2018 Vintage Reviews

Erin Brooks of The Wine Advocate

"The wines of 2019 have surprised me again and again. The vintage is not only compelling for its overall quality but also for the range of quality across grape varieties and styles ..." Read the article

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Single Vineyard Syrah

Rockpile Vineyard Haley 

96  The 2018 Syrah Haley is a stunning Syrah from 25-year-old vines in the Rockpile vineyard (2,010 feet elevation) made with 40% whole cluster and aged 18 months in 80% new French oak. Deep ruby-purple, it is deeply scented with pure violet, iron, charcuterie and rich cassis, with a full-bodied but rounded and fresh palate that is incredibly layered, long and pure. It deserves another 3-5 years in bottle and has a long life in the cellar ahead if you enjoy a mature Syrah. 258 cases were made. Drink now - 2035.

Buffalo Hill

95  The 2018 Syrah Buffalo Hill from the Rockpile vineyard was made with 30% whole cluster and aged 18 months in 100% new French oak. Deep ruby, it has lush aromas of cassis, grilled meats, cedar, dried herbs and licorice. Full-bodied, rounded and fresh, the palate is packed with layers of fruit and savory accents. This vintage manages power and elegance and is notable in the purity and layering of its flavors. 154 cases were made. Drink now - 2032.

Domaine des Chirats

95  The 2018 Syrah Domaine des Chirats is a collaboration between Jeff Cohn and Yves Cuilleron. It comes from 25-year-old vines in the Rockpile vineyard and was made with 30% whole cluster and aged 18 months in 30% new French oak. Deep ruby, it takes time to blossom from iron and charcuterie to currant and violet, gaining nuance with time in the glass. The palate is mineral driven and fresher than expected, with restrained fruits and a touch of rusticity to the texture that gives it a more cool-climate feel than is typical from this site. It should develop beautifully over the next 3-5 years in bottle. 332 cases were made. Drink now - 2037.

Silver Eagle

94+  The 2018 Syrah Silver Eagle Vineyard was made with 60% whole cluster and aged 18 months in 40% new French oak. It has a deep ruby color and explosive scents of cracked pepper, blackcurrant, dried thyme and chargrill. The full-bodied palate is rounded and fresh with a long finish, but it feels youthfully wound and may improve with more bottle time. 332 cases produced. Drink now - 2032.

Zio Tony Ranch 

94+  The 2018 Syrah Zio Tony Ranch was made with 40% whole cluster and aged 18 months in 40% new French oak. Deep ruby-purple, it has gregarious blackcurrants, cracked pepper, pencil shavings, char and gentle thyme hints on the nose. The palate is full-bodied, grainy and classically styled with minerally fruits and a long, floral-laced finish. 382 cases produced. Drink now - 2032.

So Serine 

94  The 2018 Syrah So Serine comes from 20-year-old vines in the Rockpile vineyard. It was made with 30% whole cluster and aged 18 months in 100% new French oak. Deep ruby-purple in color, the nose offers red and black fruits, with wafts of thyme, lavender, iron and grilled meats. The full-bodied palate is pure, fresh and mineral-driven, finishing long and perfumed. It deserves another couple of years in bottle. 100 cases were made. Drink now- 2030.

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Single Vineyard Rhônes

Sweetwater Springs Petite Sirah

95  The 2018 Petite Sirah Sweetwater Springs Vineyard has an opaque ruby color and broody, seductive aromas of cassis and purple flowers, with notes of cast iron and cedar. The palate is full-bodied with surprising freshness and elegance for a 100% Petite Sirah, and it finishes with mineral and floral perfume. This was made with 10% whole cluster and aged 18 months in 100% new oak foudres. 224 cases produced. Drink now - 2030.

Twist of Fate Mourvèdre

94  The 100% Mourvèdre 2018 Twist Of Fate was made with 100% whole clusters and aged in 100% new French 600-liter barrels. Medium ruby, it has seductive aromas of iron, violets, blackcurrants, earth, pepper and dried meats. The full-bodied palate is firm and mineral-driven, with intense, spicy dark fruits and a long, layered finish. It’s an elegant expression this vintage and deserves another couple of years in bottle. 100 cases were made. Drink now - 2030.

 2 Guys · 2 Barrels Viognier

93  The 2018 Viognier 2 Guys • 2 Barrels is a collaboration between Jeff Cohn and Yves Gangloff of Condrieu. Fruit comes from the Stagecoach vineyard and the wine was aged 11 months in 30% new French oak. It offers classic aromas of white peaches and white pepper, with wafts of dried herbs, honeysuckle and matchstick. The palate's ripe fruits are anchored by mineral tones, a bright spine of freshness and a touch of texture on the very long, floral finish. 132 cases were made. Drink now - 2026.

El Diablo Grenache

92  The 2018 Grenache El Diablo Vineyard was made using 40% whole cluster and aged in neutral French oak for 18 months. Pale ruby, it takes some time to open to tar, bright red berries, tobacco leaf, dried orange peel and licorice. The palate is soft, gently grippy and very fresh with understated fruits and loads of spicy accents. It’s an elegant style this vintage. 125 cases were made. Drink now - 2026.

