Last nite I opened a 2007 Sinister Hand Rhone blend, about %65 Grenache, %25 Syrah and the rest Mourvedre. As is the pattern for these wines by Owen Roe, it was very smooth tannin-wise and with lots of bright red fruit but had no Rhoneish (peppery, earthy) qualities. At $27 with discount I'll not go there again.
Tonight I opened a 2007 Ex Umbris, all Syrah and more varietally typically and also very smooth with some spice. I liked it quite a bit but for $27 with full discount I think I can to better here too. My favorites so far in this NW wine experiment are the 2007 Sharecropper Cab. at only $18 and even the 2007 Lenore (second label) Syrah which was only $13. All these wines are very well balanced and NOT at all hot or volatile so will continue with their upper label Cab. and Cab. Franc.