An excellent value, the 2002 Red Monkey is a Syrah made in an up-front, exuberant, peppery, fruity manner with spicy, cedary black fruits intermixed with licorice, currants, and Asian spices. It is a wonderful bistro-styled red with no hard edges, just plenty of delicious fruit. Drink it over the next several years. Anyone who knew Mike Bonaccorsi obviously has a profound sense of sadness that this young man, at the beginning of his winemaking career (he was a well-respected sommelier for many years), died so young. It was difficult to taste through these wines and realize that even though he is no longer here, his Syrahs and Pinot Noirs (reviewed elsewhere in this issue) were the finest wines I had tasted from Bonaccorsi, and his winemaking abilities were jumping by leaps and bounds with each new vintage. Words somehow seem meaningless under such circumstances, but as a wine lover, I’m hoping his wife and friends continue to carry on his work.Tel. (805) 686-2906

This limited production, high quality producer has turned out a Syrah-based offering, the 2001 Red Monkey, displaying a Rhone Valley-like perfume of smoky bacon fat, black cherry, and cassis aromas. Medium to full-bodied and pure, with excellent texture as well as loads of potential, this young, primary red possesses beautiful elegance and flavor authority. Drink it over the next decade. Tel. (805) 686-2906