The 2016 High Tide is a blend of 50% Mourvèdre, 33% Grenache and 17% Syrah. It has a medium ruby-purple color and scents of blueberries and red fruit, with olive, roasted coffee, baked black berries and cherries, cracked pepper and meaty notes. Medium to full-bodied, it offers baked fruits with firm, chewy tannins and tart acidity, finishing long.

Showing a more vibrant ruby color, with great notes of blackberries, peppery herbs, meat and underbrush, the 2013 High Tide (54% Mourvèdre, 36% Grenache and the rest Syrah) is medium to full-bodied, rich, nicely concentrated and textured. It will drink well for a decade.

A blend of 50% Mourvedre, 33% Grenache and 17% Syrah that saw a lot of whole clusters in the fermentation and aging all in used French oak, the 2012 High Tide has outstanding notes of mulled black fruits, toasted spice, roasted herbs and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, ripe, voluptuous and textured, it's a little masculine and foreboding on the nose (a la Mourvedre), yet is supple, sexy and sweetly fruited on the palate. Drink it over the coming 5-7 years.

A blend of 42% Grenache, 33% Mourvedre and 25% Syrah that was fermented with 33% whole cluster and aged 18 months in neutral oak, the 2011 High Tide is a medium-bodied, nicely concentrated and supple wine that has loads of charm. Kirsch, blackberry, salted beef and wild herbs are just some of the notions here, and while it’s already drinking nicely, it will evolve gracefully through 2019. Making their wine in the town of Santa Barbara, Craig Jaffurs and David Yates continue to make a bevy of outstanding wines, all of which remain reasonably priced. Both their 2011s and 2012s are made in a fresher, lighter-weight style that highlights purity and finesse over richness and power. Tel. (805) 962-7003; www.jaffurswine.com

Looking at the 2010s, which were all (aside from the Larner Syrah) last year, the 2010 High Tide is a blend of 50% Mourvedre, 33% Grenache and 17% Syrah that was aged almost all in neutral oak. It delivers an outstanding bouquet of crisp black cherries, spice, new leather, underbrush and cracked peppercorn to go with a medium-bodied, fresh and lively palate. Very juicy and with solid acidity, yet also with building richness and good tannin, this solid Rhone blend will deliver the goods for 5-7 years. Drink now-2020. Craig Jaffurs continues to produce a bevy of brilliant Rhone blends from his winery in Santa Barbara. While his 2010s are spectacular, his 2011s are lighter in color and weight, with more upfront characters. They should pick up additional weight with some bottle time, yet most will require drinking over the coming 5-6 years. Tel. (805) 962-7003; www.jaffurswine.com