The 2005 Syrah comes from the Stagecoach Vineyard located in the eastern hills above Oakville and Lee Hudson’s Henry Drive Vineyard in Napa Carneros — under the guidance of winemaker Anthony Biagi.

DEEP purple in the glass. Nose is a little hot. VERY big, lush, ripe, opulent and fleshy. Plum, rose, licorice, chocolate and espresso notes — good tannins and a long, persistent finish. Tips the scale at 15.8% — it does push it a bit for me, though certainly a very nice wine. Not my style, but that is my own personal taste — and am sure there are many that would think this is a great bottle of wine. I’ll certainly put the other bottle of this down for at least 5 years.