98-100 Points Vinous
Tasted just before bottling, the 2023 Syrah Distenta V has all the makings of a masterpiece. Beguiling aromatics of exotic spice, violets, blueberries and crushed rocks soar from the glass, leading into a wine of staggering elegance and expressiveness. Juicy yet refined, it already shows remarkable completeness, with a suave balance that promises even greater things in bottle. The blend is 85.8% Syrah, 5.5% Grenache, 3.7% Petite Sirah, 3.3% Mourvèdre, 1.3% Petit Manseng and 0.4% Muscat, vinified with 11% whole clusters. Nearly half of the fruit comes from the Third Twin Vineyard in 2023, which imbues the Distenta V with brightness and verve.
 
96-98 Points Jeb Dunnuck
The 2023 Syrah Distenta V comes from the estate’s The Third Twin, Cumulus, and Eleven Confessions vineyards and is a blend of 85.8% Syrah, 5.5% Grenache, 3.7% Petite Sirah, 3.3% Mourvèdre, and the rest white varieties. Fermented with 11% whole clusters and aged 23 months in 63% new French oak, it displays a deep purple hue and offers dark blackberries, cracked pepper, violets, flowers, and leather. This is a darker, focused, peppery, full-bodied style that’s beautifully balanced with the fresher, focused character of the vintage.