After the mind-blowing 2004 Agharta Syrah, I had high expectations that it would be followed by additional great wines, and those hopes were answered with the 2005 Black Label, a blend of 97% Syrah, 2% Grenache and 1% Viognier.... Read More
Only produced in top vintages (this is the first since 2012), the 2015 Cornas Vieilles Fontaines comes from 80-year-old vines within the La Fontaine lieu-dit. It's a tough wine to evaluate at this stage, as it's quite... Read More
Now, this is more like it. A big step up from the disjointed Les Chailles, the 2019 Cornas Vieilles Vignes is a classic rendering of Cornas, with hints of crushed stone, mint, blueberries and red berries on the nose. It's... Read More
The second release from Andremily's Jim Binns, the No 2 is an utterly profound blend of 85% Syrah, 11% Mourvèdre and 4% Viognier that saw a touch of whole cluster fermentation and 23 months in 62% new French oak barrels. Its... Read More
The second release from Andremily's Jim Binns, the No 2 is an utterly profound blend of 85% Syrah, 11% Mourvèdre and 4% Viognier that saw a touch of whole cluster fermentation and 23 months in 62% new French oak barrels. Its... Read More
Blended of 89% Syrah, 8% Mourvèdre and 3% Viognier using 54% whole cluster and spending around 22 months in French oak (60% new), the 2014 No 3 has a deep purple-black color and nose of blueberry preserves, spiced black berries... Read More
The 2015 No 4 is composed of 90% Syrah, 4% Mourvèdre and 6% Viognier and saw 35% whole cluster, while spending around 22 months in French oak (70% new). Sporting a very deep purple-black color, it reveals vibrant black currants,... Read More
Blended of 91% Syrah, 6% Mourvedre and 3% Viognier and using 40% whole cluster, the Andremily 2016 No. 5 is sourced from White Hawk, Larner, Harrison-Clarke, Watch Hill and Alta Mesa Vineyards. It spent 22 months in French oak... Read More
Composed of 92% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre and 3% Viognier, using 40% whole cluster, the Andremily 2017 No. 6 is sourced from White Hawk, Larner, Harrison-Clarke, Watch Hill and Alta Mesa Vineyards. To be bottled mid-August 2019, it... Read More
The 2019 No. 8 is a blend of 88% Syrah, 9% Mourvèdre and 3% Viognier, made with 45% whole clusters. Fruit comes from several vineyards including White Hawk, Larner, Harrison-Clarke and Alta Mesa. It was matured for 22 months in... Read More
Despite having over 40-plus acres of vineyards in the northeasterly sector of Napa just south of Calistoga, the production at Araujo remains relatively limited, with the flagship wine, the Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard, producing... Read More
The 2005 Syrah Eisele Vineyard displays an attractive meaty character along with smoky blackberry fruit and a hint of charcoal. Soft and lush with French-like elegance as well as complexity, and a delicious, long, supple finish,... Read More
WA 92 (12/2009): The sexy, opulent, floral, blackberry and black currant-scented and flavored, medium to full-bodied 2006 Syrah Eisele Vineyard displays a seductive quality that is hard to ignore. I would opt for drinking it over... Read More
The 2011 Syrah Eisele Vineyard is redolent of black olives, cracked pepper, savory herbs and licorice. Here, too, varietal notes are especially vivid as a result of the cold vintage. Stem inclusion was a little higher than in... Read More
The 2019 Syrah Rosella's Vineyard is a stunning 100% Syrah made with 20% whole cluster, aged in 20% new French oak and harvested just before the 2019 Kincade fire started in Sonoma County on October 23. Opaque ruby-purple... Read More
The 2009 Syrah Cardiac Hill is a gorgeous, thrilling wine laced with bacon fat, tapenade, savory herbs and plums. It possesses gorgeous aromatic delineation and fabulous length. The intense, mineral-drenched finish argues for... Read More
Another longer-term prospect is the 2012 Syrah Armada Vineyard. One of the more burly, structured releases from this estate, it's always poured after the Bionic Frog and is the last Syrah we taste in a vintage. The 2012 gives... Read More
From a vineyard that has the highest clay content of all the estate vineyards, the 2013 Syrah Armada Vineyard is a classically built Syrah that has lots of northern Rhone-like meaty, gamey notes as well as ample dark fruits, beef... Read More