Vinous

The 2011 Syrah Field Book Griffin's Lair Vineyard is quite pretty in this vintage. Surprisingly soft and textured for the year, the 2011 is wonderfully open and expressive. Bacon fat, smoke, leather, plums, black cherries, menthol and melted road tar all flesh out in a layered, expressive Syrah long on personality and class. Overall, this is a pretty dense style for the year, with a lot of textural depth relative to most 2011s, largely the result of significant bleeding. The 2011 was fermented with 23% whole clusters. (AG)

(11/2013)

Wine Spectator

Offering aromas of graphite, pencil lead, leather, cola and spice, this is slow to unravel, holding onto a tannic mouthfeel and ending dry and chewy. Drink now through 2021. (JL, Web Only-2013)