I wanted to open up for my friend a great example of what can be achieved in the US, so I opened Edmunds St. John Les Côtes Sauvages 1996. It was corked. So I opened up my last bottle of the same and that was corked, too. Oh well, four wonderful bottles leave me feeling good, but this was a bad way to end a relationship.
Gladly ESJ Durell Syrah 1998 was lovely as ever: vibrant, good acidity, earthy, perhaps a bit vinegary but not disturbingly so. Wonderful, savoury stuff!
-O-