The 2019 EABA shows the cooler, elegant style of the vintage yet still has classic Jim Binns texture and opulence. Black cherries, kirsch liqueur, roasted herbs, sandalwood, and hints of white pepper define the bouquet, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a pure, elegant mouthfeel and a gorgeous finish. This cooler-climate, perfumed, complex, satisfying Syrah blend will evolve for 15-20 years if well stored. The blend is 61% Syrah, 24% Mourvèdre, 13% Grenache, and the rest Viognier that saw 65% stems and 22 months in 55% new barrels

The 2019 EABA ("end all be all") is a blend of 61% Syrah, 24% Mourvèdre, 13% Grenache and 2% Viognier and was made with 65% whole clusters. Fruit comes from several vineyards in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, including Bien Nacido, White Hawk, Larner, Harrison-Clarke, G2 and Alta Mesa. It was matured for about 22 months in 55% new French barriques and 600-liter demi-muids and 45% used French barriques, and it was bottled on August 21, 2021. Opaque ruby-purple in color, it offers beautiful, pure scents of licorice, tar, blueberry and black cherry jam, charcuterie, pepper, olive and fried savory herbs, offering up more nuances as it spends time in the glass. Medium-bodied, it has abundant, super-fine tannins, seamless acidity and slowly expanding, spicy flavor layers, finishing very long and alluringly floral. Its notable length, detail and latency suggest this will continue to improve in bottle over the next 5-7 years and will be long lived in the cellar.

The 2019 EABA is a powerful, deep, intense wine. Black cherry, plum, incense, licorice and chocolate are all kicked up. The 2019 shows a more red/purplish fruit profile next to the 2020, along with more freshness, but always in the big style. Time in the glass adds freshness and attractive floral overtones.