2019 Downstream

I think the finest wine here is the 2019 Downstream, a blend of 38% Zinfandel, 24% Grenache, 17% Mourvèdre, 11% Syrah, and the rest a mix of other red varieties. Offering an incredible bouquet of both black and blue fruits as well as white pepper, sandalwood, incense, and exotic spices, it's slightly more vibrant and focused than the 2018 and has flawless balance, no hard edges, and that rare mix of power and elegance that, to me, defines truly great wines. It's far from unapproachable today, yet it should easily evolve for another 10-15 years. What will be the last vintage of this wine due to the death of collaborator Philippe Cambie, it's a fine tribute to an incredible human being. I was thrilled to be able to taste through a retrospective of all the Downstream releases, and while I’ve reviewed all of these in the past, it was incredibly educational to sit down and taste through the vintages together. The blends have changed dramatically since the inception, and you see that clearly in the style of the wines. The quality, however, is consistently great across the board. Unfortunately, with the passing of collaborator Philippe Cambie, the 2019 will be the last vintage produced. These are brilliant, singular, tiny production releases, and count yourself lucky if you have some in the cellar.