2004 Pax Syrah, Alder Springs Vineyard,
'The Emerald Pool', Mendocino County

A new wine for us in 2004! We can't promise that we will be able to replicate this wine again; the 2004 is unreal and simply begs for its own bottling. It is 100% Syrah from a very steep gravely block on Alder Springs Vineyard. As a component in our Alder Springs bottling this block typically adds mid palate weight and lush tannins. As a stand alone wine it is a meal replacement. Very thick, large scaled and concentrated. A fascinating wine to taste for its sheer size and purity of flavor, but most likely a difficult wine to pair with most everyday foods, unless Daniel Boulud cooks for you.

Tasting Note:
Fruit cobbler, tar, blueberry compote and asian spice. White pepper, chalky tannins and teeth-staining concentration linger minutes after swallowing this beast. That a wine so big is able to show such nuance and soil induced flavors is shocking. Incredibly full-bodied, with amazing texture and intensity, the Francophiles are going to be up in arms over this one.