1997 SYRAH, HENRY DANIEL
Thompson Vineyard 75% / Bien Nacido 25%
Santa Barbara County
 
This huge, pretty, easy to enjoy wine is so gregarious, it is out to please everyone, just like Henry! At one moment it smells like milk chocolate, the next like bacon and the next like bay laurel. When Henry took his first sip of wine, this was the one. After he tasted it he made a thoughtful frown and said "spicy." And spicy it is, with a fabulous velvety thick texture and lots of ripe super fine tannins. Because of its long fermentation, this wine remained on the lees for 12 months. This gave it an extra textural richness that give the tannins a beguiling suppleness. Because of its over the top nature, I am tempted to say you should enjoy this wine right now, and you certainly can. But after tasting an uncorked bottle that was left out for several days, I think it will age gracefully for many years.