2015 Horsepower "Sur Echalas Vineyard" Walla Walla Syrah

The 2015 Syrah Sur Echalas Vineyard is just as striking as its Grenache sibling, unfurling with an equally complex nose of sweet cassis, beef blood, bitter cocoa, peony and violets, with notions of grilled meat and truffle emerging with time. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and amazingly intense, with a deep and multidimensional core framed by remarkably satiny, layered tannins, concluding with a long, saline finish. (WK)  (6/2018)

Beautiful dried-rose florals here with very fragrant redder-tinged berry fruits, crushed stones and brown pepper. The palate has an elegant, supple and really lacy feel; smooth, pastry-like tannins and an elegant, sappy cherry-pip finish. Drink or hold.  (5/2018)

The aromas provide brooding notes of brown stem, soot, freshly ground black pepper, wet rock, tar, grilled asparagus and smoked ham. The flavors are intense and wound up, showing layer upon layer of fruit and savory flavors. A supremely long, savory and floral finish caps it off. It's a complete 'wow' wine. Best from 2026 to 2032.  (SS)  (12/2018)

The 2015 Syrah Sur Echalas Vineyard is a savory, tertiary effort that’s reminiscent of red wine filtered through a rocky riverbed. Earth, chalky minerality, wood smoke, and sous bois notes, as well as both red and black fruits, give way to a medium to full-bodied, seamless Syrah that has light tannin, no hard edges, and a singular, transparent character. It’s going to gain weight with 2-3 years in bottle and drink well for a decade. 93+  (4/2018)

Bright medium red. Aromas of cherry, mocha and smoky reduction, plus a whiff of ashtray. Pliant and layered but today the wine's fruit and mocha flavors are quite saline and smoky, even a tad rustic. Finishes with a serious dusting of tannins. Hard to read in the early going, and clearly in need of at least a couple years of bottle aging. (ST)  (11/2018)

Precisely focused, with distinctive flavors of gravelly mineral, blackberry and white pepper that build intensity toward broad-shouldered but resolved tannins. Best from 2021 through 2025. (TF)  (8/2018)