The 2019 Companion is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Syrah and 10% Petit Verdot matured for 18 months in 87% new and 13% once-used French oak. Medium ruby-purple, it features cassis, bell pepper, vanilla, peppercorn and hints of graphite and violet on the nose. The full-bodied palate offers loads of spicy black fruit, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing perfumed. It's a well-made wine but carries a polarizing amount of new oak character; some drinkers will love this and some will not. 300 cases produced.

The 2018 Companion is a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Syrah aged 18 months in 57% new oak. Deep ruby-purple, it is scented of cassis, cedar, cigar wrappers and pencil shavings with touches of dried herbs. The full-bodied palate offers concentrated fruit and generous new oak spice, finishing long and slightly warm. It's an ideal wine for lovers of new oak character.

A blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Syrah, 10% Tempranillo and 6% Mourvèdre, the 2014 Companion is a rich, sun-kissed, full-bodied red with overripe, baked flavors of fruit preserve, fruit liqueur and figs. It's a heady, high-octane wine that is likely to be divisive.

I love the 2013 Companion and it's another terrific red made with a fair chunk of Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with 46% Syrah. The Cabernet comes from the Happy Canyon AVA in Santa Barbara County, as well as from Caliza's estate vineyard (which is where the Syrah is from). Aged 18-19 months in French oak, it offers gorgeous notes of cassis, toasted spice, licorice and lead pencil shavings in a rich, medium to full-bodied, concentrated and beautifully balanced style. Drink this terrific red over the coming decade.

An even split of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah that spent 20 months in oak, the 2012 Companion is uber-ripe and pushes the edge with its hedonistic bouquet of blueberry, blackberry, menthol and charcoal. It is similarly styled on the palate and has full-bodied richness, a silky texture, ripe tannin and a good finish. The 2012 was the first vintage where Carl co-fermented the Syrah and Cabernet and I wonder how much that influenced the pick dates as the ripeness level here is just on the edge of overripe, and it lacks some character. Nevertheless, the wine making here is superb and this mouth filling effort will drink nicely for 4-6 years.