A muscular, dense and tannic Syrah with a distinctive mineral underpinning. The expression is focused on concentrated, tightly wound blackberry and cassis, with some alcoholic heat. This is almost Australian in its sculptural elegance, and needs breathing time to let the mix of licorice and coffee come out in the finish.——P.G.(5/1/2009)—— 91

Champoux and DuBrul vineyards supplied the excellent fruit, roughly half each. This is Washington Syrah at its most dark, dense and deeply extracted. Beautifully structured, this exceptional wine is laced with roasted, toasty streaks of espresso and smoke. The fruit is substantial and more than up to the job of balancing the barrel flavors; you can’t really tell what flavors come from which. Long, polished and powerful, this is quite seductive and delicious. ——P.G.(3/1/2007)—— 92

Lusciously creamy and supple for Syrah—although it could be criticized on precisely those grounds. Caramel and toffee from oak, but there’s also plenty of meaty, blackberry fruit and a long finish. ——W.E.(9/1/2005)—— 86