2007 Booker Vineyard

Opaque purple. Wild, expressive aromas of dark berries, cherry-cola, candied licorice, woodsmoke and Indian spices. Sappy and expansive, with excellent clarity and depth, and a seamless character, to its sweet blackberry and mulberry flavors. Becomes spicier with air and finishes with superb energy and lingering sweetness. (JR)

The 2009 Booker Vineyard is 70% Syrah and 30% Mourvedre from one of the rockiest, steepest hillsides in Paso Robles. Layers of dark fruit, spices, tar and licorice emerge from the glass in this deep, sensual wine. Booker usually sees the highest percentage of new oak, and elements of spiciness come through on the finish, although some of the oakiness blows off with time in the glass. Booker is another site Smith planted and continues to pull fruit from, in this case three blocks of Syrah and one of Mourvedre. In 2009 there were two lots; the first 100% Syrah vinified with 20-25% stems, the second a Syrah/Mourvedre co-ferment. Both lots were blended for the finished wine. (AG) 96+

The 2008 Booker Vineyard (92% Syrah and 8% Mourvèdre, which had also been bottled immediately before my visit) has an opaque purple color and a wonderfully sweet nose of black cherry, black currant, licorice, incense, and some Asian spices. The wine has seamless lushness, a voluptuous texture, stunning purity, and a very long, 40-second-plus finish. Booker is another top site that I believe was planted with Justin Smith’s help. It is a 40-acre vineyard sitting on similar limestone soils. This incredible wine would probably benefit from a couple of years of cellaring, as the structure is more present, no doubt due to the high level of Syrah in the wine. (RP)