The ambition of a grand vin is apparent from the get-go with oak that’s dialed right up in the scheme of things. The fruit rises nicely with plenty of spicy dark plums and blackberries on offer.

Brooding medium ruby. Wild, musky scents of black and blueberry, roasted meats, resiny herbs, olive tapenade and tarry oak. Dense, plush, broad and rather powerful, but showing less early sweetness than the "regular" 2014 Sequel Syrah did a year ago. There's very concentrated dark fruit here but the wine is currently dominated by it's oak element, which blocks its aromatic topnotes. Spreads out impressively to coat the entire palate, with the tannins coating the front teeth. This Syrah clearly needs patience, but will it ever display the fruit personality of the basic bottling? Aeration brought more dark fruit verve but their tannins maintained their grip. (Reviewed November 2018)

The 2015 Sequel Vintage Select Bin 898 has a dark core with a concentration that is skillful and carefully created, framing blackberries, dusty plum and black raspberries. The oak structure on the medium to full-bodied palate is clean and focused with an elegance that shines through with soft tart red cherry flavors. The wine ends with complexity and a structured, lingering finish that is both bold and elegant, capturing the essence of oak tones with a soft floral spice on the aftertaste. Only 137 cases were produced.

The late-release 2015 Sequel Vintage Select Bin 898 reveals plenty of nice dark fruits alongside tar, tobacco leaf and coffee ground flavors. Enjoy this beautifully evolved wine over the next 10 years.

Made from 100% hand-harvested Syrah, the 2018 Sequel Vintage Select Bin 898 is fresh, pure and elegant with succulent red fruit aromas, fresh potpourri and layers of fresh florals that sashay with focus, precision and finesse before spicy oak tones sing in unison from resting in 75% new French oak. Full-bodied, fresh and fleshy, the wine has impeccable balance on the palate and is seductively layered with succulent acidity and fine-grained tannins, overflowing with immense pleasure and picturesque black raspberry and pink peppercorn flavors. The BIN 898 continues to uncoil and unwind, revealing a powerhouse wine that exudes fresh, spicy red fruit tones emanating with precision and focus. Bravo! Hands down, this is the best Vintage Select BIN 898 yet.

Dusty dried cherries and currants are complicated by notes of brown spice, olive tapenade and savory herbs as the 2018 Sequel Vintage Select BIN 898 smolders up from the glass. This is elegance personified, impossibly silky and refined, seamlessly so, with ripe black fruits excited by a tinge of sour citrus under an air of rosemary and sage. The 2018 finishes dramatically long and potent, staining the palate with a wild berry concentration and web of fine-grained tannins, yet through it all, the mouth is left watering for more. This is simply spellbinding, but be aware there are only 96 cases to go around.

Notes of dark plums and black cherries with chocolate, black licorice and wet stones. Medium- to full-bodied with fine-grained, polished tannins and a sleek texture. Complex and fleshy with a lingering, silky finish.