2005 Villa Creek The Avenger

(65% syrah, 25% mourvedre and 10% grenache) Deep ruby. Smoky, brooding cherry and bitter chocolate on the nose, with a wild smoked meat quality adding complexity. Sweeter on the palate, offering deep red and dark berry flavors, cherry pit and slow-mounting spiciness. This is awfully young but holds great promise.

The 2005 Avenger (65% Syrah, 25% Mourvedre, and 10% Grenache) is a deeper ruby/purple color, wonderfully sweet, with an expansive nose of blackberries, cassis, and acacia flowers. Full-bodied, with more structure, muscle, and concentration, this is accessible now but built to hold up for 5-8 years of cellaring. The beautiful purity, the impeccable harmony/equilibrium are hallmarks of these Villa Creek wines, and this has it in spades. Tel. (805) 238-7145