Brilliant ruby with staining edges.  An absolute oak-bomb.  Jam-packed with rich sweet spicy oak to the point of cloying.  Seriously rife.  There’s a strong green thread in the background and rich, age-polished fruit but honestly the oak is about all there is to talk about here.  In the mouth, balanced and vibrant, with peppery acids curling around the tongue and the rich fruit flows over.  Soft tannins wipe things up.  This wine is drinking at absolute PRIME.  It has probably been almost perfect since release and won’t go downhill in the next year but I wouldn’t give it much more.  It lacks the stuffing to be a long-termer but oh man is is lovely right now.  Spicy and vibrant with the fruit and tannin doing just exactly what they should be doing in a 25-dollar Syrah at 7 years.  14-6   ♦♦

Get it at Old Town Market, Orcutt CA