Lovely nose of spice, cherry, meat, cream, vanilla and oak. Good complexity and depth, offering spice, vanilla and fruit. Powerful, persuasive and quite long. Alc: 14.5%.

5 Saga Pegot is a gorgeous single-block expression of Syrah, aged 14 months in French oak. The oak is present and forward, lending a great decadence to the wine by way of sweet wood and strong mocha chacteristics among the black berry and cherry fruit core. Additional nuances of licorice stick, crushed purple florals and thin mint add depth to the lush mouth. Firm, gripping tannins and a dense fruit core provide a texture like crushed velvet; drinkable now, but should age nicely through 2017.——L.B.(12/31/2011)—— 92

Moody, complex and brooding, this is a superb wine and an exceptional value. Purple violets, black forest cake, cocoa nibs and espresso granules all abound on the nose, backed by dark juicy black raspberries. Full and firmly structured in the mouth with notes of pepper, tea, smoked meat and black fruit on the palate.——L.B.(8/1/2009)—— 93