Saxon-Brown Syrah Flora Ranch

Slightly green with significant alcohol at PnP. 2 hours was about right to round this one out. Blackberry and red oak nose. Macerated red plum, bacon fat, little cracked black peppercorn, chalky tannins. Finish was long, more blackberry with subtle black spices, slightly hot still, but not obtuse. Significant sediment in bottle, so pour carefully. 50/5/10/8/8/8

A bit flabby and jammy for some, but a syrah style I can like. Lots of dark fruit, which comes though almost more on the palate than the nose. Oak is prevalent, and the high alcohol percentage (14.8) noticeable. Worth the tax.

First taste after P&P had a little funkiness... so decanted and that funkiness blew off. After that, powerful fruit-foward wine. A bit jammier than I prefer, but good balance. Full body and a strong finish. Wife who is not a realy syrah fan enjoyed that this one was not peppery.

This was an interesting wine. A medium bodied syrah, some smoked meat and earthiness but with strawberry or raspberry flavors and cola similiar to a pinot noir. Some good acidity and tannins but I kept thinking of pinot. Overall, i still liked just thinking the price should be a little lower.

This wine was amazing. Loved it. Juicy, great tannins, and smooth. This was a great wine and a great price. It actually had a bit or earthiness on the aroma and a hint of it on the taste.

2010 Family Winemakers Tasting San Francisco; 8/22/2010-8/23/2010 (Fort Mason Festival Pavillon, San Francisco, California) : Nice black fruit, roasted black fruit nose; black fruit, roasted black fruit palate; medium-plus finish

Full, wholesome, competent and bold in the classic form of the syrah varietal. Being fruit forward and more aggressive, one does not expect any subtleness that would classify it as elegant or complex. Can't lose points for something it is not expected to deliver. Nonetheless it had dimension and clarity of purpose commensurate of this winemaker.

NOTE: This wine was slightly cooked (it arrived at 90 degrees in my apt, and the 1/3 of the cork was stained, through to the very top), so this is probably a less than accurate review. I awarded points based on my guess of what it would be like had it not been heat damaged. Sniffed from the cork and the mouth of the bottle, it smelled rich, smooth, and deeply fruity - like dark, ripe, almost dried cherries and …