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Bonaccorsi 2006
Syrah, Larner Vineyard
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The Bonaccorsi 2006 Syrah, Larner
Vineyard, is from a superb vineyard site
that, seemingly regardless of the
producer, tends to provide floral,
blueberry, blackberry, and crushed rock
characteristics. Starting off with a
beautiful color of full ruby-black with
pink tones at the rim, it is well
focused with a slightly floral nose and
sandalwood, rose and toasted brioche.
This big, dense, blue/purple-colored
2006 offers a stunning nose of acacia
flowers, blueberries, and black
raspberries, a full-bodied mouthfeel,
sweet, silky tannins, and a layered,
multidimensional personality. It should
drink well for 7-8+ years. 92 Points -
Robert Parker.
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Price $49 |
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Adastra Syrah
2006
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The name Adastra is taken from the Latin
saying, per aspera ad astra, “ through
striving to the stars.” Interestingly,
their winemaker is Pam Starr! Deep
maroon in hue, the 2006 Adastra Syrah
has aromas that include plums, dark
cherries, brambles, cinnamon, all spice,
coal tar, mineral and tarragon. On the
palate the wine has a mouth-watering
combination of fruit, spice and earth
flavors. This is a complex Syrah that
rewards those who take the time to savor
it; a full-bodied wine of character that
pairs well with substantial dishes. Only
94 cases produced!
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Price $45 |
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Hill
Climber Syrah, Jack and Jill Vineyard, Sonoma 2004
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As Vigneron Partners, the team behind
Robert Biale Vineyards, this group of
wine makers has committed to do with the
2004 Hill Climber Syrah, Jack and Jill
Vineyard, Sonoma, what they have done
with Zinfandel, and that is to grow and
produce a series of distinctively
different wines from extraordinary
sites. The partners bring to the table
over 140 years of combined wine and
vineyard experience, which shows in this
collaborative effort, an inky,
concentrated Syrah showing heaps of
boysenberry and blackberry fruit with
meaty undertones and a long, intense
finish. Impressive stuff! And very small
production.
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Price $60 |
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Surh
Luchtel Syrah, Page Nord Vineyard, Napa 2005
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The 2005 Syrah, Page Nord Vineyard, Napa
is a beautiful wine! The nose shows
sweet blackberry, cherry, tar, leather
and herbs. On the palate, this juicy,
sweet Syrah oozes flavors of ripe
blackberries, blueberries, tar, white
pepper and just a little gaminess. The
tannins are supple, finish, long and
lingering. Page Nord has proven to be a
remarkably versatile and food-friendly
wine. 275 cases produced. |
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Price $34 |
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Madrigal
2005 Petite Sirah, Napa Valley
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Big, bold and exuberant describe the
personality of this Petite Sirah.
Succulent black fruits abound, and this
grape's naturally big tannins show a
plusher, ripe edge. It pairs beautifully
with lamb, grilled meats, and great
friends. The winery's history began with
this wine and it's still a personal and
popular favorite. Appealing scents of
black plum mingle with hints of tobacco
and cedar. A dense mélange of bright
black fruits expands into a very full
finish. Black cherry, espresso, a
dusting of black pepper, dark chocolate,
more fruit ... it keeps building. Save a
sip for the following day, and even more
intriguing layers will show!
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Price $35 |
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Qupe Central Coast Syrah, 2006
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Amazingly enough, this is the 25th vintage of Qupe’s
Central Coast Syrah bottling (first one 1982)! The wine has evolved
tremendously over those 25 years.
This 2006 is 94% Syrah, 5% Grenache, and 1% Counoise. It comes
from Santa Barbara County (54%), Paso Robles (34%), San Luis Obispo
County (8%), and Arroyo Grande Valley (4%).
This is one of their best bottlings yet of this wine. The
relatively cool vintage in 2006 allowed for long hang time and great
acidity. The riper, forward fruit aspects of the Paso Robles fruit are
balanced by the acidity and spiciness of the cool climate Santa Barbara
fruit. This wine is made with early consumption in mind, but if you are
so inclined, and since this is a special anniversary vintage, you can
certainly put in the cellar for 8-10 years.
Barbecued pork comes to mind as the perfect meal with this wine.
