Sine Qua Non Syrah Distenta 2019

Not yet bottled, the 2019 Syrah Distenta 1 checks in as 83.6% Syrah, 6.2% Grenache, 5.2% Petite Sirah, and the rest Mourvèdre, Muscat, and Petit Manseng. A full-bodied, seductive, incredibly sexy wine that's just about overflowing with fruit, its deep purple color is followed by beautiful cassis and darker berry fruits as well as notes of smoke game, pepper, and spring flowers. The tannins are polished, and it has a great mid-palate as well as one heck of a great finish. Due to the difficulty in trademarking names today, the estate has settled on using the name Distenta for their normal Syrah going forward. Luckily though, the incredible artwork on the labels will continue.

Deep garnet-purple colored, it erupts from the glass with a powerfully fragrant nose of red roses, Morello cherries, boysenberries and juicy blueberries, followed by hints of mocha, star anise, cardamom and cassia. The concentrated, full-bodied palate is jam-packed with bright, crunchy black, blue and red fruits. It has a rock-solid structure of firm, finely-grained tannins and seamless freshness lifting the shimmering layers to a long, energetic finish. The complexity and vivacity of this Syrah are simply jaw-dropping!

The 2019 Syrah Distente 1 is a powerhouse. Blackberry jam, chocolate, gravel, spice and leather build in a deep, brooding Syrah that will require a number of years in bottle. Interestingly, the Grenache is so sensual in 2019, while the Syrah is a tannic behemoth.