Alain Paret St. Joseph Rochecourbe

What a difference a year or so makes. Now hitting it's secondary stride, the wine is silky and rich. Full of toffee, plum, bitter cocoa, orange peel, and rosy florals. Followed over about 8 hours open and it did lose a lot of steam towards the end but was still a great experience. Too bad I drank the first 11 so darn early. Live and learn.

Notes after following for two days open. Dark, dusty ruby color, 90% saturated. Slow, clear legs and really no sign of age. Very dark roasted coffee, tobacco, carnations, ash, and red velvet cake aroma. Palate is still tightly wound and the last glass was the best, of course. Firm tannins, strong spine, and only beginning to show it's adulthood. With only 1 left now, I think it's destined for 2015

Since I'm the only one drinking this, I won't add any more scores to the page. I bought a case of this with the intent of following a simple Old World Syrah over time and it has helped educate me about maturation. Every bottle has become smoother and overall more enjoyable. The bouquet is more floral and profound than my last bottle in July 2010 and the acidity has stayed fresh and vibrant. There's still plenty of tannins and persistence …

Another year gone by and this has really come around since last try (7/09). Color actually seems darker, 90% opaque purple. Nose is better integrated, the earth and smoke matching up with the fruit. The palate is full and grippy as the tannins are still prominent but have shed the harsh green bite that gave this a rough edge in it's youth. Feel much better about the remaining 3 in the cellar. Will pull another next year. (5+11+16+8) = 90

Developing well over time. PnP. 90% opaque ruby. Medium intensity nose now showing spicy cherry and minerals. Increased weight and tannins are still going strong. Rest of profile fits prior TN comments. (5+12+15+7) = 89

Getting better and still needs more time. Lots of tar, green pepper, coffee, bacon and wood. Strong, green tannins and edgy acidity. i think another variant bottle

Aired for 24 hours. Medium-dark ruby. Cedar, pepper, and floral perfume on the nose. The pepper character reminds me of sliced Jalapeno aroma. A little tight and green on the palate that gushes with acidity and fully coats the cheeks with tannins. Nice complexity in the fruit department ranging from cherry to plum to rhubarb with fig and tobacco notes following. Short-medium finish that keeps good flavor and balance. I'm just killing these too young - will wait at least …

4hr decant. Dark ruby. Compared to prior bottles, this is really showing more aromatics of fruit and pepper and less earth and leather than before. True middleweight body. Vibrant, but unobtrusive acidity and still, tannins to burn. Finish is now smoother and better joined. Begs for food, like the filet mignon w/shaved asiago I had last night. Tricky vintage and I've already had bottle variations among the 5 I've consumed from the case, but it sure seems like rest is …

85% opaque ruby. Lots of green pepper, leather, spice, and bramble on the nose over a base of red berry fruit. Fruit is more prominent in the mouth with toasted oak and pepper notes. Bright acidity, firm tannins, and medium+ body. Finish releases extra bouquets for a long ending with above average complexity. (5+12+14+7) = 88

3rd time in 3 days, this time with long decant. Nose seems a little tamer than before and I notice a little more white pepper. Raspberry, plum, cherry fruits and giving me nice sense of a Rhone. Medium body, acidity and tannins holding their own but this should make a great everyday quaff in due time. Medium length finish, which is exactly what I want in this style. Very happy with this value. (5+12+15+7) = 89

TCA. Cork looked okay compared to first bottle but the wine tasted like a leather boot.

1st of a case. Foil and cork show seepage but was removed intact. Notes are 1hr in the glass (this really should decant longer) . Still bright ruby and little sign of age. First aroma from a distance is a little seawater and as I move closer I get a little vegetable and dirt salad - broccoli, sprouts, earth and moss, smoked nuts - completely OW style. Dark prune and fig, tobacco, spice, and dark chocolate palate. Heat translates to …