"StageCOACH" Versus "Stage GULCH": It's Still a Nice Syrah from Napa!

By way of background: OK, so this was a mistake... I thought this syrah was from Stage GULCH Vineyard in Napa, California, from which I had mixed up an interesting batch of wine from 2005 vintage frozen grapes. Actually, the syrah here comes from StageCOACH Vineyards in Napa. Oh, well, let's see what Stagecoach Vineyard delivers via Krupp Brothers...

Initial review : This is Krupp Brothers Black Bart's Bounty Syrah, Napa, California, 2006, finished at 15.2% alcohol. The syrah (with 2% viognier) spent 16 months in 2/3 new French oak.

In the glass: Deep opaque magenta, transparent only a half inch from the edge.

On the nose: Poured cool with a brief decant and swirled vigorously, shows deep, down, swampy fruit, somewhat dark. Along with the fruit is a nicely funky deep floral aromatic. From the aroma, seems like this will be shy, round and charcoal-infused.

On the palate: The primary elements on the palate are in fact both sweeter and blacker than I expected, think a sugar-crisped charcoal briquette. In a nice way. The sweetness coats the palate rapidly with syrah fruit. Then the charcoal resolves into an interesting black pepper, which in turn flows along the roof of your mouth, offering a brightness and depth to the rich fruit.

In summary: Overall, rates three stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale, with a plus because of its powerful, distinctive character.

Following long decant, four hours in decanter at room temperature: The nose is similar, though more subdued now. Nice balance now in the mouth, melding the same elements as earlier.

Find prices and retail availability for Krupp Brothers Black Bart's Bounty Syrah.