2013 Keplinger Hangman's

A deep, inky wine, the 2013 Syrah Hangman's captures the essence of Lee Hudson's vineyard in its brooding, virile personality. A host of game, smoke, licorice, chocolate and inky blue/purplish fruit open up in the glass. Powerful and broad on the palate, the Hangman's hits all the right notes. Keplinger sources her Syrah from one of the best blocks in Hudson, fruit that had previously gone into Arietta's Block H. The 2013 was aged in 75% new oak, all of which it has handled beautifully. The 25% whole clusters are pretty much buried. Then again, we are talking about Hudson, a site that naturally yields some of the darkest, most intense Syrah fruit in California.