Bolder and riper with a fresh and juicy, dark-fruited nose, the 2021 Syrah La C?te Rousse reveals fantastic, spicy and floral aromas. Medium to full-bodied, the Syrah should be excellent upon release, offering up juicy, firm and ripe fruit tones before gliding to a wonderful lingering finish.

Submitted as a barrel sample, the 2019 Syrah La C?te Rousse explodes from the glass and is already showing an impressive nose with intensely aromatic red fruit flavors from the 100% whole-cluster fermentation. Fluttering with elements of wild cherry, black raspberry and dusty black peppercorn, the Syrah has incredible balance and precision and a finessed nose. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has good bones and displays an array of floral, high-toned red fruit flavors in the mouth, with a beautifully balanced chassis, energetic acidity and lifting tannins. The wine concludes with a long, lingering finish that makes me want to finish the glass. This will be an absolute blockbuster when it's released in the fall of 2021. Mark your calendars and put this bottle on your shopping list.

Coming from the Ciel du Cheval and Kiona vineyards, the opaque 2018 Syrah La C?te Rousse is a massive wine with a bold dark and black-fruited core on the nose offering a smoky essence and aromas of black peppercorn in the glass. Full-bodied, the wine is generous, dusty and mineral-driven, ending with a long, complex and slight lingering volatility and perceived elevated alcohol level on the finish. Made with 90% whole cluster, the wine fermented and rested in 40% new French oak barrels for 14 months. 2,400 bottles were produced.

The 2016 Syrah La C?te Rousse reveals notes of purple flowers, crunchy dark berry fruit and cracked pepper, followed by a medium-bodied, youthfully chewy but fine-grained palate that's bright and chalky. Taut and concentrated, it will require—and reward—some patience.

The 2015 Syrah la Cote Rousse is a blockbuster Syrah from Red Mountain that’s from the Ranch at the End of The Road and Ciel du Cheval vineyards. It’s a mix of four different clones and is brought up in barrel. This deep, inky, seriously black Syrah gives up Hermitage-like notes of scorched earth, charred meats, graphite and licorice. It’s a big, concentrated effort that’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring and keep through 2035.