Dense, dark and brooding, the 2020 Syrah Cattle King is firmly layered with dusty notions of spicy blackberry skin and resinous purple flowers with hints of savory herbs. Full-bodied, fresh and food-friendly, the wine features a delightful tart black cherry note across the palate with succulent acidity and fine-grained tannins that will either need time in bottle or food in youth. Enjoy young with barbecue, or allow it to rest in the cellar until 2026. The wine rested for 21 months on the lees in 50% new French oak. Just under 3,000 bottles produced.

Coming from the Upland vineyard, the 2018 Syrah Cattle King underwent whole-cluster fermentation and displays a dark ruby core with a soft magenta edge. Aromas of dark red fruit tones sway out of the glass with elements of black pepper and raspberry-glazed smoked meats followed by plum blossom and purple flowers. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is nimble, focused and precise, displaying incredible complexity with flavors of blackberry compote and smoked plums followed by subtle dusty spice tones and fine-grained tannins across the mid-palate. The finish lingers with delightful, high-toned, dark red fruit notions compounded by a lovely potpourri essence. Only 5,688 bottles were produced after the wine rested for 21 months on the lees in 56% new oak puncheons. It's deliciously juicy. Bravo!

Opening with an opulent frame displaying the entire spectrum of fruits from red to blue, the 2017 Syrah Cattle King offers a juicy density and aromas of crème de cassis, boysenberry, black pepper and chocolate. Full-bodied, the boisterous profile seems to go on forever with elements of dark cherry, blackberry and boysenberry essence tied to fine-grained tannins that weigh on the palate with a generous dollop of oak spices. The Cattle King shows power and finesse in a heavyweight frame and ends with a long, bold and chocolaty finish. This is delicious juice.

The 2016 Syrah Cattle King leads with expressive red, black and blue fruits on the nose with a density that can be sensed just by nosing the glass. Black cherry, blackcurrant and boysenberry compote all vie for your attention with savory spices and resinous purple flowers. The full-bodied palate is dense with a pedal-to-metal winemaking approach with chewy tannins and supporting acidity. It continues to linger with spice tones as it changes over a 20-30 second period after the wine has left the palate. Just under 500 cases were produced.

The 2015 Syrah Cattle King is deep and brooding, unfurling in the glass with notes of crème de cassis, plum preserve, incense and burning embers. On the palate, it's full-bodied, ample and layered, with a deep core of concentrated fruit that conceals a chassis of fine-grained but abundant tannins that only assert themselves on the finish. Though it's more powerful than The Beautiful, Cattle King isn't as complex, multifaceted or graceful, but it's a very persuasive Washington Syrah in its own right.