MacLaren Syrah Dry Stack Vineyards

Blinded this on my brother at a family gathering. This showed much better than my previous bottle from Oct 2020 - not sure if it this was due to additional bottle age or that bottle was not entirely sound. In any case, my brother guessed 2018 GSM from Santa Barbara County which wasn't a bad guess as it turned out. This was clearly new world, with a nice core of fruit but balanced and expressive. Everyone enjoyed this and thought …

2nd of 2 bottles from recent auction. This bottle hit most of the right notes again, save the acidity just sticking out a little more than I prefer. Still an excellent California Syrah that's super pleasing to drink and goes very well with food.

1st of 2 bottles from recent auction. This was the polar opposite of the 2008 MacLaren Dry Stack Syrah. That was ripe, round, open, and inviting. This was taught, angular, acidic, tannic, and mostly unforgiving. Interesting that two Syrah from the same vintage, same winemaker, and close proximity are so different from each other. Actually, this was not as bad as I make it sound, as it was enjoyable with the roast chicken dinner. I think this may improve with …

14.5% abv. 1st of 2 bottles from recent auction purchase. Cork was in great shape and came out nicely and intact with a waiter's two-stage corkscrew. Interesting nose, not really very aromatic, but with some briny notes. On the palate, this was full, ripe, and fairly round but with sneaky acidity that really gave this an overall "fresh" experience. The California sun is apparent here, but the pure Syrah character is there, with not even a hint of overt oak …

Maybe beyond its time

This was one of those wines that got so much better over time, and one of my few RRV Syrahs. Sorry to see this last bottle go. Blackberry and black currant, savory notes, good concentration. Acidity spot on providing lift into the ample finish. Unbelievable value.

Raquel Welch was not just beautiful in her day. She was voluptuous, passionate and decidedly gorgeous. That describes this wine. This wine is at its peak. Thank you Steve Law. Decanted for 4 hours and was rewarded with one of the finest syrahs i have ever enjoyed. A year ago this wine was noticeably tighter but now shows soft rounded tannins. What a joy.

Drinking very well now with good minerality and an interesting nose with some herbal characteristics. Very well balances

This was very tasty. Fruity and wonderfully wll balanced.

We opened and decanted this wine for 6 hours before drinking. This resulted in a lovely well rounded syrah. Earthy fruit on the nose and dark chewy berries on the palate. A lingering light acidity lets you know this has even more time to cellar but is very drinkable now. A great wine from Steve Law who is a great cool climate syrah producer. Looking forward to our remaining bottles.

Drinking well presently. Black fruit, good concentration, nice lift into the finish.

First night there was something off-putting on the nose and upon the first sip. By the second night this was totally gone, and the wine was quite enjoyable. Blackberry, some blue fruit, rather brooding. Okay flourish midway through. In the end enjoyed it, but will do a solid decant next time.

Interesting Syrah. Poured through Vinturi and drank over the course of an hour. There was something akin to but not exactly Brett that was off-putting. That seemed to blow off after a half hour. Ignoring that, initial impression was of somewhat muted black fruit, and the surprising flavors of mushroom and bay leaf. Less sweetness than your usual Syrah as well. Blackberry with those herbaceous and earthy notes. After a time, those became more subtle. Very interesting and surprising. In …

Very good syrah. Good earthiness, rhone style

- Garnet color and aromas of black currant, black pepper and smokey. It's balanced with a medium/full body. Smooth texture with a medium finish. Develops a meaty element and a coffee on the palate a solid syrah and a good qpr. Rapidly becoming one of my favorite producers for syrah.