L'Ecole 41 2019 Columbia Valley Syrah 750ml

Bright ruby-red. Boysenberry, blackberry, violet, licorice and black pepper on the nose. Densely packed, lively and quite suave in the mouth, offering concentrated flavors of black fruits, spices and flowers but little gamey varietal funk; just a touch of herbs. Finishes with a firm dusting of tannins and very good length. Quite dry and classic if a bit youthfully medicinal and lacking in flamboyance, this wine needs another 6 to 12 months to harmonize and perhaps show a little more give. Still a bit stunted and youthfully medicinal but it may have sweeter material and more pliancy than the 2017.

Score: 90+ points -- Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, 2020