“Delicious and exceptional value.” - Jancis Robinson, 18 points

This is a stunning bottle of wine just to look at and hold (you could imagine a pirate pulling out the cork with his teeth and spitting it at the tavern cat), but the contents are just as beautiful as the exterior. Very much a Syrah, not a Shiraz, and one of the most profound examples we have tasted from California and certainly the best by far at this price. It really isn’t expensive for the quality and if you like Cote-Rotie or Cornas, but with a few bonus hours of sunshine, then this is not to be missed. There’s an abundance of shiny black berries, violets, blueberries, black pepper and a hint of bacon fat, but nothing feels overdone or superfluous and the sweetly succulent acidity holds everything together. 13.5% alc. Drink now-2032.

Press review:

JancisRobinson.com: "Very dark garnet. Smells of dark berries and herbs. Wonderfully savoury flavours of underbrush, herbs and meaty dark berries possess a faintly smoky quality, accentuated by powdery tannins. Excellent acidity that has a saline quality at times, and other moments comes across as iron or iodine. Delicious and exceptional value. VGV. Drink now-2033" 18 points