2010 Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard

The 2010 Syrah Reva is magnificent. Blue and blackish tone fruits, smoke, tar, licorice, cloves and menthol all flesh out in a supple, exotic wine endowed with superb depth and polish. An explosive finish rounds things out beautifully in this impeccable, opulent Syrah. The 2010 spent 44 months in oak, 70% new, all of which it has handled with grace. Of the three 2010 Syrahs, this is the wine I would personally reach for more often, as it is truly stellar.

Inky purple. Deeply pitched aromas of dark berries, cherry compote, smoky herbs, dried flowers and Indian spices. Dense and velvety on the palate, with chewy red and dark berry flavors, smoky minerality and youthfully firm tannins. Gains sweetness on a long, sappy finish that strongly repeats the dark berry note.

Coming from the coolest vintage on record at the time (before 2011), the 2010 Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard still hit 15.2% natural alcohol, of which it doesn't show a trace. Possessing the telltale Iodine and seaweed character this cuvee always shows, it has lots of darker fruits, smoked herbs, black olive and a touch of floral aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, concentrated, firm and structured, it's a serious, age-worthy wine from John that should be forgotten for 4-5 years. Aug 2015, www.robertparker.com