K Vintners The Beautiful Syrah 2018

The 2018 Syrah The Beautiful Powerline Vineyard comes from a vineyard outside of Walla Walla, in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. It was not destemmed and was brought up in neutral, larger barrels. An exotic nose of ripe blue and black fruits, lavender, sappy flowers, and herbes de Provence-like nuances give way to a medium to full-bodied, richly textured, structured wine with a mouth-filling, layered, meaty style that builds nicely with time in the glass. There's always a sappy, almost herbal edge to this beauty, and it ages beautifully. Feel free to open bottles any time over the coming 15-20 years. It would certainly be hard to pick out in a lineup of top Northern Rhône Syrahs.

This is rather floral and perfumed with blackberry and orange-peel undertones. Lovely richness and ripeness, but it remains linear and focused. Lightly chewy with just the right amount of austerity to the rich fruit. Fresh. Co-fermented with 4% viognier.

Made entirely from Phelps clone Syrah, the 2018 Syrah Powerline was aged for 24 months in 35% new French oak prior to bottling. It has a very Côte-Rôtie bull's-blood character alongside iodine and volcanic ash on the nose. The palate is plush with a seamless texture and wonderful length. A very pretty core of dark fruits mingles with shades of creosote, Earl Grey tea and suggestions of orange zest. The flavor and aromatic range here are outstanding, and this brilliant wine isn't going anywhere for another 10 years.

A potent red, deeply structured yet dynamic, with blackberry, crushed stone, cured meat and black olive accents that gather richness and polish toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2032.

Coming from the Powerline vineyard and containing 3% Viognier, the 2018 Syrah The Beautiful wafts with gorgeous dark fruit aromas with elements of salami, black pepper, roasted herbs and baked cherries. Medium to full-bodied, the Syrah has impeccable balance with a juicy, spicy nature and tones of cinnamon, nutmeg and blackberry preserves before highlighting its natural beauty with a firm yet elegant black pepper tone and succulent tannins. Concluding with a long-lingering and evolving finish, the Syrah The Beautiful continues to be a bottling that impresses year after year. The wine was whole-cluster fermented and rested for 18 months on the lees in 43% new French oak puncheons. 2021-2032