The 2009 Laborde Double Select Syrah (named after viticulturalist Luis Laborde and his unique vineyard) was sourced from 47-year-old ungrafted vines and aged for 14 months in 50% new French oak. Purple in color with a delectable nose of smoked meat Asian spices incense blueberry and blackberry on the palate this layered effort is ripe succulent and incipiently complex. Give it 2-3 years of additional cellaring and drink it from 2012 to 2024. -JM

A ripe flamboyant style with lots of creamy-textured toast melted licorice plum sauce and fig notes backed by a dense core of black currant boysenberry and Christmas pudding flavors. The finish is long and rich. Drink now through 2011. 2000 cases imported. -JM