Piquant, tart and snappy aromas of underripe berries and plums meet with lavender and crumpled dahlia on the nose of this bottling. The white-pepper, wild-thyme and bay leaf flavors are focused and pure on the palate, where black-plum and more lavender tones make for a fresh, lightly bodied and zesty expression.

The 2018 Syrah Bien Nacido is a dark, beguiling beauty. Purplish/black fruit, spice, lavender, licorice and black pepper give the Bien Nacido a distinctly sepia-toned profile. Time in the glass brings out striking Syrah aromatics, but the 2018 remains a brooding, muscular wine with tons of depth and potent tannins that need time to soften.

The 2018 Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard comes from vines in X block planted in 1973 and biodynamically farmed. It has a deep ruby-purple color and a lovely perfume of violets, garrigue and charcuterie with fresh blackcurrant fruit. The palate is grainy, fresh and light on its feet with loads of floral character and a long, lifted finish. 486 cases produced.