Syrah

Made from 100% Syrah aged two years in barrel the 2016 Côte Rôtie Les Grandes Places is a sensational effort from one of the great terroirs in the Côte Brune side of the appellation. Loaded with black and blue... Read More

The 2018 Petit Sirah Palisades Vineyard is sumptuous racy and explosive. Inky and voluptuous to the core with soft curves and tremendous fruit intensity the 2018 has it all. Crème de cassis blueberry jam spice lavender menthol... Read More

Inky ruby. Spice- and mineral-accented black and blue fruits licorice smoked meat and olive paste on the intensely perfumed nose. Concentrated blackberry cherry and violet pastille flavors take on a suave floral nuance with aeration.... Read More

The 2020 No. 9 still in barrel is a blend of 89% Syrah 9% Mourvèdre and 2% Viognier made with 50% whole clusters. Fruit comes from several vineyards throughout the Central Coast including Slide Hill White Hawk Larner Harrison-Clarke... Read More

Arnot-Roberts was founded in Healdsburg in 2001 by childhood friends Duncan Arnot Meyers and Nathan Lee Roberts. Duncan had been involved in making wine at various wineries in the region and Nathan had worked with his father as... Read More

Arnot-Roberts was founded in Healdsburg in 2001 by childhood friends Duncan Arnot Meyers and Nathan Lee Roberts. Duncan had been involved in making wine at various wineries in the region and Nathan had worked with his father as... Read More

Even this normally approachable cuvée is pretty darn tannic this vintage. Tasted just prior to bottling Levet's 2019 Cote Rotie Amethyste features scents of crushed stone asphalt black olives and purple raspberries. Full-bodied... Read More

Even this normally approachable cuvée is pretty darn tannic this vintage. Tasted just prior to bottling Levet's 2019 Cote Rotie Amethyste features scents of crushed stone asphalt black olives and purple raspberries. Full-bodied... Read More

A prospective blend assembled from several barrels for my tasting the 2020 Cote Rotie Amethyste—a blend of five lieux-dits—is dark fruited and plummy yet also vaguely herbal and wiry. In the mouth it's medium to full-bodied... Read More

A prospective blend assembled from several barrels for my tasting the 2020 Cote Rotie Amethyste—a blend of five lieux-dits—is dark fruited and plummy yet also vaguely herbal and wiry. In the mouth it's medium to full-bodied... Read More

Again a prospective sample blended from several barrels the 2020 Cote Rotie Les Journaries (labeled Maestria outside the United States) is a blend of fruit from La Landonne and CĂ´te Brune. It's full-bodied rich and tannic... Read More

Deep ruby-purple in color the 2021 Syrah Bassi Vineyard explodes with scents of blueberry boysenberry cracked pepper and powdered sugar with slowly emerging floral tones. Medium-bodied chalky and energetic the palate offers notably... Read More

When I visited in June 2019 the selection for the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Sanctus Sanctorum hadn't yet been done so this is my first look at the wine. It's marked by the new oak demi-muids with layers of vanilla and cedar... Read More

Very alluring and while densely packed this is very silky and refined in feel. Presents perfumed raspberry cherry and plum puree notes laced with sandalwood incense and rooibos tea. Flirts with exotic as the fruit hangs on the... Read More

Marked by striking aromas of licorice and violets set against a backdrop of black cherries the 2019 Cote Rotie Les Schistes is the blended cuvée formerly known as "Classique." It's medium to full-bodied taut and crisp with... Read More

Sporting a deep garnet-purple color the 2019 IX Syrah Estate hops up and down with its showy flamboyant scents of chocolate-covered cherries mulberries and preserved plums before bursting into a gorgeous perfume of bouquet garni... Read More

This vintage some tasters may actually prefer the 2019 Crozes Hermitage Cuvee Louis Belle over the Roche Pierre. There's still plenty of cedar and vanilla influence but more of the fruit comes through and—at least for the... Read More

Aromas of fresh black/blue fruits pungent flowers olive and allspice on the incisive nose. Weighty yet lively black currant bitter cherry and violet pastille flavors show fine delineation and take on a smoky mineral nuance on... Read More