2011 Eisele Vineyard (Araujo) Syrah

Medium-dark red. Aromas of blackberry, violet, licorice and cocoa powder. Dense, spicy and nicely concentrated, with brisk acidity framing the black raspberry, blackberry and spice flavors. Finishes with tongue-dusting but sweet tannins and a light peppery quality that provides grip without coming off as green.

The 2011 Syrah Eisele Vineyard is rich, dense, textured and also incredibly primary. Smoke, tar, game, black pepper, plum and licorice notes emerge, but only with great reluctance. The 2011 remains intense and resonant in its fruit, but also very young, somber and almost raw. Readers will have to give the 2011 at least a few years in bottle. Once again, Araujo's Eisele Syrah is incredibly distinctive and intense. The 2011 was fermented with 10-15% whole clusters, with a splash of Viognier. According to vineyard manager Caleb Mosley Syrah was the least problematic variety in 2011, as all the fruit came in before the rains. (AG)

(includes 3% viognier): Dark ruby-red with blue highlights. At once more open-knit and more blue in character on the nose, offering scents of dark berries, licorice and violet, plus a suggestion of white flowers. Then quite primary and on the lean side, with good floral precision but slightly tart acidity. This is not yet showing the syrah character of the 2010, but then it has only been racked once to this point.