I was fortunate to visit Chateau Vignelaure back in the 80s – was it ‘84 or ‘85?  Some of my memories are fuzzy. The memory that isn’t fuzzy however, is that Vignelaure was a trend setter, planting Cabernet Sauvignon in Provence, despite the apparent heresy. Today the rules for what can be planted on AOC [...]

read more from this topic.....

d’Arenberg, McLaren Vale, The Footbolt, Shiraz 2005 The nose features liquer-like character, a concentration of candied black fruit, a hint of eucalyptus and some subtle volatility. In the mouth the fruit is in force, the feel is silky and a thread of acidity provides structure – long and nice.
During fermentation the wine is given gentle [...]

read more from this topic.....

Perrin & Fils, Cotes du Rhone Villages 2007 The nose features sweet berries and black pepper. In the mouth it quite structured with medium weight; it’s crying out for red meat – nice value from the Rhone. This wine is 50% Syrah and 50% Grenache. Mis en bouteille in Orange 13% $9.69 at Bottle Barn

read more from this topic.....

Kathryn Kenndy, Santa Cruz Mountains, Maridon Vineyard, Reserve, Syrah 2002 This was a delicious wine and I can’t tell you why for the notes are in a journal that I’ve misplaced. Yet I feel compelled to share the story – sometimes the deliciousness of a wine stands out strongly in memory even when the reasons [...]

read more from this topic.....

Innocent Bystander, Victoria, Shiraz-Viognier 2006 It’s very neat how you get the ripeness of Shiraz, the black fruits that we love, with the cooler climate marker of black pepper, all in one bottle. This is a great walk down the middle of Syrah/Shiraz paradigms. In the mouth it is soft and ripe with a nice [...]

read more from this topic.....

Trione, Russian River Valley, River Road Ranch, Pinot Noir 2008 In the nose you’ll find sweet red fruit with pastry notes, think cherry pie, warm and aromatic. In the mouth you’ll find a supple expression of that cherry pie, absolutely luscious. The fruit is sourced from a vineyard that the Trione’s have owned for over [...]

read more from this topic.....

Pirramimma, McLaren Vale, Shiraz 2005 There’s a heavy heft of oak in this wine, from the beginning to the end with a dark chocolate character as well. Winemaker Geoff Johnston GP&B in McLaren Vale 14% $18.79 at Bottle Barn Pirramimma

read more from this topic.....

Les Vignerons de Tavel, Tavel, Prestige des Lauzeraies 2007 Sweet cherry fruit marks the nose and carries over on the palate. The mouth is broad and weighty, the acidity low, the fruit flavors are compelling and the body is big – a nice Tavel. The grapes are 50% Grenache, 25% Cinsault and 25% Syrah harvested [...]

read more from this topic.....

JC Cellars, Santa Barbara County, Fess Parker’s Vineyard, Syrah 2006 This Syrah features boatloads of oak through and through. The mouthfeel is supple and the oak adds a sweet vanilla appearance, enriching the wine further. Winemaker Jeff Cohn. P&B in Oakland 15.0% $23.99 at Bottle Barn JC Cellars

read more from this topic.....

Alain Graillot, Crozes Hermitage 2007 In the nose you sense the classic black pepper along with a meatiness and herbal character, perhaps hinting at rosemary and thyme. In the mouth this is a structured Syrah, acidic and tannic, delicious and long. Vinifie, eleve et mis en bouteille a Pont de l’Isere 13% $21.99 at Bottle [...]

read more from this topic.....

Grey Stack, Bennett Valley, Dry Stack Vineyard, Marie’s Block, Syrah 2007 This Syrah brings a sense of the northern Rhone to Sonoma County. There’s tar on top of the black fruit in the nose, with meatiness and a floral component like lavender. In the mouth this wine has structure! Wow, Syrah with acidity and ripe [...]

read more from this topic.....

Vall Llach, Priorat DOQ, Embruix 2005 The nose features a sweetness, black fruits with blackberry jam. In the mouth the sweet theme continues, with very ripe, jammy fruit, density yet suppleness, warmth, a bit of tannin and lowish acidity, a sense that this wine came from the New World, but it didn’t. The grapes were [...]

read more from this topic.....

Clif Family Winery, California, The Climber, Red Wine 2006

This wine features a boatload of juicy fruit with the berries of Zin and the currants of Cab. The light body and soft texture make it drinkable immediately, perfect to imbibe while you’re warming up the barbecue.
The majority of the fruit was sourced from the Somerston [...]

read more from this topic.....

Domaine de la Mordoree, Tavel, “La Dame Rousse” 2008 The freshness of strawberries are evident in the nose and in th mouth that theme is over a rather big and slightly warm structure. The grapes behind this pink wine are 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault and 10% Clairette. The domaine has 40 hectares of [...]

read more from this topic.....

Robert Hall, Paso Robles, Hall Ranch, Rose de Robles 2008
Strawberries and floral notes are the predominant features in the nose – very clean and fresh. In the mouth the fruit shines again in a very dry format with a lingering touch of creaminess. Hand harvested Grenache 47%, Syrah 41%, Mourvedre 6% and Cinsault 6% [...]

read more from this topic.....

