2009 Spring Mountain Vineyard Napa Valley Syrah (750ml)

Here’s a tight, focused controlled Syrah. It shows the fierce tannins of its mountain origin, plus intense blackberry jam, cassis and beef jerky flavors. Drinkable now, but it really needs a few years to mellow. The estate vineyard is on Spring Mountain in the Mayacamas range. (SH)  (2/2013)

Here is another nicely made wine that steers away from overt varietal spice and instead makes juicy fruit its principal message, but the fruit that it features is concentrated and insistent, and it is seasoned with fairly refined oak spice and random minerally notes. It is full and weighty and moderately tannic, yet it is not at all tough and shows glimmers of refinement to come. Give it no fewer than three or four years patience, but know that it is sure to reward even more.  (3/2013)