Tom
