Blend: 96% Syrah, 2% Viognier, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Alcohol: 14.1%

Production:  6,000 cases

Company Literature:  “Rich blackberry, mint, and chocolate…rich berry…velvety, plush mouth-feel and a hint of cedar.”

Nice aroma on the nose, can’t quite place it, I want to say blackberries but I’ve tried smelling blackberries and they don’t appear to have a smell, only a taste. Little bit of spicy oak on the nose.  The palate is dominated by juicy rich blackberry and milk chocolate.  I did not detect mint.  I don’t like mint that much, and can always tell when there is mint in something I am eating or drinking.  No mint here.  whew!  Love the mouth-feel.  Velvety is right.  I want to say its because of the Viognier, but at only 2% could that be?  It has quite a similar mouth-feel to the d’Arenberg Laughing Magpie.  But with a more earthy finish.  This wine is not over oaked, not overly jammy, not overly high in alcohol content.  All in all I’d say it shows remarkable restraint and it pays off with a wine that is ready to drink now.