A sweet perfume of white chocolate, creme de cassis, and pepper emerges from this deep ruby/plum/garnet-tinged Syrah. Full-bodied with impressive richness, decent acidity, and no hard edges, it can be enjoyed over the next 3-4 years.Tel. (707) 251-9818

Cuvaison invested in Carneros early on, and that effort has paid off with this handsome Syrah. It's clearly cool-climate, with thick tannins and peppery, meaty, leathery flavors, but most notable is the balance. This is a wine that combines complexity with sheer deliciousness, marrying blueberry and blackberry notes with hints of coffee, vanilla and black olives. Drink now-2010.——W.E.(11/8/2006)—— 91