2004 Clarendon Hills Syrah Moritz Vineyard

Inky purple. Deep, brooding and dense on the nose, with potent aromas of creme de cassis kirsch, boysenberry, fruitcake, roasted coffee, cured meat and violet. Lush, sweet and silky, the dark berry flavors sharpened by vibrant acidity and a subtle mineral tone. The sweet but sharply etched berry fruit notes show great drive on the long, spicy finish. You could drink this now with no guilt, but it's got the guts for cellaring.

An amazing performance, even better than last year’s showing from tank, the 2004 Syrah Moritz is produced from one of Clarendon Hills’ youngest vineyard sites (planted in 1975). The wine was aged in 42% new French oak for 18 months prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered. Gorgeous aromas of flowers, blueberries, cassis, and meat jump from the glass of this cuvee. With huge body and a rich, intense style, Bratasiuk claims it is his hypothetical blend of a Cornas and Hermitage, although it possesses more fruit than most of those wines. It should drink well for a minimum of 15 years. Oct 2006, www.robertparker.com