The ruby/purple-colored 2008 Syrah Phoenix Ranch possesses a Crozes-Hermitage / northern Rhone style displaying notes of olives, charcoal, smoke, roasted meats, black currants, and cherries. Fresh acidity gives the wine a tart character as well as a distinctively French style despite the fact that it comes from the Sonoma Coast. About 80% whole clusters (stems) were used in the production of this wine. Ehren Jordan’s yields in 2008 were one-half of normal, primarily due to the frost and poor flowering. Consequently, the level of concentration in some of his wines is slightly higher than normal. Jordan is a Francophile, and his impressive resume includes being one of the masterminds behind the Turley Zinfandels. He is all about natural winemaking, securing top terroirs, and putting into the bottle the essence of what the grape and the site have produced.Tel. (707) 942-4699; Fax (707) 942-5142

Not quite up there with the previous two vintages, Failla’s ’08 is sharp in acidity, and rather jammy in cherries and blackberries. It shows finely ground tannins and crisp acidity, and is very dry. Could develop interesting bottle nuances over the next 5–6 years, but probably best now. ——S.H.(7/1/2010)—— 89