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Price $19 |
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David Bruce Petite Sirah, 2006
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Stretching in a narrow band from Santa Barbara to the
San Francisco Bay, the Central Coast region is characterized by the
cooling influences of the Pacific Ocean. The grapes for the 2005 David
Bruce Petite Sirah come from several vineyards in Paso Robles and
southern Monterey. The resulting components display notable differences,
some exuding bright, spice-tinged fruit while others are jammy, earthy
and dense. The blend in many ways exceeds the sum of these parts,
offering blackberry, blueberry and white pepper aromas, with a supple
and balanced feel coming from our gentle handling of the fruit. Limiting
the influence of new oak allows the fruit to shine through, making this
wine versatile with foods, and ready to drink now.
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Price $24 |
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Neyers Syrah, 2007, Old Lakeville Road
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In the mid 1990s, the Sangiacomo family planted this vineyard, a mile or
so east of the Petaluma River. It sits on a steep, south-facing slope
that is almost a 45-degree grade in some spots. Its 12 acres are planted
entirely to Syrah, approximately four acres each to bud wood sourced
respectively from Cornas, Hermitage and Cote-Rotie. The climate
resembles Carneros, with cool, windy days and chilly nights throughout
most of the summer. These conditions, along with the dramatic terrain,
keep the crop size low and the wine intense. The wine they made from the
long growing season of 2005 is both dark and rich. It displays those
fascinating bacon-fat and black olive aromas characteristic of the most
expressive Northern Rhone reds.
and it's a remarkable wine. Dark colored, aromatic with that great aroma
of spice and animal, as the French call it, the wine is just great
Syrah! 1,155 cases produced.
92 Points – Robert Parker
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Price $39 |
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Andrew Murray Vineyards, Tous Les Jours Syrah, 2006
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Andrew Murray Vineyards has consistently turned out great wines for the
last 10 years. Named as
“One of Santa Barbara’s finest wineries,” by
Robert Parker, Jr. and the
editors of Food and Wine magazine were in agreement when they
named Andrew as the “Tastemaker
of the Year” in 2004.
For the 2006 Tous Les Jours Syrah, he starts with great grapes
from Paso Robles and the Santa Ynez Valley and uses the different
climates to create a wine that is both fruity and spicy at the same
time. Using his experiences with both new world and old world style
winemaking, he makes the most drinkable Syrah imaginable.
Ultrarich, with herb-laced sour
plum, cranberry and black cherry fruit that’s well-focused, turning
plush and complex on a long, detailed finish.
Great for the fall menus of hearty soup and cassoulet.
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Price $19 |
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Savannah-Chanelle Syrah 2005, Coastview Vineyard, Monterey County
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In 1892, French immigrant Pierre Pourroy established the
winery high above the Santa Clara Valley (today better known as Silicon
Valley). The estate sits on 58 acres and was purchased by the Ballard
family in 1996, who named the winery after their two daughters. This
Syrah is a big wine. Starting off with a deep amethyst black color, and
fresh tomato sauce and mineral aromas. The full-bodied mouthfeel is full
of blackberry and black raspberry flavors with hints of smoke and tomato
sauce and mineral aromas. A silky round entry leads to a dry-yet-fruity
medium-full body of berry compote, cream, wet minerals, spice, and
roasted tomato flavors. Finishes with a long tangy fade of baked berry
tart and cinnamon. An elegant and ripely flavorful wine to enjoy sipping
or at the table. Enjoy this wine with steaks, BBQ, pizza or chili.
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Price $34 |
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Cedarville Estate Syrah 2005, El Dorado County
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The 2005 Syrah has the classic Cedarville Vineyard Syrah
aromatics of earth, cedar and blackberries, along with a hint of
graphite, chocolate and blackberry flavors, chalky tannins, balancing
acids, and a very long finish. It was co-fermented with a little
higher percentage of Viognier than in 2003, which beautifully
complements the intensity of the Syrah. As usual, it is the most
complex and layered of the Cedarville wines, and a wonderful wine with
food. If you can manage to cellar some bottles, we suspect it will age
gracefully, as have our previous vintages. 371 cases produced.
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Price $28 |
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