1. I have, of course, followed BobLindquist from the very start; the '82 PasoRobles Syrah from EstrellaRiverVnyd grapes; one of the first great Syrahs produced that yr in Calif. That wine was still alive at 20 yrs when I had it w/ Bob in Paso at a HdR.
Bob's Syrahs are not as big & extracted as many/most that come out of SBCnty. And for that reason, they often don't show as dramatical when they're young. Which is why he was taken to the woodshed some yrs ago (where he happened to run into SteveEdmunds hunkered down there) by Parker for his wines not being as good as they used to be. Simply put, Parker just doesn't get Bob's Syrah. You have to have followed them from the very start. Bob's Syrahs always show impeccable balance and really don't start to show their glories until they get some age on them. It's that balance that allows them to age so well.
From BienNacido, Bob takes two blocks of Syrah; the X-Block and the Hillside. The X-Block was the original Syrah block planted there and probably the oldest Syrah in SBCnty. I believe that RandallGrahm is the only other winemaker to get grapes from that block, save a few tons that escapes to others from time to time. Bob regards it as the best Syrah coming out of BienNacido, but thinks the Hillside block will, with age, equal it. The X-Block is planted on the far Southern reaches of BN as the slope climbs up out of the gravelly flats. The Hillside block was planted high up on the ridge South of the wnry by the Millers at Bob's request and most other producers who get BN Syrah get from this block. I seem to recall they also have another small Syrah block planted further up the canyon to the East of the wnry.
I've been pretty impressed w/ the wines I've been seeing coming from their Sawyer-Lindquist Ranch up in the EdnaVlly. I expect them to show even more impressive as that vnyd matures.
The S-L vnyd was recently sold, but it will continue to be BioDynamic farmed at Bob & Louisa will continue to get those grapes. CharlesBanks recently bought a majority share in Qupe (don't know about Verdad), but Bob will continue to be the winemaker. This is a good move as it will allow Bob to focus on what he does best.... the winemaking.
TomHill
