I understand this comes from cooler coastal sites, and definitely a cooler vintage...but I found this wine utterly gulpable. Bright acidity, scads of red plum fruit. MEAT MEAT MEAT. And white pepper. Not sure tatsted blind I could pick this as American.
Similar Old World Syrah in character, the 2008 Cristom Syrah from the Willamette Valley was a little brighter in fruit, with more cherry showing and not as much meaty character. Still bracing acidity and delicious peppery character.
I wish all American Syrah was this good!