Rossi Ranch GSM

92  The 2018 GSM Rossi Ranch Vineyard is a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 20% Mourvèdre made using 60% whole cluster. It has a medium ruby color and gregarious red berry fruits, with notes of blood orange, cracked pepper and charred meats. Medium-bodied, it’s grainy and fresh with understated, pepper-laced fruits and an uplifted, juicy finish. 288 cases were made. Drink now - 2025.

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Single Vineyard Zinfandel 

Maggie's 

95  The 2018 Zinfandel Maggie's Vineyard was made with 20% whole cluster and aged 18 months in 20% new French oak. Pale ruby, it features bright raspberry fruit laced with hints of peach, citrus peel and dried flowers, gaining more aromatic nuance as it spends time in the glass. The palate is silky, fresh, layered, and so, so perfumed. It’s an incredibly elegant style this year! 260 cases produced. Drink now - 2030.

Rinaldi 

95  The 2018 Zinfandel Rinaldi Vineyard comes from organically farmed vines, some more than 100 years old. It was made with 20% whole cluster and aged 18 months in 30% new French oak. It has a pale ruby color and segues from tar to dark fruits, purple flowers and crushed rock-like mineral nuances. The palate is medium-bodied and seamlessly structured with broody, floral laced flavors and a long, spicy finish. 165 cases were made. Drink now - 2030.

Iron Hill 

94+  The 2018 Zinfandel Iron Hill Vineyard was made with 20% whole cluster and aged 18 months in 25% new French oak. Medium ruby, the nose is scented with peach, raspberry, rhubarb, aniseed and purple flowers. The palate is full, grainy and fresh with a wonderful array of spices that fans out on the long finish. 165 cases produced. Drink now - 2030.

Rossi Ranch

94+  The 2018 Zinfandel Rossi Ranch comes from more than 100-year-old vines farmed organically by Phil Coturri. It was made with 20% whole cluster and aged 18 months in 20% new French oak. Medium ruby, the nose has broody, dark fruits laced with graphite, iron, charcuterie and pipe tobacco accents. The palate is densely fruited but fresh, with a fine grain and mineral notes on the finish. Give it another couple of years in bottle. 222 cases produced. Drink now - 2030.

St. Peter’s Church

93  The 2018 Zinfandel St. Peter's Church Vineyard was made with 20% whole cluster and aged 18 months in 20% new French oak. It has a medium ruby-purple color and a nose of wild black and red berries, tobacco leaves, earth and graphite. The medium-bodied palate is brighter than expected, with juicy berry fruits and earthy accents. 256 cases were made. Drink now - 2027.

Orcio Sweetwater Springs Isabel

92  The 2018 Zinfandel Sweetwater Springs Orcio is a bit muted at this stage, offering touches of orange peel and potpourri over red and black fruits. The medium to full-bodied palate is restrained and perfumed in the mouth with a surprisingly soft frame and long, juicy finish. 100 cases were made. Drink now - 2026.

Sweetwater Springs Isabel

92  The 2018 Zinfandel Sweetwater Springs Isabel, made with 20% whole cluster and aged 18 months in 20% new French oak, has a medium ruby color and a nose of red berries laced with notes of autumn leaves, dust, tobacco, cracked pepper and potpourri. The medium-bodied palate has a great balance of fruit, earth and spice character and a layered finish. 376 cases produced. Drink now - 2026.

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Blends

PureYum 

94  The 2018 PureYum is a blend of 67% Syrah and 33% Grenache from the Rockpile and El Diablo vineyards. It was made with 30% whole cluster and aged 18 months in 100% neutral French oak. Medium ruby, it has seductive aromas of red and black cherries, tobacco leaves, red flowers and graphite. The medium-bodied palate is silky, fresh and mineral-driven, with savory, graphite-laced character and a long finish. 218 cases produced. Drink now - 2026.

The First Date

92  The 2018 The First Date is a blend of 60% Grenache Blanc and 40% Roussanne aged in 30% new French oak and concrete eggs. The nose offers fresh orchard fruits, white flowers, citrus and baker’s yeast aromas. The palate has honeyed bass tones and a broad, textural presence in the mouth, enlivened by fresh acidity and citrusy sparks. It will drink well on its own or pair with a wide range of foods. 213 cases produced. Drink now - 2025.

Smoke & Mirrors

90  The 2018 Smoke & Mirrors is made up of 60% Zinfandel, 28% Syrah, 6% Petite Sirah and 6% Grenache, made with 40% whole cluster and aged in neutral oak and concrete. It has a medium ruby color with soft red and black fruits and notes of tar, earth and dried flowers. The full-bodied palate is firm and earthy with a spicy finish. 586 cases produced. Drink now - 2024. 

photo credit: Robert Parker Wine Advocate