ROSENBLUM CELLARS ABBA VINEYARD SYRAH - 2004

It has been awhile between posts but it has been a busy week. Shortly after opening this bottle of Abba (cue Dancing Queen music) Vineyard Syrah, my wife went into labor. Good thing I didn't drink much of this big red and its whopping 16.5% alcohol or we'd never have made it to hospital. But I did taste enough of it to do notes and a full review.

More importantly, we had 6 lb and 4 oz baby girl named Grace!

TASTING NOTES:

Dark red color with rich cocoa and ripe blackberry and red berries on the nose. Over-the-top black currant jam, dusty chocolate, vanilla and black cherry cough syrup on the finish. The alcohol definitely is showing here with heat.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

87+ PTS

This Lodi Syrah from California is immense and jammy but the alcohol is overpowering. There is just no need for 16.5% here. It is out of balance and robs this wine of its potential. Some delicious characteristics are spoiled by the heat. A fruit bomb galore, it might improve with some cellaring.