Wines

92 Points! The 2021 Syrah (California) is outrageous. Rich and explosive, the Syrah packs a serious punch. This wine, from a collection of top notch sites delivers tons of impact. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol, licorice and black pepper are all dialed up in this heady, dense Syrah. The 2021 is a blend of top sites in Santa Barbara and Sonoma, with a good dose of whole clusters in all the lots. What a wine. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

From Pax: Inspired by the rare southern rhone Syrah, a slight departure from our cool climate Syrahs, this wine shows those roasted flavors that you can only get from Syrah grown in sand in a warm spot. The low fertility sandy soils are derived from Granite and Tufa and form undulating “Hills” from the steady breezes from the west. These fine-grained soils grow fine grained wines.  We fermented this 100% Syrah with 100% Whole-Clusters and aged it in 500L French Oak Puncheons for six months before bottling this wine without any fining or filtration. 

92 Points! The 2019 Syrah on Shale The Landscape Series has a well-defined bouquet of copious red berry fruit laced with clove, bay leaf and subtle earthy tones (reminding me of Mullineux in many ways). The palate is medium-bodied and lightly spiced, with supple tannins and a touch of gaminess toward the elegant finish. White pepper lingers on the aftertaste. Delicious. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

92-94 Points! A year-in, year-out smoking wine, the 2022 Syrah Santa Barbara County reveals a deep ruby hue as well as a ripe, decadent, full-bodied style in its pure black and blue fruits, peppery herbs, and violet-driven aromas and flavors. Textured and beautifully balanced, with a great finish, it's going to shine right out of the gate. - JebDunnuck.com

92 Points, Wine Spectator's #38 Wine of the Year 2023! A compelling red on a juicy, fresh frame, with smooth, polished tannins and fresh pomegranate and maraschino cherry flavors at the core, showing details of milk chocolate, nutmeg and white peppercorn, plus an appealing hint of toasted herbs and fresh earth. Reveals tannins that firm up on the finish, which packs a spicy kick. Drink now through 2033. - Wine Spectator

91 Points! 2021 was a lovely vintage in Barossa—cool, long and with a return to moderate yields after two years of aggressively low yields and warm conditions. So here, the 2021 Mother's Milk Shiraz is fine and detailed, with loads of plush, voluminous fruit, in keeping with the style of the wine, but it is imbued with a little extra focus and precision, courtesy of the vintage. Nicely done. - Erin Larkin, robertparker.com

The 2020 Crozes-Hermitage is classic, with medium-bodied aromas and flavors of red and black fruits, dried herbs, flowers, and saddle leather. It's balanced, with fine tannins and outstanding length, as well as the capacity to keep for 7-8 years or more. - Jeb Dunnuck

92 Points! Moving to the reds, the 2018 Syrah Transverse comes from a mix of vineyards and was brought up all in neutral French oak puncheons. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by a spicy, peppery Syrah offering lots of ripe dark fruits, some cool-climate, gamey nuances, medium-bodied richness, silky tannins, and a great finish. It's a beautiful wine and a great value. - Jeb Dunnuck

92 Points! A polished, elegant red, with kirsch and cassis notes, a touch of cedar and spice, wintergreen and cypress notes. There's a freshness to the flavors and an elegance to the polished tannins, with a long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2037. - Wine Spectator

93 Points! Boasting even more striking aromas of blueberries, violets and peppery spice than the La Rochette bottling, the 2018 Crozes Hermitage La Cuvee Nicolas is almost Côte-Rôtie-like. Medium to full-bodied without seeming at all heavy, ripe without being overdone, silky and fine from start to finish, it's a real beauty and a testament to the potential of the commune of Gervans—a small granitic outpost within the Crozes-Hermitage appellation. - Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com

92 Points! Medium ruby-purple, the 2019 So Fresh Syrah So Hot is scented of blackcurrants with notes of tar, earth, blood orange and dried flowers. The medium-bodied palate is bright and fresh with lifted, peppery accents in a friendly, immediately accessible frame. Enjoy it over the next 3-5 years. - Erin Brooks, robertparker.com

93 Points! Packed with dark fig, boysenberry and blackberry fruit, this pumps along with ample depth and drive, picking up licorice snap, roasted applewood and dark tea notes along the way. Nice energy through the finish too, thanks to an underlying iron note. Drink now through 2030. - Wine Spectator

92 Points! The 1999 Springflat Shiraz has dense, opaque purple color, a real intense, minty, creme de cassis nose, with some spicy new oak. The wine is certainly not shy at 15.3% alcohol, but the power is well-harnessed, and the wine is primarily a big, full-bodied, thick, juicy fruit bomb with plenty of texture, purity, and length. It should drink well for 7-8 years, perhaps longer. - Robert Parker, robertparker.com June 2001

92 Points! The 2006 The Distance Shiraz was sourced from a 47-year-old estate vineyard. A glass-staining opaque purple color, the nose emits scents of toasty oak, pencil lead, scorched earth, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. On the palate this full-bodied wine is layered, dense, and structured, with enough stuffing to develop for another 4-6 years. It should be at its best from 2013 to 2030.

Glaymond is the hangout of rising star Damien Tscharke whose family owns the vineyards. They are located in some of the most prime real estate of Barossa Valley. Chris Ringland is the winemaking consultant. Those who love no-holds-barred, big Barossa behemoths should check out Glaymond. - Jay Miller, robertparker.com February 2009