Syrah

Ruby/purple in color.  The nose is very nice with black raspberries, black pepper some grilled meats and just a bit of bacon.  On the palate, this is fully mature but not past.  Black raspberry fruit layered with charred earth.  Nice complexity.  Good acidity.  Still fresh.  Nice finish.  This wine is drinking great and much younger than I might have expected it to.  Bottles vary though and I wouldn't wait too long on this one.  

Another winner from this winery making lower alcohol, cooler climate wines from California.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, char, black olives and roasted herbs.  On the palate, this is medium to full bodied.  Black raspberries with an underlying char.  Also some earthiness.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  Very food friendly with some potential upside over the next few years.  

My last bottle from this now defunct winery.  Too bad as they made very good wine.  This bottle certainly was.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, roasted herbs and slight bacon fat.  On the palate, this has juicy acidity.  Black raspberry fruit.  Light tannins.  Some black olives.  Good finish.  Seems close to peak now.  Works well with food.  

Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper and slight bacon fat.  On the palate, this is mature.  Some amount of depth with layers of earth, black raspberries and bacon fat.  Nice acidity.  Very food friendly.  Good finish.  Very good wine.  Drink in the next five to seven years.  

This wine has taken a long time to come around but it is now in a great drinking window.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted meats, leather, slight floral notes and black pepper.  On the palate, this is complex with juicy acidity.  Black raspberries, charcoal, black pepper and slight roasted meats.  Great texture.  Long finish.  Very food friendly especially spicy foods.  It is close to peak and should stay here for 5 to 8 years or more.  

Compared to the 2010 Verna's, this seems to be a bit more elegant with more depth.  Both are great though.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, leather, grilled meats and white pepper.  On the palate, this has lots of energy.  Unwinds into layers in the glass of fruit and earth.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This will continue to improve for a while.  If drinking now, give it some air.  

This is an under $20 easy drinking wine from the south of France.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, some leather and slight violets.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Nice acidity.  Works well with food.  Nice black raspberry fruit.  Not a lot of fruit nor complexity, but works nicely as a package.  Drink sooner than later.  

Biased review as this is our own winery.  I post this as guidance for anyone thinking of opening a bottle.  Purple in color.  The nose has boysenberries, grilled meat, black pepper, slight iodine.  On the palate, this is still young.  It needs air or cellar time.  Medium tannins.  Juicy boysenberry fruit.  An underlying char.  Good finish.  Very food friendly but works on its own.  Still should see some upside.  

Purple in color.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black pepper, and some roasted meats.  Very deep.  On the  palate, this is still young but drinking great.  Black raspberry fruit with some roasted herbs and some spice.  Great texture.  Deep and tightly layered.  Long finish.  This will develop more complexity but if you like lush, delicious warm climate Syrah, this one is fine now.   

Another inexpensive, relatively easy bottle to find of very nice wine.  Purple in color.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, some cherries, a bit of leather and earth.  On the palate, this has nice black raspberry fruit.  A bit of earthiness to it.  Easy drinking.  Enough acidity to carry food.  Long finish.  Available for under $15, its a very nice bottle.  Should last a few years.  I suspect the 2015 and 2016 vintage will be even better.