Rocca Family Vineyard Yountville Syrah 2003
Rocca Family Vineyard
This Syrah abounds in big, jammy aromas; lots of cherry and wild plum, with notes of sweet smoke, intermingling with baking spices (clove, nutmeg) and just a hint of earthy wild sage character adds complexity to this full bodied wine. The entry is bright with juicy fruit flavors, the fresh cherry character continues to swell as the vanilla and spice notes drift in the background. Soft and silky throughout the palate impression, the lingering flavors are of intense raspberry and cherry jam.
Wine Spectator
Plump ripe blueberry and blackberry fruit picks up an alluring spicy nuance, with a pinch of toasty oak. The flavors fold together nicely on the long, complex finish, returning to the fruit themes. Drink now through 2011.
Score: 93.
—James Laube,
March
31,
2008.
Wine Enthusiast
This wine has been variable, but the '03 shows lots of varietal distinction. It opens with a burst of white pepper-infused blackberry, chocolate, licorice and oak aromas, and turns rich and soft in the mouth, with similar flavors. The smooth tannins make this immediately drinkable.
Score: 90.
—Steve Heimoff,
December
31,
2007.
All sizes are 750mL unless otherwise noted.
Vintages and ratings subject to change at any time.
All pricing and availability subject to change.
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Since 1997, the 100% subscriber-supported IWC has also been available in French and Japanese editions.
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Wine Enthusiast Magazine is a lifestyle magazine covering wine, food, spirits, travel and entertaining topics. It was founded in 1988 by Adam and Sybil Strum and reaches 686,000 readers. Its wine ratings, conducted by reviewers in major wine-producing areas of the world, are considered an influential gauge for consumers and professionals in the wine industry.
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Wine and Spirits is America's practical guide to the straightforward, enlightened enjoyment of fine wine and and premium spirits. We have for 18 years served customers and marketers alike with a lively mix of wine reviews, features, profiles, food and wine pairings, new product introductions, travel pieces, history, opinion and wine business news.
Burghound
Burghound.com was the first of its kind to offer specialized, and more importantly, exhaustive coverage of a specific wine region. The first Issue was released in January of 2001 and there are now subscribers in more than 50 countries and nearly all 50 states. Allen Meadows spends over four months a year in Burgundy and visits more than 300 domaines during that time.
James Halliday
James is one of the world’s leading authorities on Australian wine, matching intelligent, honest reviews with unparalleled knowledge of, and passion for, the wine industry.
Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine
For thirty-five years, Connoisseurs’ Guide has been the authoritative voice of the California wine consumer. With readers in all fifty states and twenty foreign countries, the Guide is valued by wine lovers everywhere for its honesty and for it strong adherence to the principles of transparency, unbiased, hard-hitting opinions.
James Suckling
I rate wines using the 100-points scale. I have used this point system for close to 25 years. I still believe it is the simplest way to rate a wine, with its origins from grade school in the United States. A wine that I rate 90 points or more is outstanding (A), and worth buying. If I rate a wine 95 points or more (A+), it is a must buy.
View from the Cellar
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Malt Advocate magazine is America's leading whisky magazine. It's the number one source for whisky information, education and entertainment for whisky enthusiasts.
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Dedicated to the wines and grapes of the Rhone Valley
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Wine Review Online was originally conceived by Publisher Robert Whitley as an all-encompassing platform for the many talented wine journalists he came across in his travels as wine columnist for the Creators Syndicate.
