2012 Syrah Zayante

First of all I must say the Zayante VIneyard is one of my favorite sights in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Organic, own rooted, and dry farmed is a rarity in California and the potential of this vineyard is serious. Older vintages of Beauregard Zayante Syrah are some of the best I have ever taste from California. The 2012 has a dark crimson core with garnet hues on the rim. The aromas smell like fresh blueberries, blackberries, fresh grapes and black cherries with a touch of black pepper, meat and damp forest which will come out with age. The palate is medium bodied with spicy notes of grilled black and blue fruits, black pepper, soy sauce, baking spices and crushed stones. This wine is very pleasurable now, but to experience the potential of this wine I would advise waiting a few years to open it. This wine will begin to soften up at the end of 2017 but most likely really hitting its stride in 2020 and will stay there for another 5-10 years if kept well.