Based on 92% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, and 3% Viognier aged 22 months in 60% new French oak, the 2017 No 6 is another killer bottle of wine from Jim Binns, offering incredible richness and depth while staying light, elegant, and graceful. Stunning notes of smoked meat, cassis, black pepper, violets, bouquet garni (bay leaf, thyme), and honeysuckle all soar from the glass. These carry to a rich, powerful, perfectly balanced Syrah with awesome tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. It builds beautifully with time in the glass and, despite its upfront appeal, my money is on this evolving for upwards of two decades. There are roughly 800 cases produced.

Composed of 92% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre and 3% Viognier, using 40% whole cluster, the Andremily 2017 No. 6 is sourced from White Hawk, Larner, Harrison-Clarke, Watch Hill and Alta Mesa Vineyards. To be bottled mid-August 2019, it will spend around 22 months in French oak barriques, 60% new. Deep garnet-purple, the nose is already singing at this nascent stage, giving up loads of bright blackberries, crushed red and black plums and mulberries scents with Indian spices, cardamom, Sichuan pepper and dusty soil plus a waft of wild thyme. Full-bodied and firm, with a refreshing line cutting through the densely packed black fruit layers, it has wonderfully ripe, rounded tannins and a long finish.

The 2017 Andremily No. 6 is just as gorgeous from bottle as it was from barrel. A rush of red/purplish berry fruit, mocha, espresso, wild flowers and new French oak gives the 2017 its exuberant personality. At this stage, the 2017 very much reflects the warmth of the growing season in its ripe profile. I would cellar it a few years to allow the oak to integrate a bit more fully. The 2017 is a blend from White Hawk, Larner, Harrison-Clarke, Watch Hill and Alta Mesa. It spent around 22 months in French oak, with 60% new barrels.