2013 Plumpjack Syrah Napa Valley

Plumpjack's Syrah is a jewel of a wine. Black pepper,game, crème de cassis, juniper berries, exotic spices and lavender are all crystalline and delineated in the glass. The interplay of fruit, acidity and tannin is totally compelling. Plumpjack draws on fruit from Hudson and Stagecoah for their Syrah.

The 2013 Syrah is incredibly primary today, with huge blue/purplish fruit and tons of intensity. Like so many 2013s, the Syrah tastes like a wine that was just drained from tank, the flavors are every bit that intense and unevolved. This is quite possibly the most raw of Plumpjack's 2013, but the wine's pure power simply won't be denied.

The winery does produce some Syrah, and the 2013 Syrah offers lots of roasted meat, herbs and blue fruits. It’s not yet formed and seems quite primary and grapy, but there’s a lot going on and my rating may prove to be conservative.