A pleasant, slightly complex wine that’s dry and ripe and ready for drinking now. Shows polished flavors of blackberries, cherries, mocha, anise, pepper and oak.——S.H.(10/1/2009)—— 85

From the warmer east side of the appellation, this wine illustrates the area’s ability to perfecty ripen Syrah to fat, lush flavors of violets, blueberries, chocolate and sweet black cherries. The downside of this sunny sweetness is harsh tannins, which make the wine angular and chunky in the mouth. ——S.H.(12/1/2002)—— 86