The 2004 Ampelos Vineyard (Santa Rita Hills) Syrah is the biggest, thickest, chewiest, deepest and most primary syrah of the vintage. It has no new oak, yet gobs of tannin. The best designated syrah of the vintage. Only three barrels of this wine were made. A powerful wine – balanced complete. Made using older French and American barrels. (74 cases produced)
Stephen Tanzer - International Wine Cellar
Deep, saturated ruby. Wild aromas of blackberry, blueberry, flowers and game. Sweet, lush and suave in the mouth, with superconcentrated fruit showing an almost liqueur-like ripeness. Very dense and very sweet syrah, finishing long and ripely tannic.
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
A big wine, the inky/blue/purple-tinged 2004 Syrah Ampelos Vineyard reveals plenty of black currant and black cherry fruit along with smoky, graphite notes, nicely integrated oak, terrific full-bodied intensity, and a long, heady finish. Consume it over the next 7-8 years.