Gramercy Cellars Gramercy Cellars John Lewis Syrah 2015 750ml

The finest vintage here since the 2015, the 2018 Syrah John Lewis boasts a deeper ruby/purple hue to go with thrilling notes of violets, tapenade, lavender, and peppered meats, all supported by a gorgeous core of ripe darker fruits. Medium to full-bodied, flawlessly balanced, and with building structure, this sensational Washington State Syrah will benefit from 2–4 years in the cellar and keep for two decades. (Jeb Dunnuck)

Devastatingly gorgeous and refined, the 2018 Syrah John Lewis was made with 100% whole clusters. The nose gives up a stunning array of aromas with precision and finesse, brilliantly displaying dusty black raspberry, juicy currant and cassis with a kiss of oak to frame the picturesque fruit. Medium-bodied and with 13% alcohol, the palate offers immense pleasure with a regal mouthfeel, mineral tension, just-ripe red fruit tones and a soft tannic edge. The succulent acidity keeps the wine fresh in the mouth with a food-friendly expression across the elongated and evolving finish. The wine rested for 17 months in 7% new French oak puncheons. This bottling is clearly one of the great Syrahs coming from the Walla Walla Valley; if you are not familiar with this wine, you should absolutely check it out. Honestly, I just want to keep smelling my glass. Bravo! Only 2,400 bottles were filled. (Anthony Mueller)

All Les Collines Vineyard from blocks 36 and 46 with 100% whole cluster, the aromas stop you in your tracks, with notes of freshly chopped parsley, cured meat, potpourri, olive, violet and crushed rock. The palate is full of light tart herb and smoked-meat flavors backed by hefty tannins that need a good bit of time to resolve. It brings a sense of freshness and vibrancy, needing significant time in the cellar to be fully appreciated. Best from 2026–2031. (Sean P. Sullivan)

This has impressive complexity and delivers a soulful interpretation of syrah, offering hard brown spices, peppery notes, red and black fruits and a whole world of aromatic interest. The palate has slippery, sexy tannins in velvety mode carrying graphite and cherry-stone flavors in a seductively layered mode. Drink or hold.

Medium-deep red. Deeper-pitched aromas of raspberry, smoked meat and brown spices lifted by a floral element. Supple, fine-grained, spicy and nicely delineated; the best of these Syrahs in concentration, inner-mouth energy and grip, and a bit sweeter than the rest. Again, the tannins are wonderfully suave, but this wine also possesses more supporting material and ripeness. The very subtle, building finish shows terrific energy and grip, with the tannins spreading out horizontally to saturate the palate and teeth. A classic Gramercy Cellars Syrah. (Stephen Tanzer)

Since its inception, John Lewis has been designated for the winery’s best Syrah, with an eye toward long-term ageablity (as well as pairing with food). This is a wine for the future. Aromas of raspberry, flower, smoked meat and herb lead to fresh, acid-driven flavors. The tannins give a firm squeeze. It’s largely about structure right now, but what lies underneath is beautiful. Pair it with roasted pork loin. Best after 2028, with a long life beyond that. (Sean P. Sullivan)

Full ruby-red. Deep aromas of black raspberry, blueberry and olive tapenade reminded me of a darker Côte-Rôtie. Then surprisingly tight in the middle but with a faint sweetness to its ripe purple fruit flavors. This is considerably more closed today than the Deuce but may well ultimately surpass that wine.