Tried last night w/ my pizza:
1. Yorba Syrah ShakeRidgeVnyd/AmadorCnty (14.9%; www.YorbaWines.com) 2006: Black color; intense very blackberry/blueberry/Syrah very spicy/perfumed/fragrant light toasty/oak beautiful nose; soft structured very strong blackberry/blueberry/Syrah/licorice very spicy light pungent/toasty/oak some tannic/extracted very spicy flavor; very long/lingering intense blueberry/blackberry/Syrah/pungent/licorice light smokey/toasty/oak finish w/ fair tannins; much more like a Lagier-Meredith or Rocca Syrah than an Amador Syrah; pretty big & extracted but the balance to carry it out another 5-10 yrs; has a terrific spiciness; beautiful young Syrah. $32.00
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Yorba: Wines made by KenBernards. Grapes grown by AnnKraemer/mind behind up at ShakeRidgeVnyd in AmadorCnty, south a ways from the ShenandoahVlly. I liked this wine when I tried it a yr ago. I like it even more a yr later. It has a terrific spiciness not usually found in Syrah. It's a big wine, but has the structure and tannins to take it out quite a few more yrs. Oftentimes, the Amador/ShenandoahVlly Syrahs have a brambly/briary character the makes them resemble Zin more than Syrah. This does not; it's Syrah thru & thru. One of the best Amador Syrahs I've had yet.
Tom