Sanguis, Pilgrim Syrah, Santa Barbara County

Tons of fruit, hot… tasty

2010 vintage

Consistent with previous tasting note - this is in a very good place right now.

2013 vintage

Pop and pour into a decanter. In the glass, dark ruby red at the rim, shading immediately to inky maroon at the core. On the nose, raspberry, blackberry, peach, and potpourri. On the palate, blackberry, white pepper, and peach - a bit of that beguiling mix of fruit and aromatics that come from syrah/viognier blends, and that always seems to hit the spot for me. Still some unresolved tannins on the back palate - I'd guess we're still another 2-3 …

2012 vintage

Pop and pour into a decanter. In the glass, clear dark red. On the nose, cherries, plums, and a burst of fresh ground pepper. On the palate, dark fruit with a rustic, rough texture, with secondary notes of peach and pepper. At the risk of offending someone at Sanguis, this comes across as the low rent version of a good-vintage Bossman, i.e., a Cali Cote Rotie (Bossman!) with choppy tannins (not Bossman). With that said, I'm always a sucker for …

2013 vintage

Popped and let breathe for about 20 minutes. Nose: blueberry, orange peel, violets Palate: raspberry, pomegranate, long finish with an amazing mouthfeel. Drinking really well right now, and I think it’s at its peak.

2013 vintage

Indeed gentile earthy black fruit goodness with a wee bit of tapenade, soft tannins and pepper. Yes it fades more quickly than would have preferred, which means we rushed the next sip and killed the bottle more quickly than normal, but oooh well, still quite enjoyable... :-p

2013 vintage

P&P through an aerator. Delicious and elegant wine with hints of tannin. Red and black fruit, woodsmoke, cedar, black olive and tobacco flavors. Surprised how quickly the finish falls off. Loved everything about this one right up until the end of every sip...drink now - 2023.

2013 vintage

Almost really lovely Syrah blend from SB. Deep red fruit smell, with a nice lightly smoky, woody undertone. Big and bold in mouthfeel, coats the mouth, very light tannins. Simple, but pleasant. unfortunately sharply falls apart on the backend, which made this probably not a rebuy.

2013 vintage

Seemingly different from bottle on 9/13/20. Decanted 45 minutes - very little sludge. Initial aromas of cinnamon, spices and black cherries. This bottle much more restrained and medium-bodied than previous. Some dried cherries and minerals on the nose with a little vanilla. on the palate, fruit was sweet but measured - black raspberries and some minerals on a more elegant structure than last bottle. A little oak and cherry jam on the finish, but otherwise restrained. Not tons of structure, …

2012 vintage

Raspberry, black and red, anise, white chocolate, white pepper

2012 vintage

Deep color. Strawberry, blackberry on the nose. Black cherry, strawberry on the palate. Gentle, sweet finish; light tannins.

2013 vintage

A supple pleasure bomb. Sweet nose of black raspberry, licorice and vanilla. Definite purity of fruit - the only thing that's missing is structure. That being said, this is a layered Syrah with a bit of cherry jam. I don't see much aging potential - think this is at peak. Me = 91, Wife = 93.

2012 vintage

Drank over two days. This is fully accessible now, with luscious dark fruit and supple tannins. Drink up.

2012 vintage

Pop and pour. This is singing with firm, structured tannins, smoky dark fruit mouth-filling palate, medium finish that fades seamlessly. I love the name Pilgrim for this, the Sanguis with the strongest backbone and most clearly Syrah.

2013 vintage

Blueberry cobbler, kirsch, licorice, white pepper, black raspberry. Incredibly smooth, no hard edges, velvet tannin's. Spectacular

2012 vintage

Deep purple color with no signs of oxidation. Nose with hints of mushroom and dark berry fruit. Medium to full body with elegance and polish. Flavors of black currant, licorice and minerality. It finished long. An impressive wine with years of life left.

2012 vintage

Pop and pour. Square-shouldered Sanguis with dark fruit, grilled toast, black pepper, nutty finish. Simple and deep.

2013 vintage

Pop and pour. Gorgeous, focused Sanguis with nose of rare roast beef and palate of thick dark fruit well-integrated with peppery acid and bracing tannins. I'd say this is toward the end of it's peak window.

2010 vintage

A Cali-Rhône blend that knocks it out of the ballpark. Decanted for 60 minutes, this offering is open for business. Aromatic with Asian spices and black fruits that caress the palate with blackberries, espresso, creosote and hillside herbs. A lusty, rewarding finish. This is a beautiful wine (and, unfortunately, our last bottle). Drink now (with decant) through 2027. Outstanding.

2013 vintage

Pop and pour. This evolved beautifully over 3.5 hours, starting with silky dark fruit, through a brooding phase, ending in velvety goodness with smoky quince and walnut notes. Another creative Sanguis that doesn't disappoint.

