AMV in the News
Excellent QPR from award-winning Good Wine Under $20 blog!
Many thanks to Dr. Deborah Harkness, who among such trivial things as being a university 
history professor, a Wine & Spirits contributor, and a New York Times bestselling author (A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night), managed to find time to write a wonderful review of our 2008 Syrah Tous les Jours.
Dr. Deb blessed it with an ‘excellent QPR‘ and called it, ‘…an exceptional bottle of wine for the price.’ Read the complete Good Wine Under $20 review by clicking here…you might enjoy Dr. Deb’s suggested food pairings…and we might just pair it with a good novel…
2008 Esperance: Makes the ‘Most Memorable Wines of 2011′ List
How could you not want to read a wine blog with this title, “Wine without BS”? Here’s the blurb about the site:
“Welcome to Wine Without BS. Sick of reading wine reviews that fail to sell me on the product itself, my aim is to breathe some much needed normality to an industry neck deep in bullshit speak and wine wank terminology.”
Its author is an Aussie who recently spent an extended period in the U.S. sampling American wines…perhaps a kindred spirit…
During his travels, this international man of mystery was introduced to our 2008 Esperance GSM Red Blend, and evidently loved it; he just named it to his ‘Most Memorable Wines of 2011 List’!
Read his complete list of ‘Most Memorable Wines of 2011′ by clicking here.
2006 Purple Haze Wine Review from Now and Zin Wine Blog
Thanks to Randy Fuller of Now and Zin Wine Blog (along with Now and Zin daily wine radio features) for this entertaining write-up on our 2006 Purple Haze Syrah/Viognier blend … new ‘This is E11even Wines’ coming in February 2012 !
From the post: “Incredibly dark and delicious, Purple Haze made me forget all about the Crosstown Traffic.” Read the rest of this great wine review by clicking here.
Visit our ‘This is E11even Wines’ page for background on our new label.
2008 Esperance: Inaugural wine for Reverse Wine Snob’s new series, “Saturday Splurge”
We are honored that Jon Thorsen selected our 2008 Esperance as the inaugural wine for The Reverse Wine Snob’s new series, Saturday Splurge.
From the post: “Some might find this wine to be a tad over the top but if you’re a fan of big, rich and fruity wines this wine is for you. A perfect wine for our first Saturday Splurge.” Read the rest of this great wine review by clicking here.
2008 Esperance Made Wine Lines’ Top Ten Wines of 2011 List!
We are honored that our 2008 Esperance is among a list of outstanding wines named in Wine Lines’ Top Ten Wines of 2011. Wine Lines has been a print column for 22 years, but went digital in May 2011. Click here to read the Top Ten Wines of 2011 list on WineLinesOnline.com. Our 2008 vintage is sold out; look for the 2009 vintage in February/March 2012!
Wine Harlots’ Review of our 2008 Syrah Terra Bella Vineyards
Many thanks to WineHarlots.com for this tribute to Syrah and her kind words about our crafting of this sensational variety of grape.
“Andrew Murray produces some of the finest syrah in California, the Terra Bella Syrah is a remarkable testament to the skill of the winemaker and exquisiteness that is syrah grape varietal.” Click here to read the complete review of the 2008 Syrah Terra Bella Vineyards.
90+ Scores from The Rhone Report!
Issue #10, December 2011
Jeb Dunnuck
2008 Andrew Murray Espérance (USA, California, Central Coast) $30
Earthy and mineral driven, the 2008 Andrew Murray Espérance, 60%, Grenache, 25% Syrah, and 15% Mourvedre aged in 33% new French oak, opens up in the glass to shows beautifully complex aromas of black cherries, underbrush, leather, ripe herbs, and licorice. This carries into a medium to full-bodied wine that’s beautifully balanced, possesses a supple, polished texture, and an overall delicious, exceptionally drinkable profile. It should continue to perform admirably for 6-7 years. (91 pts.)
