2004 Scholium Project Babylon Tenbrink Vineyards

(100% petite sirah) Deep, saturated ruby. Superripe, reduced aromas of blackberry, licorice, smoke and chocolate. This has fruit of steel, with compelling sweetness perfectly balanced by strong acidity. Wonderfully fat and layered but firm, with wild flavors of dark berries and smoked meat. Finishes with thoroughly sweet tannins and superb persistence. One would never guess this was carrying 16.9% alcohol. A fascinating petite sirah, from a valley floor vineyard in the cool Suisun Valley, just outside the Napa Valley line southeast of the town of Napa. This aged for 20 months with no topping of the barrels or additions of SO2