Lillian, Syrah, California

Dark red,forest floor, tobacco and cedar on the nose. Mature, balanced, coffee,chocolate,black cherry that is well integrated with oak and soft tannins. Good by itself and with food.

2015 vintage

Definitely evokes Cote Rotie with restrained pepper, olive, dark red fruit notes. Well made by MH and AT.

2015 vintage

PnP, served at dinner party. Drinking very nicely, showing some maturity but still plenty of life left. Dominated by spicy dark fruit, nice intensity and length. Wonderful wine.

2010 vintage

Unfortunately my bottle was marred by a slight cork taint; a shame as you could sense a very good wine behind it- surprising youthful fruit in a profile that has held together very well - purple-fruited with herbs that registers as very California syrah, framed in oak that’s well integrated. My last bottle, alas. Probably would’ve rated 92 or better.

2008 vintage

Very elegant nose. Not much on the finish. But started to open up as time went on, so I imagine it should get better after a few more hours. I suspect it will get better in several more years. Has a lot of potential.

2017 vintage

Poured at Antica Terra for my friend Ian and I. We both thought it seemed flawed in some way, so they opened another bottle and it was the same. Needless to say, we didn’t love this. It’s not bad, but it’s way below our expectation. Could simply be vintage or this specific bottling run. Still fun to try. Beware of this one. Charred corn was one of the stronger notes.

2017 vintage

This is amazing. Like drinking a blackberry pie with cassis. Complex, juicy, integrated tannins.

2013 vintage

Full and brooding dark fruits, pepper, bacon. Still very dark in color. The tannins are quite silky at this stage and overall it has held up pretty well. It is showing a bit of heat from its hefty alcohol, which the fruit held in check early in its evolution.

2007 vintage

Really put together and drinking at peak. Pepper taste is well integrated with fruit and tannins.

2015 vintage

Drinking very well now. Beautiful dark fruit, good length and balance.

2008 vintage

Strong rose petal, spice, blackcurrant on the nose that transformed into violet and wet stone/moss after an hour decant. Velvety palate with dark fruits, earth, and a touch of salinity. This felt very well balanced to me.

2013 vintage

After a short decant, the nose was strong with rose petals, blackberry, black currant, perfume. Floral notes turned to violet as it calmed down a bit. After a few hours the undertones became wet moss, quite earthy. On the palate this was a well executed Syrah, not my favorite combination of tasting notes, but I could appreciate them nonetheless. Initial hits of blackberry, black pepper, spice, currants, with low acidity. Strong bitter dark chocolate finish. Slight smoke or tobacco spice. …

2013 vintage

Blueberry, pepper, aromatic florals - really delicious with a 2 hour decant. Need to find more

2015 vintage

Blueberry, blueberry and bacon

2015 vintage

2010 Lillian Syrah blue Label. Alc 15.3%. Intense earthy nose Palate starts sweet with brown sugar then goes to game, meat and iron notes. Still very young.

2010 vintage

Why different labels? My btl says Dundee and I see others with Amity. Deep color, fragrant, good mouthfeel, enjoyable.

2007 vintage

Consistent with previous tasting note.

2015 vintage

In a good apot

2017 vintage

Have loved this wine when tasted in the past. This bottle was brought to two consecutive wine nights as the backup and remained uncracked. I felt bad for it, so opening it tonight. Via Coravin. Tasting note taken at 68 deg F. Deep ruby. Med+ aromatic intensity. Aromas of red cherry, black cherry, black licorice, stewed tomato, vanilla, rose, orange peel, bay leaf, baking spice. Developing. Wine is dry, medium acid, medium tannin and they are losing grippiness, medium alcohol …

2015 vintage

What a positive surprise! I think this wine is at its peak now. On day one, aromas of blue fruit, some animal notes and smoke and even some lead pencil shavings. On day two much more 'syrah'-ish with bonfire, bacon fat and blood. The palate has really smoothed out. Slightly drying fruit profile and very textural with nice high quality tannins. Also a nice spine of acidity to balance the wine. At this stage of life the palate has some …

2007 vintage

I agree with others that this wine is ready to drink. While I believe it can continue to develop some tertiary flavors, everything seems to be in harmony at present. Dark black fruit is complemented by a subtle core of olive, herbs de Provence, and graphite. I expected a bit more weight and intensity, but I was surprised to find it rather tamed, almost rustic at times. This really blossomed with 45 minutes in the decanter. It's undoubtedly a good …

2013 vintage

solid syrah, but did not stand out to me...the saxum smoked it.

2017 vintage

As wonderful and consistent as ever. In the glass, the wine displays a medium-dark purple/red color with the slightest amount of bricking at the rim. We drank this undecanted and that was a mistake because (similar to other reviewers), we got a bit of heat on the nose at first approach. This burned off after ~30 minutes and was much more enjoyable afterwards. Typical nose of luscious, dark blue fruit, pomegranate, and lavender - really terrific. The wine really shines …

2010 vintage

2024 Year-End Dinner : When I sniffed this I just thought this is so burgundy-like nose, incredibly perfumed, so floral, ethereal. This would have stood out probably a lot more if not for the Cote Rotie and the rest of the Bordeaux. The same winemaker (Maggie Harrison) as Antica Terra, I believe. Fruit from White Hawk Vineyard in Santa Barbara county. Unfined and unfiltered.

