1996 Against the Wall

Sine Qua Non has produced some spectacular Syrahs, buying fruit from the best sources in Santa Barbara - the Alban, Stolpman, and Bien Nacido vineyards. The 1996 Against The Wall Syrah is cut from the same mold as the 1997. The color is opaque black/purple, and the nose offers a combination of cassis/blackberry jamminess intermixed with tar, pepper, and spice. Thick, massively full, yet wonderfully rich and expansive, with admirable purity and mouth-staining levels of glycerin and extract, this full-bodied, silky-smooth Syrah is deceptively easy to drink, but I suspect it will age effortlessly for 15-20 years. All the Sine Qua Non wines reviewed in this segment are bottled with virtually no fining, and rarely any filtration. Readers are advised to get on the mailing list. Release date 4/99. Tel. (805)649-8901; fax (805) 640-1230

Sine Qua Non has produced some spectacular Syrahs, buying fruit from the best sources in Santa Barbara - the Alban, Stolpman, and Bien Nacido vineyards. The 1996 Against The Wall Syrah is cut from the same mold as the 1997. The color is opaque black/purple, and the nose offers a combination of cassis/blackberry jamminess intermixed with tar, pepper, and spice. Thick, massively full, yet wonderfully rich and expansive, with admirable purity and mouth-staining levels of glycerin and extract, this full-bodied, silky-smooth Syrah is deceptively easy to drink, but I suspect it will age effortlessly for 15-20 years. Dec 1998, www.robertparker.com

Full deep ruby. Superripe, nuanced aromas of cassis, blackberry, raspberry, hickory smoke, smoked meat and milk chocolate; rather Hermitage-like. Creamy and seamless in the mouth, but firm acids and underlying minerality give it a sense of solidity. At once generous and firm; this has a very sophisticated texture for a California syrah. Flavors of red and black berries. Powerful yet restrained, and quite forward for a syrah from this producer.