This 2002 Tolosa (Edna Valley) Syrah is one of the first bottles I bought years ago when I was getting "into" wine. I expected very little from it...it had not been stored all that well and was not a particularly expensive bottle to begin with, but...you know...
It was smooth and earthy and savory and pleasantly herbal. This is a "warm" smooth wine. Quite a surprise! Kevin noted jammyness, and I would agree that when young this wine would have probably been a jam bomb and disliked heartily. But now? I liked the soft warm green herbal notes. You could taste a bit of stewed/jammy character to the wine, but overall the integration and warmness of the wine won me over. We basically finished the bottle...Beau and I definitely enjoyed it.
Tasting notes on Cellar Tracker rated it rather high. Maybe warmness should be replaced with "forest floor."