Never before has there been a wine that has made everyone in the blending trials go silent, until this 2013 Intrepid.  Combining two northern Rhone clonal selections from cooler faces, integrating 35% stem inclusion, and aging for 22 months in French oak lay the foundation to Intrepid’s stunning complexity and textural length that are nothing short of mind-blowing. Aromatics of dark berries, finely ground white pepper and cedar cigar-box, pave the way to a profile of explosive black fruit and savory herbs intertwined with coffee and charcuterie.  This cerebral wine is smoking now and will continue to excite for the next 15-20 years.

93 points - Wine Spectator