2015 vintage

G5; 4.5+8.5*+4.5*+8.5*+8.5*+4.5*+4.5=94+ Side by side with 2015 Cayuse 'No Girls.' A much darker pure purple color that looks very healthy. Aromatics are more dark berry driven, but still nicely balanced with some floral and spice. Mouthfeel is ultra-plush and fairly smooth with enough acidic backbone to keep it fresh and lively. Flavors are dark berry, chocolate, leather, and a touch of spiced red berry. Finish is medium length, but caressingly smooth and inviting of the next sip to keep the …

2015 vintage

No detailed notes. Decanted and consumed over about 2 hours. Deep color. Potent, almost overpowering, nose of cloves, allspice, eucalyptus, menthol, red fruit, and tar. Nicely balanced and similarly spicy on the palate with plenty of fruit and acidity but no tannins to speak of. Clipped, spicy, fruity finish. All in all I recall this being a well-made wine but I could neither identify the grape nor the terroir. Could just as easily have been a California zinfandel or a …

2008 vintage

Antica Terra: Welcome to our Table (Amity OR) : Dense and powerful black plum and cherry throughout, this is wonderfully balanced already in its youth. Lush but well centered with a rich, meaty core. Better from 2028 forward.

2015 vintage

Antica Terra: Welcome to our Table (Amity OR) : Rich black fruits with faintly sweet spice at its glorious apogee. A real charmer.

2008 vintage

Was a little drier than prior. Savory notes at the fore.

2015 vintage

Soft and easy. Lush. Touch of meat, smoke and herbs balanced against plum and darker fruit. Drinking well. No reason to hold.

2007 vintage

Ready to drink. Smooth, good finish and mouthfeel.

2013 vintage

Really fascinating... Full of notes of earth and forest against a background of blackberry and cassis. This is definitely shooting for character rather than generic perfection, which is refreshing as someone who normally drinks Napa. This is great, but the blend seems to lack just a conviction in its character. Very glad to have another to revisit in time.

2015 vintage

Stunningly youthful still; Black hole blue color; over-extracted black and blue fruits yielding melted licorice, stewed black fruits, almost a fruity amaro like aspect but really quite nice even if over the top. Enjoyed this and in great shape. Perfect wine for charred BBQ meats. EWG Syrah Tasting at Soot Bull Jeep

2008 vintage

Blueberry, bacon, cassis and lots of black pepper on the long finish

2015 vintage

Fruit was quite muted initially but a half-hour decant brought out pretty black and blueberry and subtle floral (violet?) notes. Very smooth and easy to drink—and great with a steak dish. The alcohol is high but doesn’t taste like it. Really good and ready to drink. Not sure what any more time in bottle would do for this.

2013 vintage

Grilling and Chilling with Syrah (Mike's house) : Decanted at least an hour, drank a small pour at a tasting. Younger and less interesting than the 2010 in this flight, although I'm scoring the same because the fruit was prettier. I'm surprised this didn't show better tonight. Root day? A bottle a year ago was much more impressive.

2013 vintage

Grilling and Chilling with Syrah (Mike's house) : Decanted about 30 minutes, drank a small pour at a tasting. Really bright red fruit. Not great complexity and little else here except that red fruit. This seemed kind of simple. After also tasting the 2013 in the same flight, I can tell that there is a touch of earth and some tobacco in this, but its somewhat hidden in the background.

2010 vintage

Perhaps my least favorite Lillian to date - just seemed a bit disjointed for some reason. Best on initial decant, then faded over the nights drunk. Not worth the 55 spent, and even that is low compared to community. 92,90

2013 vintage

Double decanted and then thru an aerator. Deep berry color, a bit of a perfume, spice finish. Mid palate finish. In the glass, 30 min later really begins to open. Fragrant. Went well with Turkey/feta burgers. Drink.

2010 vintage

Nose: like an old shoe and bacon Taste: dirt, cassis, blackberries, Wow this is complex and fits together all at the same time. I like this wine!!!

2015 vintage

Blackberry and roasted meat on the nose. Lovely interplay between power and freshness on the palate. Delicately spiced on the persistent finish.

2015 vintage

Using WSET Level 3 system Color / intensity - deep ruby Intensity - pronounced Aromas - blackberry, plum, black cherry, black raisin, meat, smoke, earth, baking spice, vanilla, black olive, rose Development - developing Dry, high acid, high alcohol, medium+ tannins, full body Flavor intensity high Finish - long Flavors - replicate nose, add bay leaf Overall - BLIC 1/1/1/1 - Outstanding Drink now, but suitable for further aging Unofficially, this is an awesome wine!

2015 vintage

2 hour decant; very delicious Syrah, as I have come to expect from Maggie Harrison and her team. Dark berry fruit is primary, with some nice savory elements showing up on the midpalate and finish: Espresso, cracked peppercorn and tar, along with a bit of dark chocolate. Wish I had more! Drink now with air - 2032.

2017 vintage

Still when it's peak, still very tight but opens up dark fruit berries with lots of earth flavors. Enjoyed it a lot.

2010 vintage

Too primary and in your face … needs another 5 years min to relax

2017 vintage

In a perfect spot

2013 vintage

No formal notes, but these are so reliably delicious for my palate. It tastes like cool climate Syrah but I had forgotten that they use grapes from CA. Whatever they do, it's fantastic.

2010 vintage

Deep opaque purple, not quite crystal clear Ripe blackberry flavors and aromas with a hint of chocolate mint. This has really come together quite brilliantly. Showing well right now

2013 vintage

Forgot I opened one of these earlier in the year. Whoops. Wish I had more. Hour decant, then consumed from decanter over the next 3hrs. My note here is fairly similar to the 2014 note, but there is more concentration and power going on. Dark purple in the glass, with aromatics of both sweet oak as well as a kiss of whole cluster stem inclusion. Loads of dark floral notes, ripe blackberries, and smoked jerky. Large-scaled mid palate depth and …

2015 vintage

One of the best Syrahs I have had. This is very ready to drink. Lots of energy, but also smooth somehow. Got us all talking.

2013 vintage

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Lillian, Syrah, California

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