The easier drunk and more appealing styles include the 2006 Syrah. Dark ruby, with loads of fruit and medium body, this wine is meant to be drunk over the next 1-2 years. Tel. (800) 350-7972; Fax (805) 688-8796

A beautiful wine. If more Syrahs were like this, especially at this price, more people would buy them. It’s dry and smoothly tannic, with rich flavors of blackberries, bacon, chocolate and peppery spices. Try as an alternative to Zaca Mesa’s much more expensive single vineyard and reserve Syrahs. It’s almost as good.——S.H.(9/1/2010)—— 91