Fermented in small oak barrels, 40% new, the 2018 Syrah Seven Hills Vineyard Estate opens to a nose with noticeable oak essence. It displays elements of vanilla, cardamom and nutmeg before dusty blackberry tones sway with aromas of black peppercorn, roasted herbs and black olive. Medium to full-bodied, the Syrah offers flavors of black plum skin, blackberry compote and red peppercorn with a firm mineral tension before tight, drying tannins express across the mid-palate. The wine ends with a juicy and dusty finish with a subtly spiced sensation to the aftertaste. Just over 12,000 bottles produced.

A dark and brooding wine with a purple edge, the 2017 Syrah Seven Hills Vineyard Estate is bold and expressive with juicy black plum and blackberry essence. Still, it wafts with black pepper and sweet baking spices, compounded by dustiness and floral essence. Full-bodied, the wine is generous and juicy, showcasing a fruit-focused frame with lifting tannins before flavors of blackberry preserves with bitter dark chocolate cover the mid-palate. Marked with an evolving, elongated finish, the wine ends with a pleasing tannic edge that is food-friendly. It’s a lovely wine!

The 2016 Syrah Seven Hills Vineyard Estate is a success with classic expressions of black pepper and delicate oak tones, with focused black fruit at the core. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is rich, bold and focused, showing a purity and correctness for Sarah and lingers with intention across the mid-palate. It ends with a lingering essence of oak, dark plum and berries sprinkled with black peppercorn on the long, pleasing finish. Well done. This is delicious juice. 1,000 cases produced.

The 2015 Syrah Seven Hills Vineyard Estate exhibits aromas of ripe blackberries, mocha and licorice, followed by a supple, open-knit and expansive palate with a juicy core of fruit and a youthfully chewy finish. More lavish than the entry-level Columbia Valley Syrah, I'm not convinced it's as deep or concentrated, but it's a well-made, characterful red.

Giving up pure, clean notes of blackberries, black raspberries, crushed flowers and toasted bread, the 2013 Syrah Seven Hills Vineyard Estate is medium to full-bodied, silky and textured. You can tell the winemaking here is first rate, and given its purity and tannin quality, it’s enjoyable today, but will drink well for a decade.