This blend follows the Australian model of ying and yang synergy from two Adelaida mountain estates.  To quote the winemaker, “the Syrah is the jelly in the donut.” The 70/30 ratio preserves the inherent personality of Cabernet with its aromas of mulberries, blackberries and creamy texture. The fuller black fruit component from the Rhône variety.  The wine has hints of cocoa and cedar within the fruity core and a long nutmeg-infused finish.  As always with young Cabernet based wines of this pedigree time is your friend, and additional bottle age will tame the current youthfully tannins.  Drink now (with aeration) or hold up to 2017.  166 cases produced. 

92 points- Connoisseur's Guide to California Wine.  Gold - Houston Wine Competition.  This wine defines the term elegance.   Singing with a perfect pitch, it emphasizes first and foremost a distinct high toned fruit clarity.  The challenging, steep, limestone  terroir is reflected in the wine’s rare intensity of varietal flavors.  It has quickly thrown off its adolescent gangliness and now shows a sleek and lithe runner’s physique.  Starting with berry patch bouquet, the nose quickly develops a liqueur-like suppleness across the palate revealing a black cherry and black currant compote of ripe flavors dusted with sweet baking spices.  Enjoy now or cellar through 2019.  Unfined, unfiltered.  Cases produced– 204
 

Elevated to a starring role, Bordeaux blending varietal Cabernet Franc breaks out from its back-up position to Lead.  Adelaida’s Viking Vineyard is an ideal incubator for the Cabernet family with its 1800 ft. mountaintop location and all day sun exposed south-facing slope.  Our Cabernet Franc, with only a mere one and a half acres,  excelled in the 2009 vintage.  The wine emphasizes the plump and fruit forward side of its more usual herbal influenced personality.  The current youthful tannins will reward either decanting or additional bottle age as aeration reveals the emerging bouquet of violets and resonant raspberry-like fruit.  Returning to the open bottle after several hours you will see the emergence of a mineral and tobacco leaf infused black licorice fruit melded with currants and the flesh of ripe plums.  Further bottle age will see additional complexity, reaching an optimum plateau by 2016 and continuing through 2019.    

93 points- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate. Aug. 2012.  "Adelaida’s 2009 Syrah Block 6 Reserve Anna’s Vineyard shows more aromatic lift than some of the other Syrahs. Violet, black cherries and mint are woven together in a refined, polished style that stands apart for its class, finesse and sheer polish. Sweet perfumed notes linger on the gorgeous, highly articulate finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017." Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate.

93 points- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate. " The 2009 Syrah Reserve Viking Vineyard emerges from the glass with juicy dark cherries, plums, flowers, leather and savory herbs. It shows a level of nuance, depth and sheer vibrancy that is missing from some of the other wines in this lineup. Layers of fruit build to the rich, intense finish. This is a terrific showing from Adelaida. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019." Antonio  Galloni.  The Wine Advocate. Aug. 2012

A key to this wine’s rich flavor profile is the 20 months in an American barrel (130 gallon “puncheon”) thus given the name "Amerique."   The French cooper, Seguin Moreau, crafted the barrel using the tight grained oak for it's celebratory Christmas spice quality and blueberry pie flavors.  The wine’s multilayered red berry character is nuanced by hints of nutmeg and vanilla bean spice leading to a finishing crescendo of wild herb-like accents.  This extremely limited wine ( only 44 cases)  is a must for collectors of fine Zinfandel.   Enjoy now through 2015.