Tasting Room
Syrah/ShirazWINE OF THE WEEK
Kendall-Jackson
2005 Vintner's Reserve, California - Syrah ($12)
A rich, meaty syrah. Aromas and flavors of lavender, violet, dark plum, blackberry and caramel. Nice jammy fruit. Medium complexity. Soft texture.
2004 Southeastern Australia - Shiraz ($8)
A smoky, over the top syrah. Rhone-like in character. Notes of black cherry, blackberry, bacon and herbs. Nice quaffer.
2004 McLaren Vale, Australia - Shiraz ($19)
A complex, jammy syrah. Earthy, with aromas and flavors of dark plum, cocoa, mint and eucalyptus. Sweet fruit.
2005 Phoenix Ranch, Napa Valley - Syrah ($44)
A brooding syrah, on the meaty side. Aromas and flavors of red cherry, bacon, mint and violets.
2004 Hyde Vineyards, Carneros - Syrah ($60)
A toasty syrah. Rich, round and intense. Showy, full-bodied and ripe. A bit tart and slightly tannic.
2004 Rockpile Vnyd. (Reserve), California - Syrah ($50)
A complex syrah, with layered flavors. Notes of blackberry, cranberry, dried cherry, quince and dark chocolate. Toasty.
2005 Sonoma County - Syrah ($19.50)
A rich syrah, meaty and earthy. Full-bodied, with a soft texture. Gamey, with notes of berry and cocoa.
2004 Unti Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley - Syrah ($33)
The panel concluded the wine was undermined by off aromas and off flavors. Two bottles tasted.
2004 Sonoma County - Syrah ($20)
A gamey syrah, rich and ripe. Notes of red berries and camphor. Integrated tannins. Medium complexity.
TASTING PANEL: Steve Leveque, winemaker of Chalk Hill; Stefen Soltysiak, education director of Rodney Strong Vineyards; Larry Van Aalst, sommelier of Equus; and Press Democrat wine columnist Peg Melnik.
CRITERIA: The panel samples eight to 12 wines a week in a blind tasting. Wine of the Week is based on quality, value and availability and is not necessarily the top wine of the tasting. Price is suggested retail; actual price is often lower.You can reach Staff Writer Peg Melnik at 521-5310 or e-mail pmelnik@pressdemocrat.com