Popping the cork, the nose screams of dark, brooding Syrah – a slam dunk in a blind tasting. Telltale blood and tar further seal the deal. The wine quickly opens up, dominated by delicate red fruits that pierce and crackle – bordering on peppermint, and ride high over a tantalizing fleshiness that has already completely enveloped tannins, even upon release. Balancing savory dried herbs round out this beautifully built Syrah masterpiece. On the finish, those same fresh red fruits still sing backed up by hints of smoke and char. The wine is clearly still in its infancy and it will evolve into a benchmark vintage for Ballard Canyon Syrah.