The 2014 Quarzo (100% Syrah) is a powerful, explosive wine. Inky and richly textured, the Quarzo possesses notable personality and class. Judging by these two Rhône wines, Syrah seems a bit better suited to the Favia style than Grenache. There is certainly plenty to like in the Quarzo, a wine that showcases the racier side of Syrah in Amador County.

I was blown away by the 2016 Syrah Quarzo. While cut from the same mold as the 2015, it offers more purity and freshness in its darker fruits, charred meats, scorched earth, and violet-laced aromas and flavors. Possessing medium to full-bodied richness, no hard edges, and a seamless, elegant texture, it’s the real deal. Drink it over the coming decade as well.

Rich and powerfully built, with bold blueberry, crushed rock and licorice aromas leading to dense but polished flavors of wild berry, game and white pepper. The tannins are big but refined. Drink now through 2028.

Beautifully crafted, rich and expressive, graceful yet potent, with a tight delivery of dark berry, mineral and cedar flavors that show a touch of nutmeg and berry jam. Ends with forceful yet integrated tannins. Begs for cellaring. Drink 2014 through 2024.

Rich, thick and polished, full-bodied and stylish, with a vivid, complex core of dried berry, roasted herb, mocha and espresso flavors that slowly and gracefully unfold and turn increasingly elegant on the long, sophisticated finish. An excellent Favia Amador Syrah. Drink now through 2020.

Immense and expressive, offering broad, expansive layers of wild berry and blackberry, fresh, loamy earth, pepper, spice and nutmeg, with a rich mouthfeel that lets the berry fruit fan out and gain nuance and complexity. Drink now through 2017.