2018 Variation One
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Tasting notes
Next up is the 2018 Red Wine Variation One, which is an interesting mix of 58% Syrah and 42% Merlot, and the Syrah certainly takes a leading role. This beauty offers lots of red and black fruits intermixed with peppery herbs, cured meats, leather, and a touch of smoked game. These carry over to the palate, where the wine is medium to full-bodied and has a plush, sexy texture, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a great finish. I don’t think it will make particularly old bones, but it’s a beautiful, interesting, complex wine that will put a smile on your face any time over the coming 10-12 years. This blend was put together by John Kongsgaard in the late 1990s.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2018 Variation One is positively stellar. Deep, inky and explosive, with striking depth, the 2018 is a meaty, powerful wine loaded with character. Black cherry fruit, chocolate, game, licorice and dried wild herbs infuse the 2018 with tremendous density. Co-fermented Syrah and Merlot are magical here. The 2018 opens beautifully with a bit of time in the glass, but its best days clearly lie ahead.
The deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Variation One (Syrah / Merlot) is a blend of 58% Syrah and 42% Merlot. It comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant notes of stewed black and red plums, dried Provence herbs, cracked black pepper and hoisin with suggestions of mocha and bacon rind. Full-bodied, concentrated and densely laden with black fruit preserves and spicy layers, it has a solid backbone of rounded tannins, finishing long and peppery.