2005 Lucia Susan's Hill SLH

3/08/2008-Decanted 4PM.5PM:Initially somewhat primary. Super dark color. Purple edges. amazing pure saturated blackberry and blueberry. Beautiful floral notes.This will get better and better...6:40P:This nose is just exploding with black fruit. An incredible lush tannin and acid level showcases the blackberries, tar, white pepper, bacon fat. A super long finish . Wow. No Glad I've got 10 more and will seek more yet. This is an elegant classy pure pretty Syrah. Well worth the $40 price tag. I will never drop from ths list and will continue to ask for 2x the allotment. 94/100

TN: 2005 Lucia Syrah Susan's Hill

USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands

(11/23/2007)This is a more 'complete' wine when compared to the 2004. The color is deep and dark, almost blue/purple on the edges. The nose is blueberry, blackberry, camphor, and more. On the palate there was the sexiness spoken of, as well as a lushness I don't not usually associate with Syrah. A beautiful deep fruited Syrah that will just get better in the next few years. The tannin and acid level are spot on. A super long finish completes the package. Note to self; get more.

(94 pts.)

TN:2004 Lucia Syrah Susan's Hill

USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands

With the new mailer on my doorstep I just could not resist trying this.

The color is inky garnet, bulls blood comes to mind. The nose shows a fragrant assortment dark fruits and an underlying white pepper component that I like a lot. The palate has it all and then some; still warm blueberry pie, dark boysenberry, dark blackberries, vanilla, earth, white pepper, wild flowers and some great smooth spiciness. It is a smorgasbord of flavors. The tannins are nicely laid out all in a row, and the acid is present but compliments the whole package. The finish is a minute plus! The fruit bowl of persistence. Sounds like a Dali painting. Artwork non-the-less. Very different than the Garys Vnyd. Tamer and more refined. WOW

93/100

2004 Lucia Syrah Garys' Vineyard

Super dark inky color. The nose shows some varietal character and some over-extracted black & blue fruits. The palate has the grapey-soy-dark fruit profile that FMIII speaks of below. I noticed some dark plum, black pepper, and some minerality. I think this showed better when last tasted (September 06?). The tannin level is nice and seemless, and the acid a bit high. A food wine for sure. Will hold my ast bottle for a year. Now onto the Susans.....The finish is a bit short and flat.