NYTimes:CalifSyrah
He has picked a pretty good group of Syrahs and none of them are ones I'd throw out of bed.
I think Eric has accurately nailed the problem of slacking sales of Syrah in Calif. Many writers attributed it to the diversity in style of Calif Syrah. Baloney, I say.
My own theory is that, while some superb California syrah was being produced, too much of it was generic fruity, oaky red wine with little to distinguish it. Too many acres had been planted in the wrong places by producers less interested in making great wine than capitalizing on what they had hoped would be a trend. Consumers had identified syrah as mediocre, and often more expensive than other generic, mediocre wines.
which I think pretty much nails the situation.
Glad to see BobLindquist get some good press. The Sawyer-Lindquist Syrah is a wonderful Syrah. After Bob was ordered off to the woodshed (where he found SteveEdmunds hanging out) by Parker, he deserves some kudos.
Anyway...one of Eric's better columns.
Tom