Fragrant, briary, and enhanced with flavors of ripe berries and whiffs of smoke, animal and earth. There are also some funky, leathery flavors, that will be off-putting to some, but they do not overwhelm the blackberry and black cherry fruit. If you like that leather, this will hit the spot.——P.G.(11/1/2008)—— 86

Smoky, dark, tannic and spicy, this inky-dark Syrah is packed with flavors of sweet cherries and has a big, Port-like structure. It seems built for immediate enjoyment, not cellaring. In the world of pricey Washington Syrah it really stands alone. Big flavor, small price.——P.G.(12/31/2003)—— 89

An incredibly dark wine, bursting with spicy, cherry, Port-like flavors. The fruit is concentrated, sweetly ripe, and layered with pepper and tobacco. —P.G.——P.G.(9/1/2002)—— 90

Black/garnet color and dusty, mocha/smoke scents. There are also some whiffs of anise and sweet spice, cinnamon and nutmeg, like fresh-baked pumpkin pie. Built along the ultraripe lines of Australian Shiraz, this is an exotic wine whose idiosyncratic style won’t appeal to everyone.——P.G.(9/1/2000)—— 90