The 2018 Syrah Rock Garden Vineyard begins with a soft, stemmy nuance on the nose with a dusty, rocky and ashy core with elements of black peppercorn, black raspberry skins and maraschino cherry aromas. Medium to full-bodied, the Syrah offers a balanced expression in the mouth with complex earthy flavors of dusty, worn leather, sweet tobacco and sweet baking spices along with buttressing tannins that lift the expression. Concluding with a long-lingering and red-fruited finish, persistent flavors of black peppercorn and cherries in syrup sway on the aftertaste. The wine rested for 20 months in French oak puncheons, 38% new. Just over 8,000 bottles were produced.

Coming from a great site in the Rocks District of Walla Walla, the 2018 Syrah Rockgarden Vineyard has an incredibly smoky, meaty nose that carries lots of red and black fruits, notes of charcoal and graphite, medium-bodied richness, and a balanced, slightly more narrow, firm style that will hopefully open up with 2-3 years of bottle age. It's another wine that's not up to prior vintages yet still brings lots of character and is unquestionably an outstanding wine.