The 2009 Syrah Rosella’s emerges from the glass with black pepper, dark cherries, scorched earth and leather. The Rosella’s was made with 100% whole clusters (from a Bien Nacido clone), and it needs another year or so in bottle to come together. It is quite promising, though, and loaded with personality. Kurtzman aged the Rosella’s in neutral oak. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2019. August West is a partnership between Gary Franscioni, Ed Kurtzman and Howard Graham. The wines are delicate, see relatively low levels of new oak and are bottled without fining or filtration. Most of the wines are made from Franscioni’s Rosella’s Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands but I have included notes on the Russian River bottlings for ease of reference.Tel. (415) 225-2891; www.augustwestwine.com