Dark garnet, ambering slightly. Round, warm aged nose packed with tapenade, cola and briar. A bit of heat apparent. Smoothly robust, showing chocolate frosting and peat.
From a producer who likes extended bottle-age before release, this thing I feel is at peak here knocking on a decade. Of course, the winemaker typically insists they will be drinking fine for another decade–and my experience with Purisima would show that fairly accurate, still, this thing is showing some fatigue from extraction and–what I am guessing is–pretty high alcohol. I just don’t think the heat of Ballard produces 20-yr wines.
In the mouth, dark, concentrated fruit, reduced to a gritty puree and tinged in bright acid. Considerable burn and everything thins out a bit to make way for the heat. Fruit just isn’t going to be around much longer. A very enjoyable wine with plenty of verve and lovely patina, but enjoy soon.
2006 ARCADIAN Syrah Purisima Vineyard Ballard Canyon Santa Ynez Valley Santa Barbara Co. 14.7
Stephen McConnell 
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