Hyde de Villaine Syrah, Californio – 2016 – Vinous – 96 Points
96 points
The 2016 Syrah Californio Hyde Vineyard is a dense, powerful wine that remains very much within the classic style favored here. Inky dark fruit, grilled herbs, menthol, licorice, tobacco and incense add striking layers of nuance to this dark, beautifully resonant Syrah. The 2016 spent 18 months in French oak, 20% of which was new. A reduction of time in barrel by a few months really helps the purity of the fruit come through. This is a superb vintage for the Syrah.