Syrah Elevacion, Halcon Vineyards 2017

Halcón's 2017 Elevacion (Syrah) is dense and quite powerful at this stage. Ripe dark cherry, plum, game, tobacco and licorice add striking layers of dimension. Burly tannins give the 2017 a slightly round around the edges feel. Another year or two in bottle will help, but the signatures of the vintage are impossible to fully escape. Even so, there is plenty to look forward to. 2021-2029

The 2017 Elevación Syrah is only the second vintage of this new bottling from Paul and Jackie Gordon, which is made entirely from Chave clones, is entirely whole cluster and fermented with indigenous yeasts. The 2017, despite the heat spike at the end of August, comes in at a cool 12.8 percent alcohol and offers up a superb aromatic constellation of cassis, black raspberries, bonfire, dark soil tones, black olive, pepper and hung game. On the palate the wine is deep, pure and soil-driven, with a full-bodied format, rock solid core, great backend mineral drive and a long, tangy, ripely tannic and complex finish. This may well be America’s finest bottling of syrah! 2029-2070.