2023 The Great Places Syrah - August James

Voluminous yet elegant, and built around a core of subtle power, this remarkable syrah is intricately woven with threads of warm figs, purple berries, cured olives, tar and nervy spices. Iodine and crushed flowers on the sticky-tannin finish. Drink or hold, but it’s best to wait. (09/2025)

Similarly deep purple-hued, the 2023 Syrah Great Places August James Stolpman reveals blackberries, cracked pepper, lavender, game, and iron, with beautiful violet notes. Fermented with 67% whole clusters in concrete and aged 20 months in neutral French oak puncheons, it’s medium to full-bodied, concentrated, firm, focused, and tannic as all hell. There’s also a touch of CO2 that pokes through, and while it has balance and terrific length, this is a burly, backward wine that will need plenty of time in the cellar to come together. Hide bottles for 4-5 years, and it should evolve gracefully over the following 10-15 years. Drink 2030-2045. (09/2025)