2001 Eisele Vineyard (Araujo) Syrah

Dark ruby-red. Highly complex aromas of roasted black fruits, tar, meat, gunflint and violet. Sweet, fat and silky, with captivating, accessible flavors of dark berries, game, tar and earth. This offers impressive palate presence, and very good floral lift. Finishes with big, broad, sweet tannins and excellent length. A strong vintage for this bottling.

The compelling 2001 Syrah (200 cases) includes 4% Viognier in the blend, adding a touch of spunk and exuberance to the already impressive aromatics (blackberry liqueur, flowers, truffles, and a hint of bacon). Full-bodied, with great intensity and purity, this may be the finest Syrah the Araujo team has yet fashioned. (Release date Fall 2004) Tel. (707) 942-6061; Fax (707) 942-6471

(the crop was sharply reduced by frost) Good bright medium ruby. Exhilarating, floral aromas of blackberry, violet, licorice and pepper. Wonderfully sweet and concentrated, with a floral lift I haven't found in previous vintages of this wine. Boasts compelling sucrosity and mid-palate fat. Mounting, very long finish features noble tannins and notes of mocha and chocolate. A superb sample, sweeter on the end than the 2000.