Tried this last night after getting in my latest StageLeft stash:
1. StageLeftCllrs Syrah TheScenicRoute DelRioVnyd/Oregon (13.6%; www.StageLeftCellars.com) 2007 : Very dark color; fairly strong blackberry/Syrah/spicy slight peppery/Rhonish slight meaty/tarry/licorice/earthy interesting nose; fairly tart rather hard/tannic/bitey licorice/blackberry/Syrah/spicy slight peppery/meaty/Rhonish flavor; long rather hard/tannic/bitey strong blackberry/Syrah/spicy slight earthy/Rhonish/licorice/tarry finish; structured and a bit angular and needs 2-6 yrs of age; a good/solid/interesting Syrah but a bit pricey at $38.00.
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. DelRioVnyd: This is a fairly large (I presume) vnyd in the RogueRiver area of SouthernOregon. I've had both Grenache and Syrah from that vnyd. They sell grapes to a bunch of different folks, plus make wine themselves. Never had any of their own Estate stuff, though.
I assumed, being this was Oregon, that it must be fairly cold-climate stuff. But the wines display little of that peppery/cold-climate character of those from the WillametteVlly. Not sure I can identify any DelRio terroir, but I think they most resemble Syrahs from the RussianRiver area. Or some of the better Syrahs from LakeCnty. They seem to have a slight earthy character more akin to WashState Syrah than anything, and seldom show the bright/blackberry fruit you get out of Calif Syrah.
Probably the best I've had was BenDavis' Talulah ones. The recent one at HdR was good/solid Syrah, but just that. Guess I've just never had a really great DelRio Syrah that would convince me it was a primo Syrah vnyd.
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2. StageLeftCellars: This is a lower Berkeley winery that I'd heard some good things from. Owned by MelindaDoty; winemaker is RichWilliams. They source from some very good vnyds. The wines are a bit pricey vis a vis what's out there these days; but seem good/solid/interesting/well-made that seem to need a bit of age. I'll continue to buy.
Tom