The 2016 Petite Sirah Tierra Theopolis Vineyard is another straight up fabulous barrel sample from Paul Gordon. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by gorgeous notes of black raspberries, lavender, flowers, and honeysuckle. Perfumed, elegant and already surprisingly forward, it still packs tons of fruit and richness on the palate, with vibrant acidity and a great finish. 93-96

The 2016 Petite Sirah Tierra from Halcón is a lovely example of this quintessentially Californian variety, wafting from the glass with aromas of rosemary, sage, crushed currants and wild plum. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, richly tannic and succulent, with a long, sappy finish. Paul Gordon has managed to avoid Petite Sirah's proclivity to overbearing structure, as well as capturing wonderful chaparral-like aromas and flavors (California's answer to herbes de Provence?) to complement the wine's rich fruit. At 14.1% natural alcohol, this is the highest octane of Halcón's offerings, but it retains excellent balance.

The 2016 Tierra (Petite Sirah) is another super-expressive wine from Halcón. Game, black pepper, smoke, lavender, menthol, licorice and wild cherry notes give the 2016 layers of nuance that inform its distinctive personality. There is lovely depth, texture and pedigree in the 2016 Tierra, a wine that will drink well for a handful of years or more.