Dark dark staining ruby with garnet edges. High tropical notes of a deeply fruited nature smothered in cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and supple oak. Intense nose with touches of of both extreme youth and earthiness. A fat chunk of the usual road-tar and wet-leather Syrah-ish-nesses. Nice black cherry and blackberry-seed entry with a sharply acidic middle churning into harsh fruit and tannin at the end for ever and ever.
A beautiful wine, start-to-finish. Suffers only from extreme youthfulness at this juncture. Would love to taste this in a couple years. Not that it needs to *settle down* per se, as it already hits on all levels… it’s just… a bit of polish would do it wonders.
2012 HOCUS POCUS Syrah Santa Barbara County 14.5
Stephen McConnell 