The 2001 Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah is our darkest and most balanced wine this year. It has a clean, high-tone, berry-herb aroma and a pleasant dark-fruit taste. It shows classic Bien Nacido white pepper and authentic Rhone flavors. It was made using four new and four older American oak barrels, and four new and four older French oak barrels. (387 cases produced)
90 Points. Wine Advocate - Aug 2003. “Also outstanding, this wine reveals more new oak notes along with copius quantities of blackberry and cherry fruit. Spicy, with a hint of tapenade as well as Procencal herbs…luscious.” – Robert Parker.
88 Points. International Wine Cellar – June 2003. Bright, dark, ruby. Stewed fruit, dark chocolate and a hint of menthol on the nose. Intense flavors of penetrating dark berries, licorice and spices, with a hint of bourbon from the oak. Concentrated and chewy, but oaky and a bit hard-edged. Finishes with a big, tongue-dusting tannins that turned drier as the oakiness became more apparent. – Stephen Tanzer