The 2010 Syrah Rosella’s offers up grilled herbs, flowers, mint, licorice and smoke, all of which add complexity to the dark fruit. The use of 100% whole clusters gives the wine much of its aromatic lift. The Rosella’s remains a mid-weight wine with the modest richness that is typical of the Santa Lucia Highlands Syrahs in this vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016. Winemaker Ed Kurtzman describes 2010 as a year with a very cold summer, and frequent periods of fog and drizzle that led him to believe the fruit would never ripen. It did, of course, and these are very pretty wines, especially the Pinots.Tel. (415) 225-2891; www.augustwestwine.com

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

A very meaty dark plum colored Syrah, the 2008 has foresty, herbal, and juicy black fruits as well as subtle smoke in the aromatics and flavors. Broad, savory, and full-bodied with a distinctive earthiness, this is a seriously stuffed Syrah to drink over the next 7-8 years. Tel. (415) 225-2891

Earth, black fruit, charcoal, smoke, roasted herb, and licorice aromas jump from the glass of this dense ruby/purple-hued Syrah. Full-bodied with silky tannins, and good acidity providing vibrancy and focus, this 2007 should drink nicely for 5-6 years. Tel. (415) 225-2891