2009 Sanguis Syrah Six White Horses

The 2009 Syrah Six White Horses is 92% Syrah and 8% Viognier (and maybe some Roussanne) that was aged in 65% new, 300lLiter barrels. A sexy, full-bodied effort, it offers a decidedly floral-laced profile with ripe blackberry, plum, violets and licorice all emerging from the glass. Glass-staining and rich, it holds everything together brilliantly and has ripe tannin framing the finish nicely. Enjoy it over the coming 7-8 years. Drink now-2021. This was a great lineup by Matthias Pippig. Now making their wines from a newly renovated winery in the town of Santa Barbara, these wines offer loads of fruit, yet have impeccably made profiles. In addition, they also age gracefully. While the bulk of the lineup is red, don’t miss his whites! They’re rich and full-bodied, but unique, awesomely pure and focused. Tel. (805) 845-0920; www.sanguiswine.com

Blackberry jam, white flowers, menthol and sweet spices are some of the notes that emerge from the 2009 Syrah Six White Horses. This super-ripe racy wine shows good promise, but we will see what happens after bottling. The blend is predominantly Syrah (with 15% whole clusters) with 8% Viognier.

My favorite of the ’09 barrel samples and showing textbook Syrah characteristics, the 2009 Sanguis Six White Horses is a co-fermented blend of 93% Syrah (from Watch Hill) and 7% Viognier and Roussanne (from Bien Nacido). Fermented with 20% stem inclusion (a first for this estate) and aged in 65% new 300L barrels, it boasts deep, layered aromas of black fruits, black olive, pepper, and graphite. While decidedly masculine and black fruited at first, this continues to gain complexity and subtlety in the glass, picking up more floral and chocolate qualities in the glass. Full-bodied and beautifully balanced on the palate, with top-notch purity, excellent freshness, and solid underlying structure, this will need require short-term cellaring, and drink well for 15+ years.