2013 Quivet Syrah Hulda Block Las Madres Vineyard

While the 2012 Hulda Block is upfront, perfumed and ready to go, the 2013 Syrah Las Madres Vineyard Hulda Block is more dense, concentrated, and structured, yet offers another level of purity and precision. Deep purple-hued, with a killer bouquet of blackberries, ground pepper, candied orange rind, and flowery incense, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, flawless balance, ripe tannins, and a lengthy, pure, focused vibe on the finish. This gorgeous Carneros Syrah certainly ranks with the best from the region. This bottle held up beautifully over the three days I had it open, with no signs of oxidation, so I suspect a solid decade of prime drinking is easily in the cards. However, it offers incredible pleasure today.