The flagship release, the 2016 Syrah Royal City is all from the Stoneridge Vineyard on the Royal Slope (not far from the Frenchman Hills). It was not destemmed and spent 27 months in 60% new French oak. Offering a sensational bouquet of blackcurrants, baking chocolate, beef blood, toasted spice, and loamy earth, it builds slowly, with full-bodied richness, silky tannins, beautiful power and elegance, and a great, great finish, it's another magical wine from this team. 572 cases.

Lighter in style than previous vintages, the 2016 Syrah Royal City begins with a core of dark fruit with a sturdy oak backbone that gives way to a rocky essence and mineral expression with soft, elegant baking spice notes. Full-bodied, the wine shows a delightful array of spice expressions before exposing complexity with a firm and juicy structure. Flavors of blackberry reduction, compounded by the mineral tension on the long, evolving finish, the wine will last for a couple of decades. It’s a solid wine that has me pleased.