Horsepower The Tribe Vineyard Syrah 2014

From a site that's next to En Chamberlin that's planted with a 4x4 spacing (the Sur Echalas is 3x3), the 2014 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard offers more fruit (blackberry, black cherry) as well as beautiful notes of violets, rose petal, pepper and earth. Fermented with 100% whole clusters and aged in neutral puncheons, this full-bodied beauty has fine tannin, juicy acidity and a great finish. It's in direct contrast to the more masculine, meaty, umami style of the Sur Echalas Vineyard. Give it 2-3 years and it too will be long lived!

Lighter in color, this wine is aromatic and expressive, with notes of fire pit, blood, black olive tapenade, sea salt, black pepper, cured meat, nori, crushed flowers and umami. The palate brings soft, lithe, focused notes of earth and savory flavors that shimmer on the salty finish. It's all about delicacy but the aroma and flavor expression is compelling. Give it some time in the cellar or decant.

(13.2% alcohol; this 3-1/2-acre vineyard planted to small-berried Alban Syrah clones--Baron described them as Petit Serine--is situated next to En Chamberlain): Bright ruby-red. Captivating black pepper lift to the aromas of purple fruits, violet, leather and smoke; reminded me of Cornas. Dense, savory, rich and dry, with its purple fruit flavors currently overshadowed by saddle leather and salty minerality, plus a hint of peppery rawness. Finishes with plush, fine-grained tannins. Despite this wine's plump, savory, high-pH mouth feel, it needs time to blossom in the bottle.

Balances power and finesse, with distinctive plum, bacon fat and black olive aromas and dense yet polished blackberry and stony mineral flavors that lead to big but refined tannins on the finish. Drink now through 2024. 520 cases made.