Alex Hunt: There’s real exotic presence on the nose here, a mysterious camphor-like scent backed up by blackberry fruit. The palate is beautifully sleek yet well defined, in a very Rhône-like way. The alcohol is completely hidden; the wine feels cool and fresh, with a subtle bit of blueberry ripeness mid-palate that maybe represents the Californian influence. Promising future but delicious now. 93

Andrew Jefford: Deep, dark black-red. This wine is aromatically fascinating: peppery black fruits when you first peep inside it, then citrus blossom and tangerine-skin fragrance later. In this, it reminds me of Languedoc rather than Rhône Syrah, and why not? On the palate, it is lush, full and open, despite the firm tannins, and the fruits absolutely carry those splendid spice-andcitrus perfumes that the nose sketched out. It does, for all that, have a fresh and lively style from the quality of fruit as much as from any overt acid balance. (There is one, but it is soft and unobtrusive.) A fine, exciting effort, though I wouldn’t keep it for too much longer. 91

Peter Liem: This is silky and fragrant, its rich ripeness accented by floral undertones. It feels broad in build and forward in fruit, though it’s held in check by firm tannins on the finish. 90