Harbor Winery Syrah

Getting long in the tooth but still balanced. Forest floor, dust, red fruit, blackberry, oak, tannins still holding on.

My, this is much better than the bottle I had a year ago! The flaws I noted then were not displayed in this bottle. Initially quite closed, tight and leathery, it opened up with an hour of breathing. Deep purple color with ruby rim. Nice nose of white pepper, smoke, tobacco, earth and fruit preserves. Excellent length, weight and balance on the palate. Smooth but with a nervy acidity that walks the tightrope. Flavors of tart red fruits, earth, minerals …

Decanted off of a small amount of sediment, poured, and sampled over the next 90 mins. Nice bricky red color, fading toward the edge. Fragrant nose of cherries, cedar, floral notes, and spices. It took about an hour to open, and it was worth the wait. Smooth and elegant on the palate, not flabby or tart; medium body and pleasant weight. Spice flavors lead ahead of cedary tones; cooked flavors began to show up after about 90 mins. It's not …

Bought a few bottles from Corti Bros. This was my second one... Still youthful color. Deep, dark purple in the center turning garnet at the rim. Nose is interesting with aromas of spice, cherries, strawberries and tobacco; but red flags are background hints of oxidation, rotten fruit and paint thinner. Red fruit and resin flavors but a little thin on the palate and a slightly bitter finish. Not bad but nowhere near as good as the 2004...

Deep red with orange rim. Exceptional nose of cedar, earthy-musty aromas, hard spices, stones, plums, and cooked blackberry notes. Deliciously balanced, even at its 8 1/2 years of age, showing no sign of senescence. Tobacco and cedar notes chime in on the palate. The finish is long and wonderful, with waves of wood, iron filings, and allspice ahead of near-zero tannins. This wine is at its peak and I'm really sad that it's my last bottle.

Opened and aired for about an hour. Deep red color with hints of orange. Mushroomy in the nose, with cherries, plums, earth, graphite, and vanilla notes, all complicated by a certain highly agreeable mustiness from bottle age. Very pleasant weight in the mouth, with fruit still holding, coupled with iron filings, truffles, and a hint of vanilla. Still a bit of tannin in the finish, and lively acidity, but holding this 03 wine longer probably will not improve what it …