From one of my favorite vineyards, the 2016 Syrah Watch Hill Vineyard is 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier that spent 18 months in 15% new French oak. Its saturated purple color is followed by a dense, rich Syrah that has classic notes of blackberries, smoked earth, pepper, and roasted herbs. With awesome purity of fruit, a smoky, meaty personality, full body, and a great finish, it's another brilliant example of this cuvée.

The 2016 Syrah Watch Hill Vineyard offers up a lovely bouquet of cassis, wild plum, bay leaf, black olive and cracked black pepper. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, sapid and succulent, with a chassis of fine-grained tannins, bright flavors and long, savory finish. Co-fermented with 6% Viognier, this is an attractive and characterful Northern Rhône-styled Syrah.