Venge Vineyards, 2016 Napa Valley Syrah, Stage Coach Vineyard Block I-4

I had to cure yesterday’s Miserable Monday, so I pulled my last bottle out of the cellar. Intensely well-behaved, balanced, with clarion notes of black cherry, currants and pomegranate. The reputation and greatness of this vineyard is in decline now that its new owners are substantially increasing the number of planted acres, moving to high-production viticulture and keeping all the fruit to itself.