Tried this last night w/ leftovers:
1. Failla Syrah PhoenixRanch/NapaVlly (14.5%; http://www.FaillaWines.com) 2003: Black color; intense blackberry/Syrah slight toasty/oak slight Rhonish/roasted/espresso/menthol some smokey/spicy interesting/complex nose; tart big/rich/blackberry/Syrah light toasty/oak some roasted/espresso bit tannic flavor; med.long rather smooth strong blackberry/Syrah/spicy some roasted/Rhonish finish with bit of tannic bite in aftertaste; needs another yr or two and should develop for 4-6 yrs; a really lovely NapaVlly Syrah with some slight Rhonish nuances. $42.00
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And a wee BloodyPulpit:
1. This is, of course, made by Ehren Jordan & his wife. It's a wnry that seems to fly below the radar of many wine folks. Across the board, I like Ehren's Failla wines. They have a structure to them that not many have in Calif. And they seem to age amazingly well.
When I had this Syrah on release, I was not all that impressed by it. Thought it was just another NapaVlly Syrah, a place that seems to be an underachiever w/ Syrah. But this wine has developed into a nuanced/complex slightly Rhonish Syrah.
I still prefer, though, his SonomaCoast Syrahs as being more interesting. His first ones, from AlRago's QueSyrah vnyd out west of Sebastopol on TaylorLane, were stunning. His later ones, from their Estate further North and West, may, eventually, be even better.
Ehren, with his Failla and Neyers Syrahs, truly has a master hand with that grape.
TomHill