All things Michael David turn my head. That goes for their Petite Petit (which I’ve been drinking since the ’11 vintage) and Freakshow (yes the red and Cab) in particular, and even my favorite cellar defender–the market-leading 7 Deadly Zins. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that the 6th Sense makes an appearance on Notes.

2016 6th Sense Syrah, Michael David Winery, Lodi, California, USA.

It’s an affordable Syrah bottle, capturing grapes sourced from the Phillips family vineyard that is just a stone’s throw from the Michael David winery. The wine is aged 14 months in French oak, and the ’16 vintage was originally bottled in December of 2017. It has not had that long to set up but makes a good impact on your evening. You get the usual red berry richness of a Michael David, that fruit-forward ‘pow’, as well as the spicy underpinnings and earthiness that you’re seeking in a Syrah. I’ve sampled probably 50 or more (some 40+ are currently posted here on Notes) Syrahs since starting on this vino adventure, and this holds up pretty well to bottles with heavier price tags. Like other Michael David wines, it does forgo nuance for a sledgehammer of fruit flavor, but at this price tag you’ll appreciate it.

Tasting notes from the winery claim, “…the 2016 Syrah shows stunning depth and balance in its youth and will continue to evolve in comings years.” And I’m sure that, while sort of general wine-speak, it’s an accurate call. Most people will opt to uncork and go right at the 6th Sense (as I did) rather than store it but an interesting thought nevertheless. I had my bottle with a well-appointed garden salad (inclusive of mushroom, yellow onion, green olive, and fresh ground black pepper) and chicken breasts and it was an easy sipping wine. I’ll surely do it again and am interested in your thoughts, fans, as always.