The Deal Sundance Vineyard Syrah

Young and tight. Opened somewhat with an hour in the Kokopelli decanter. Wild raspberries and pepper. Great with flank steak. This will undoubtedly age well. $30 in Durango, Colorado.

Oh Rhone, how I love thee... medium bodied, somewhat restrained (but maybe just needs a few more years), white pepper, red plum and briny flesh. This is a wine that demands careful attention. Yum!

A perfect accompaniment to a steak dinner for my wife's birthday! Opens slowly to reveal smoky, ashy minerality and deep berry fruit. Nice balance for a 14.5, with a long, savory finish.

UPDATE (night 2): so much more open on the nose and deeply flavored. Just striking fruit. So long.

Killer wine from K vintners. Incredible array of beautiful notes.

This is very ripe and fully mature . . . surprisingly so. Nose has sultry dark berry ooze, a bit of scorched earth, and some crumbled rock minerality. A note of macerated prune. It’s full bodied, with the fruit a little reserved on first entry, then spreading out along the trail of a little alcoholic heat (surprising given that the label says only 14%) and a some medium-grained tannin. Seems a little loose-boned. I’d drink these up soon.

This is a bottled holiday charcuterie board. Rich red fruit, salumi, and olive tapenade, complete with spiced graham crackers and cranberry potpourri. An absolutely gorgeous, medium-bodied adolescent, with superfine tannins and a satiny mouthfeel that puts the finish on full display. I suspect there's more to see here in couple years. Brilliant.

Big, meaty, and a bit reminiscent of an Aussie Shiraz from a decade ago. Well made, beautiful fruit, but a little over the top. 2009 is a fantastic vintage.

Past its prime. Quite disappointed.

Fruity, fresh and jammy-crushed cherries and plum and tones of smoked meat. Hints of stone and smoke with a irony taste in the finish. Charles has made the real Deal here! Can you believe it comes out of Washington?!?!? Nice bottle.

Dense and concentrated with a silky mouthfeel.