2013 Heart Stone Vineyard

Vibrant purple. Intensely perfumed scents of ripe black and blue fruits, incense and cola gain vivacity from a smoky mineral nuance. Deeply concentrated, palate-staining blueberry, spicecake and floral pastille flavors are accompanied by suggestions of licorice and Indian spices that emerge on the back half. Finishes with a suave echo of candied violet, displaying slowly building tannins, outstanding energy and dark-fruit-driven persistence.

Inky purple. Potent smoke- and spice-accented aromas of fresh black and blue fruits, licorice and violet. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering intense boysenberry and cassis flavors plus suggestions of star anise and allspice. The smoky quality repeats strongly on a long, sweet finish that's framed by even tannins.

Checking in as a final blend of 54% Syrah, 35% Grenache and 11% Mourvedre, the 2013 Heart Stone Vineyard shows the class and purity of the vintage in its complex, floral-laced aromas of dark fruits, spice and minerality. Full-bodied, seamless and silky, with no hard edges and terrific purity, it's another 2013 from Smith that will open up with another year in bottle. Aug 2016, www.robertparker.com