L'Ecole No 41 Syrah 2021

Attractive black pepper and black fruit aromas waft from the glass. Crushed rock and tea leaves, too. It's full-bodied, supple and creamy, with ripe tannins and a caressing finish. 82% syrah, 16% grenache and 2% mourvedre. Drink or hold.

This balanced Syrah, with 16% Grenache and 2% Mourvèdre for good measure, is a great value. Aged in small, mostly neutral oak barrels for 18 months, it leads with aromas of black cherries and earthy soil and oregano. Flavors like black cherries, whipped cream, dark chocolate and espresso suggest a Black Forest cake adventure.

The 2021 Syrah is dark and enticing, with earth tones, crushed blackberries, crushed stones and spiced citrus. This is silky-smooth, energized by juicy acidity, as ripe wild berries cascade across a core of tactile minerals and savory spice. The 2021 finishes grippy and long, leaving a tart fruit concentration to resonate over a layer of edgy tannins. For an entry-level Syrah, this is some pretty serious stuff.

Leading off the Syrahs from this notable estate, the 2021 Syrah Columbia Valley is vivid plum/purple-hued and has a fruit-forward, pleasure-bent style in its raspberry and blueberry fruits as well as peppery herbs and meaty, underbrush-like aromatics. It's balanced, medium to full-bodied, has a great texture, and outstanding length. Drink this terrific value over the coming 5-7 years.

Handsomely structured and appealing for its cherry and currant flavors, this red is accented with pencil lead and spice notes. Finishes with a slight tannin bite. Drink now through 2031. 3,100 cases made.