wineries .










S Y R A H . / . P E T I T E . S I R A H


98 ESMERALDA (CHATOM VINEYARDS)
2006 Syrah
Calaveras County $34

98 HAHN SLH
2007 Syrah
Santa Lucia Highlands $27

98 POMAR JUNCTION VINEYARD
2007 Syrah
Monterey $42

98 VIE
2007 Syrah
Las Madres Vineyard; Carneros - Sonoma County $42
Doesn’t get much better than this. Wonderful black & blue fruit, spice, with whiffs of smoke and cola. The palate is smooth and sexy, well-balanced and mouth filling, with an explosion of fruit and spice in the never ending finish.

97 CASS
2006 Syrah
Paso Robles $36
Wonderful, rich layers of black and red fruit, hints of blueberry and floral undertones in a spicy, sexy body. One of the best syrahs we’ve tasted.

97 CHATOM VINEYARDS
2008 Syrah
Calaveras County $23

97 OLSON OGDEN
2007 Syrah
Stagecoach Vineyard - Napa Valley $52
Dark, rich and complex, this wine offers deep blue, black and red fruit flavors layered in a smooth, velvety, spicy body, with a finish that is to die for.

96 HARVEST GIRL (CARR)
2007 Syrah
Santa Barbara County $18

96 SOBON ESTATE
2008 Syrah
Amador County $14
Wonderful black, red and blue fruit, pepper spice, with whiffs of smoke and cola. The palate is smooth and sexy, well-balanced and mouth filling, with an explosion of blue fruit and spice in the long lingering finish.

96 SOL ROUGE
2008 Syrah
Lake County $32

96 VIE
2008 Syrah
Las Madres Vineyard - Carneros - Sonoma County $39

95 OLSON OGDEN
2007 Syrah
Unti Vineyard - Dry Creek Valley $38
Classic syrah flavors of blue, red and black fruit, spice, and hints of leather and smoke. Packed tight, with firm tannins, this wine needs a few years to open and show its true colors.

95 SOL ROUGE
2007 Syrah
Lake County $32
Deep aromas of black, blue and red fruit, with spice, chocolate and earth notes following. On the palate, this is a rich, tightly-packed wine with spice and dark fruit flavors battling for attention in the firm finish. This wine can use a bit of aging to bloom.

95 VENGE
2008 Syrah
Muhlner Steps Vineyard - Napa Valley $45
Dynamic blackberry, blueberry, black cherry and cola aromas enveloped in light earthy/meaty notes, with chocolate and nutty oak following. Big, slightly hard-edged on the palate, this wine exemplifies what you’d find in the Cote Rotie (France). Give this wine a few years to soften its edges a bit and it’ll turn into a rich, smooth powerhouse.

95 VIE
2008 Syrah
White Hawk Vineyard - Santa Barbara County $45
(let breathe)

95 VIE
2008 Syrah
Les Amours - Santa Barbara County $42
(let breathe)

95 VILLA SAN-JULIETTE
2009 Petite Sirah
Paso Robles $17

94 CASS
2006 Petite Sirah
Paso Robles $36
Inky black, packed tight with red, black and blue fruit flavors, spice and good, solid tannin structure. A stunner with time to age.

94 HAHN
2008 Syrah
Central Coast $14

94 OLSON OGDEN
2007 Syrah
Napa/Sonoma Counties $28
Nice red, black and blue fruit flavors, with some spice and hints of plum and earth. A bit hard edged now, but will be terrific with some age.

94 PEJU
2007 Syrah
Napa Valley $32

93 KESTREL
2007 Syrah
Falcon Series - Yakima Valley $22

91 VIE
2008 Syrah
Alder Springs Vineyard - Mendocino County $48

90 SOL ROUGE
2008 Petite Sirah
Lake County $32