Havens Black and Blue 2004

In 2004, after a lovely, moderate summer with very little fog but no real hot spells, the last week of August turned hot and dry, with offshore conditions prevailing for almost ten straight days. Persisting into the second week of September, it brought the Syrah to ripeness (25.0% sugar) with unusually good acid balance. The heat seemed to push the Cabernet almost to full ripeness, but we wanted to wait for completely mature phenolic elements. So, two weeks after the Syrah, we finally picked our Cabernet, with very full flavors and mature tannins. This extra "hang time" gave us a richness that we intended to balance the Syrah’s spiciness. When we decided to make the "Black & Blue ten-years-later" blend, we found these two wines a perfect complement: the Cabernet’s richness and soft tannins were complemented by the spicy, exotic notes of the Syrah.

91 Points

"A 50/50 blend of cabernet sauvignon and syrah) Good ruby-red color. Black and blue fruit aromas complicated by minerals, licorice and black pepper. Sweet, aromatic and tightly wound, with impressive inner-palate energy for the vintage. The blackberry and floral flavors are still a bit youthfully tough, and the wine’s tight tannins call for patience." Stephen Tanzer's
International Wine Cellar

"A blend of equal parts Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2004 Black and Blue Proprietary Red Wine is a more tightly knit wine meant for longer aging (the Cabernet firms it up as well as giving it more bulk and structure). The overall impression is one of opulent black fruits, spice box, licorice and melted asphalt. Enjoy this ripe, medium-bodied, pure, well-made 2004 over the next 7-8 years." 91 Points,
Wine Advocate