This is one of the best Californian Syrahs I’ve had the pleasure of tasting. It has been in my cellar since release and I have been eying it for some years now and finally decided to pull the cork. Still quite a dark colour, the age betrayed only by some lightening at the edges.
The nose was all about Northern Rhone – some bacon fat, smokey and some nice berry overtones although little of the floral grace notes you find in some Cote Roties, for instance. Excellent balance with mouth-watering acidity and a long persistent finish.
To all of the reviews that claimed this has peaked years ago – hey, you were wrong! And it should carry on for some years yet, although I think that it has hit plateau. The complete lack of overly sweet blousy Syrah that I deplore in many American Syrah wines is quite endearing. I’d even be willing to put this into a blind tasting as a ringer with Northern Rhone wines. As you may have guessed, I am not a fan of Syrahs from California that get mistaken for Australian Shiraz in blind tastings! Excellent – wish I had bought more! It is much better than the 97 Bien Nacido from the same winery.