2005 Pax Syrah, Alder Springs Vineyard, 'The Emerald Pool'

The Emerald Pool Block is always the first block of Syrah to be picked on Alder Springs Ranch. The high gravel content in this block robs the vines roots of water, stressing these already struggling vines to ripen their tiny yield of Syrah grapes earlier than the other blocks on this vineyard. The 2005 is thicker and less tannic than the 2004 at this point. The unique expression of this block is firmly tannic and will improve in your cellar for years to come.

Tasting Note:
Baked bread, rare beef, chalk and roasted earth elements are intertwined with blackberries, warm blueberries and sweet cherries. Black tar, bacon fat and barbeque spice lead into a tremendously concentrated attack of tight black fruit, grilled bread and layers of fine grained tannins. An absolute monster! Not superficially flashy, but loaded with an earnest concentration of earth, fruit, tannins, acid and alcohol.