Classic California Petite Sirah, which means the wine is bone dry, acidic and tough in tannins. It’s flavorful, offering a mouthful of blackberries, black currants and licorice. The tannins reprise on the finish, leaving behind a puckery bitterness. Good with short ribs, barbecue.——S.H.(11/1/2010)—— 88

Not yielding much now beyond hard tannins and primary fruit flavors of black currants that verge on raisins. But then, it’s Petite Sirah, a known ager, and the acid-tannin balance suggests just that. Give it until 2012, at least. ——S.H.(12/1/2009)—— 88