Edmeades' 1998 Petite Syrah Eaglepoint Vineyard is surprisingly soft, round, and forward for a Petite Syrah. The wine has plenty of character, an opaque ruby/purple color, and good peppery, blackberry and licorice notes. It should drink well for 10-12 years. Tel. (707) 895-3232

Readers looking for muscular, brawny, full-bodied, tannic reds need search no further than Edmeades' 1996 Petite Sirah Eaglepoint. This wine reveals an opaque black/purple color, as well as a boldly-styled nose of jammy blackberry fruit intertwined with cassis and earth. It is a broodingly dense, chewy, uncomplex wine with intense flavors, full body, and excellent, nearly outstanding purity and length. Consume it now, or cellar it for 10-15 years.This is an unheralded source for surprisingly user-friendly, well-made wines.Only indigenous yeasts are used for fermentation, in addition to a light filtration, resulting in wines with natural textures and intriguing aromatics.Tel. (707) 895-3009