2012 vintage

Decanted for 45 minutes before service. In the glass, clear medium-dark red. On the nose, cherries, plums, and a hint of pepper. On the palate, dark fruit leading the way with secondary notes of pepper, peach, earth, and a salty note somewhere between beef blood and seawater. Somewhat muted finish, but the complexity here makes me think we caught it during a dumb period. I have a feeling another 2-3 years will get this one to a pretty nice spot...

2013 vintage

Tasting at Sanguis : Peppery aromatics, black cherry, minerals, dried florals. Boysenberry fruit on the palate with dried herbs, savory spices, florals and melted stone - seamlessly layered. Huge profile, but well-balanced and silky, round tannins and a big finish.

2013 vintage

(Tasted at the winery’s release party and pulled from the library.) Tastes like it’s coming out of hibernation. Rich licorice, black and red berries, and nice herbal notes. A gentle, satisfying finish. Drink now to 2025. Delicious.

2012 vintage

Decanted and served. Deep black fruit, tart acid. Garrigue on the nose. Consistent over 2.5 hours.

2010 vintage

A wine of transparent depth and gentle strength, balancing old world character with the sunny disposition typical of a Californian. Smooth, sweet and expansive, offering intense black and dark red berry fruits, Szechuan beef and wild flowers. I’m a big fan of these co-fermented Syrah/Viognier that provide an aromatic lift and weightless dimension to the wine.

2012 vintage

On the nose, loads of black fruit, warm curry spice, dried mushroom. Palate is coffee, cocoa powder without the bitterness, and red fruit finish. The finish is long with a very light acid hit. Truly exquisite.

2013 vintage

Smooth, easy-drinking Sanguis with accessible nose of garrigue and light hay. On the palate, medium body and mouth-filling red and blue fruit.

2010 vintage

The best Pilgrim to date. Absolutely delicious. Stylistically classic Sanguis. If you have had wines from Matthias you will love this!!!

2013 vintage

Nose: Great earthy funk, cracked pepper, garden vegetables and a massive dose of spicy dark fruit. Palate: Enters with huge Cherry, Plum and quince fruit and then gives charcoal, game and leather notes. Spice is nice all over this, and it is balanced with velvety fruit Finish: Long and detailed with great mineral and earth supporting the fruit. paired beautifully with a Buffalo sirloin.

2013 vintage

Drinks nice with a 2 hour decant. Surprisingly a nice mix between old world subtilty and new world density. Palate is filled with deep flavors of iron rich beef, smoke, stewed red fruits, and damp eairthiness. Fresher elements of bright cherry and lavender also emerge. Easily has 10 more years left. 97% Syrah and 3% Viognier.

2012 vintage

(Tasted at the Winery) Most forward of the wines we tasted. Roasted meats, Asian spices, white and black pepper and gobs of blackberries. Erupts from the glass. Many years ahead. ( ��= Outstanding)

2013 vintage

BT - Favorite non-cab of the evening!

2013 vintage

Certainly is quite delicious. Big, full flavored, lots and lots of bright dark fruits (though not jammy). Some dusty notes.

2010 vintage

(Tasted at the winery with H.) Aged for 36 months prior to release, the 2012 Pilgrim provides a snout full of beautiful wine. Mostly Syrah co-fermented with a small amount of Viognier, this offering is made for the long haul. Showy but fine tannins. Floral in the bouquet, evolving into meaty (beef blood) and iron notes on the palate. Opens up in the glass. Revisit in 2020. Drink 2020 - 2030?

2012 vintage

This is a beautifully made wine. A nice deep colour is followed by loads of blueberry fruit that is very nicely balanced with some more subtle elements of medium oak and some nice baking spices on the nose; nice weight to the wine as well. Great 30 second finish is accompanied by medium-low tannin, my only complaint about this wine - I'd prefer more of the tannic structure for this to age. Nonetheless, this producer has winner in this version …

2010 vintage

This is a big beast, and should probably rest for a while. Yet it is delicious now. Against a sort of brambly base of dark fruits and tannins, there is a much brighter and obtrusive red fruit element. I think this wine can go whiles.

2010 vintage

Excellent. Far too young, muted nose of dark fruit and restrained flowers. Incredibly silky mouthfeel with a very locked up finish. This rating will be higher is my guess. I will wait 5 years to touch another of these.

2010 vintage

Opaque black red violet color with red violet meniscus; appealing, aromatic, baked black fruit, tart berry puree, violets, berry jam nose; tasty, poised, medium-plus bodied, roasted black fruit, charcoal, roasted plum palate; could use 3 years; long finish (15% alcohol; 15% whole cluster; 32 months in 40% new French oak)

2010 vintage

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Sanguis, Pilgrim Syrah, Santa Barbara County

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