2004 Ode To E (Syrah)

Utterly mind blowing and showing a spectacularly pure, fresh array of black currant, licorice, mineral, and flowers was the 2004 Sine Qua Non Syrah Ode to E! I continued to go back to this over the evening and it was never short of perfection in a glass, possessing a seamless, weightless texture, perfect balance, and a blockbuster finish that showed the wine’s class and structure. At almost 8 years of age, this still has an almost barrel sample like quality and shows almost no evolution. It should continue to shine for another two decades and is a tour de force in wine!

Inky purple color. Explosive, seductively perfumed aromas of blackberry, blueberry, candied licorice, fruitcake, olive and incense, with a slow-building smoked meat quality. Broad, fleshy and palate-encrusting, with potent flavors of blueberry, boysenberry and candied violet. Outsized and engorged with fruit, but eventually finishes with terrific energetic, peppery lift and thrust. The amount of fruit packed into this wine is freakish. (JR)

(includes 4% grenache and 2% viognier; scheduled to be released in November of 2008) Opaque purple. Explosively perfumed northern Rhone-like bouquet of kirsch, blackberry, violet, olive tapenade and minerals. Energetic dark fruit flavors expand and deepen with air but retain vivacity. Picks up deeper mocha and black cardamom qualities on the impressively long, juicy finish. This one just won't quit.