Next to the Cayuse, the restraint here is evident, but while the fruit isn't anywhere as exuberant as the Cayuse, there is just as much material here, diversified between the fruit, bacon fat, and olive elements. A little reduced. This doesn't quite have the same intensity and weight as the brilliant 2015 or 2016, and in fact has a coolness that reminds me a bit of the enchanting 2004. Minerally and bright, with fruit that sits more on the red side of the spectrum. While this is too young to hit a peak like the 2004, I feel optimistic this will evolve into something like that. Chave is truly the King of the Hill.

Opulent sweet black and blue fruit on the nose. Super sweet on the palate, with a very consistent profile to the nose, though perhaps it's the blue fruit that shows more prominently here. Some smoky tones, but a slight disjointedness/hollowness on the palate and the alcohol poking out on the back end. This is a hotter wine than I generally like, but there are certainly some proper Rhone tendencies in this bottle.

Surprisingly dirty and funky on the nose, with a touch of oak as well. There is an interesting blend of kirsch and mushroom here. On the palate, this doesn't immediately show the oak that you would expect on the attack, but the lactone qualities do seem to crescendo on the palate towards the finish, which is distinctly drying thanks to the tannins. This is of a lighter, higher acid inclination, but the oak shows more than I would consider ideal. Given the lightness, you're caught in the paradox of either aging this for the oak to soften or drinking it before the fruit fades.

Glass-staining purple. I've drank enough from Standard Meadery and Schramm's to know that the smell here is distinctly boysenberry. Honestly, it's almost sweet like their meads too (if only). Oily and viscous, this doesn't wear its 15.6% abv well at all. Shockingly bitter and hollow on the finish. The winemaking seems to have obliterated any syrah characteristics. Awful. At least it's consistent with all the other Colgin I've had.

A strange nose that shows a bit of fennel seed/celery immediately, and then you start picking out some strawberry components. On the palate, this is extremely sweet and easy, with a surprising amount of ripe strawberry on the palate. The tannins leave you with a sensation of black tea as well. Light on its feet; this drinks quite nicely.

Burnt rubber and a huge vein of sappy black fruit on the nose. On the attack, this is reasonably attractive with its fruit, but as it sits on the palate, the oaky bitterness and alcoholic burn starts to crescendo. Some prune/raisin flavours on the (unfortunately) longish finish.