This vintage the Halcon harvest was lighter than anticipated and we were lucky enough to get some Alder Springs grapes which we hadn't used since our 2009 Persona. We blended equal amounts with of the Alder Springs with our Halcon Syrah to make a Mendocino AVA labelled blend. The result was again a cooler climate styled Syrah that blind one might be tempted to guess the Northern Rhone. This is a slow ageing wine and indeed, opened at at age 11, this took some time to open in the glass. Once it did, it showed youthfully. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has boysenberries, slight black cherries, black olives, black pepper, slight floral notes and roasted herbs. Medium to full bodied. Medium tannins. On the palate, this has great acidity. Plenty of black raspberry fruit with some black cherries. Also some black pepper and minerality with some char. Long finish. This is nice on its own but better with food. It went with a spicy stuffed red pepper dish. Maybe not quite at peak but close. Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.