2008 Andrew Murray Syrah Tous les Jours (USA, California, Central Coast) $16
A fantastic value, the 2008 Andrew Murray Syrah Tous les Jours is a pretty, classy Syrah that opens up in the glass to show complex notes of spiced red and black fruits, ripe herbs, tar, and black olive qualities on the nose. Medium-bodied and fresh and pure on the palate, with integrated acidity and an overall light, deft texture, this delicious and easy going red should be purchased by the case, and consume over the coming 5-6 years. (90 pts.)
2008 Andrew Murray Syrah Terra Bella Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles) $36
Showing the most ripeness and flesh in the lineup is the 2008 Andrew Murray Syrah Terra Bella Vineyard. All Syrah from Hillside plots and aged for 18 months in French oak, it boasts an inky purple color as well as decadent black and blue fruits, vanilla, coffee grinds, and lavender aromatics. This full-bodied, rich, round Syrah has a supple, mouth coating texture, beautifully integrated acidity, and a long, completely dry finish. Impressive and this can be consumed now, or cellared for 4-5 years. (91 pts.)
2008 Andrew Murray Syrah Reserve (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley) $50
Coming from the top 6 Syrah barrels in the winery and the most complete wine in the lineup, the 2008 Andrew Murray Syrah Reserve is a serious Syrah that delivers not only complex, cooler climate aromatic, but perfectly ripe fruit and loads of texture. Showing copious amounts of smoked black fruits, coffee, pepper, and subtle floral nuances on the nose, this wine is medium to full-bodied on the palate and impressively put together, with ripe, yet substantial tannin, vibrant acidity, and a classically styled, structured finish. This is approachable now given the fruit, yet has more than enough structure to allow it to age gracefully for a decade or longer. (93 pts.)
2009 Andrew Murray Syrah Watch Hill Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County) $36
Beautifully distinctive and oozing cool-climate Syrah character, the 2009 Andrew Murray Syrah Watch Hill Vineyard has smoky, gamey notes with wild berry fruits, bramble, pepper, and violets all intermixed. This flows to a medium-bodied Syrah that shows an overall fresh, balanced profile with vibrant acidity and masses of ripe underlying tannin that frame the finish. Give bottles a solid 2-3 years of bottle age, and then drink over the following decade. (92 pts.)
90′s and Up in Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar!
Our 2008 Syrah Tous les Jours received a 90 (“This is an outstanding value.”), and our 2008 Esperance Red Blend, our 2009 Syrah Watch Hill, and our 2008 Syrah Reserve all earned 91′s from reviewer Josh Raynolds of Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar. You can read the full text of these 90+ Tanzer reviews on a PDF by clicking here.
#1 on Holiday Edition Top Ten List!
ReverseWineSnob.com has named our 2008 Syrah Tous les Jours #1 for its Holiday Edition Top Ten List! The website focuses on wines under $20 that deliver outstanding quality-to-price ratios – we’re honored.
“2008 Andrew Murray Vineyards Tous Les Jours Syrah
Still #1! 100% Syrah from the Central Cost of California. Dark berry flavors balanced with just the right amount of spice and a fantastic finish. A decadently good wine. Buy a case.”
94, 93, 92, 91 Wine Advocate Scores!
“This set of wines from Andrew Murray is remarkable for its breadth of quality and sheer value.”
- Antonio Galloni for E. Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate 8-31-11
2008 Grenache Terra Bella Vineyard 92
2008 Esperance 92
2010 RGB White Blend 92
2008 Syrah Reserve 94
2008 Syrah Tous les Jours 91
2008 Syrah Terra Bella Vineyard 93
2008 Syrah McGinley Vineyard 92
2008 Syrah Thompson Vineyard 94
2008 Syrah Watch Hill Vineyard 92
2009 Syrah Watch Hill Vineyard 93
Featured Vintage
- 2009 Grenache – Terra Bella Vineyard
Even better than the critically acclaimed 2008 vintage!