Foxen, Santa Ynez Valley, Williamson-Dore Vineyard, Syrah 2006 This vintage exudes sweetness, like berry jam and raspberry liqueur. In the mouth it is supple and warm oaky and smoky – a very rich and ripe style of red wine. The previous vintage was also a crowd pleaser at an event we had in San Francisco [...]

read more from this topic.....

Perrin & Fils, Vacqueyras, Les Christins 2006 Black pepper and red fruits combine with a sense of the garrigue when you smell this wine. In the mouth it is structured and ready to accompany a pepper steak; the acidity carries the flavor a long way for the price. The blend of grapes is 80% Grenache [...]

read more from this topic.....

Provisor, Dry Creek Valley, Syrah 2002 This wine, almost 7 years on is showing quite nicely, with dried fruits and a supple texture. The wine was aged in new and older French oak for 16 months. This was the first vintage of Syrah from proprietors Susan and Doug Provisor. P&B in Geyserville 14.9% $31 [...]

read more from this topic.....

Perrin & Fils, Cotes du Rhone 2007 The nose features black pepper, red fruits and a sense of the garrique. In the mouth this wine is ready to match with a bit of roasted pork; there is moderate acidity, ripe tannins and a creaminess as well. This moderately weighted red is certainly a good value.  [...]

read more from this topic.....

Clarendon Hills, Clarendon, Piggott Range, Syrah 2005 Unfortunately corked. 100% Syrah sourced from the Piggott Range Vineyard, planted in the 1960s on a hillside adjacent to the Onkaparinga Valley. Owner and Winemaker Roman Bratasiuk. Produced in Blewitt Springs in the McLaren Vale 14.5% a gift Clarendon Hills

read more from this topic.....

JC Cellars, Rockpile, Rockpile Vineyard, Haley’s Reserve, Syrah 2005 This is a sweet smelling Syrah, like candy with a little spike of spirit. The mouth is quite dense, with vanilla overlapping the fruit. The texture is plush and refined, displaying just a little warmth. The grapes are grown by Rod and Cathy Park at 2000 [...]

read more from this topic.....

Bella, Alexander Valley, Big River Ranch, Syrah 2005 There’s jammy black fruit in the nose and a little bit of tar and reductive character when first open. In the mouth, the wine is chewy and oaky with a bit of bitterness. P&B in Healdsburg 14.9% $40 at the winery but alas sold out.
Bella, Dry [...]

read more from this topic.....

Andre Brunel, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Les Cailloux 2006 In the nose the fruit goes from fresh to raisin, with black pepper and spices from the cupboard. In the mouth, this wine is approachable already, chewy and dripping with acidity with plenty of extract to fill out the palate – excellent! This is their estate CDP. 65% old [...]

read more from this topic.....

Coudoulet de Beaucastel, Cotes-du-Rhone Rouge, 2005 The black fruits are alight in the nose with a liquer-like character. In the mouth the fruit is very expressive with the structure you’d expect – a great combo. The grapes are sourced from the Coudoulet vineyard, grown organically and include about 30% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache, 20% Cinsault and [...]

read more from this topic.....

E. Guigal, Cote-Rotie, Brune et Blonde de Guigal 2005 Here is a Syrah that demonstrates the black pepper quality that lurks in this variety. There’s also earthiness, a benign Band-Aid character adding to the complexity of the nose. The mouth shows Syrah’s structure, plenty of acidity and a sense of the tannin. Yet as we [...]

read more from this topic.....

JC Cellars, California Cuvee, Syrah 2006 This is an inky Syrah to look at. The nose features sweet black fruits and berry pie. The mouth is a rich expression of Syrah, with sweet-appearing fruit and ripe tannins. Winemaker Jeff Cohn. P&B in Oakland 15.0% $40 at the winery JC Cellars

read more from this topic.....

Jordan de Asso, Carinena DO, Crianza 2005 This wine features a great balance of oak and fruity flavors, driven by a long sense of acidity. The grapes behind this blend are 40% Tempranillo, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Syrah. The wine was aged in 100% French oak for one year plus a year in bottle [...]

read more from this topic.....

Wattle Creek, Alexander Valley, Shiraz 2005
The nose smells of oak, nuts and caramel over chocolate with a bit of spiritous character peeping through. The mouth is a supple expression of ripe black fruit and oakiness. P&B in Cloverdale 14.4% $30 at the winery Wattle Creek Winery

read more from this topic.....

Coyote Crest, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, Estate Bottled, Syrah 2005 Unfortunately this wine is corked. Grown, Produced & Bottled in Healdsburg 15.9% $28 at the winery
Coyote Crest Vineyards & Winery

read more from this topic.....

Palmeri, Alexander Valley, Van Ness Vineyard, Syrah 2004 This Syrah features meaty, gamey notes in the nose. In the mouth it’s a big wine, with plenty of structure and extract. Many Syrah have moved into a candy-like, no structure direction while this one shows the stuffing that this grape can exhibit. Give this baby a [...]

read more from this topic.....