| Score: |
98 JD.
"The 2017 Eaba was bottled in August of last year and is 58% Syrah, 28% Mourvèdre, 11% Grenache, and 3% Viognier that saw 60% stems and 50% new French oak. This meaty, bloody effort has loads of spiced plum and darker fruit character as well as notes of iron, beef blood, spice, and peppery herbs. Full-bodied and gorgeously textured, with good acidity and ripe tannins, it's going to benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age and keep for 20 years as well. Winemaker Jim Binns continues to pretty much knock it out of the park in every vintage. His 2017s are unquestionably some of the greatest wines in the vintage, and the Mourvèdre (along with John Alban's The Mason Forsyth cuvée) is undoubtedly one of the finest expressions of this variety coming out of California today. These are powerful, full-bodied wines that make no excuses for their fruit or opulence while staying perfectly balanced, pure, and elegant. Readers should not miss these stunningly singular wines." Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, Aug 2020 |