2017 Ledge Vineyards "Adams Ranch Vineyard" Willow Creek Syrah Blend

It's been a while since I offered a domestic wine, but I was honestly struck so dumbfounded by this set of releases from Ledge Vineyards in Paso Robles that I have to share the experience. The cult wines of Paso (Saxum, Sine Qua Non, Andremily) have one thing in common. They are paradoxes of alcohol and varietal typicity. The best releases perfectly distill high fidelity varietal character out of Rhône varieties, but they build them out at uncanny alcohol levels that combine hedonistic exuberance and intellectual complexity. I can recall the thrill of tasting Jim Binn's Andremily wines for the first time and knowing I finally had a comparable offer for Saxum and Sine Qua Non drinkers who didn't want to swing for the fences price-wise. Mark Adam's Ledge Vineyards is cut from this same cloth. After having worked alongside childhood friend Justin Smith of Saxum, Ledge is achieving the same paradigm at half the price of Saxum and a fifth of the price of Sine Qua Non. The wines achieve po