2012 Bedrock Wine Co. Syrah Exposition One Weill Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley (11/20/2018)
First off, if you are going to drink this, decant it. The wine needs a couple of hours of air to unwind. Once it does open up there is a wealth of black cherry & blackberry fruit, dark chocolate, tar, roasted meat, and floral tones. It's rich but very well balanced by its acids, so the wine is actually quite food friendly (we had burgers). What makes it impressive is the fact that it has great depth, but never feels heavy. It's ripe, but never alcoholic. There is quite the balancing act going on, a tribute to the winemaker and the site.
2014 Bevan Cellars Ontogeny - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (11/20/2018)
A few years in bottle have settled this down a little bit, but overall it's still a boisterous, rich, impressive wine. On the riper end of the scale for Napa Bordeaux blends, it does not tip over into caricature, as the finishing acidity and the subtle tannins keep things in check. Deep black fruit & a combination of tobacco, black coffee and chocolate make a full palate of flavor. Give it rich, beef or lamb-based food (something braised with a reduction sauce), and the sparks will fly. As I have mentioned in the past, this is not an everyday type of wine for me, but it's one hell of a treat.