Couldn't take the brett last night, so cracked:
1. Shane Syrah ValentiRanch/AndersonVlly (70 cs; www.ShaneWines.com; 14.9%) Sebastapol 2006: Very dark color w/ no bricking; beautiful blackberry/Syrah/blueberry quite peppery/cracked black pepper light smokey/toasty/oak bit earthy/dusty some Rhonish/roasted/coffee very spicy rather complex perfumed nose; rather tart rather Rhonish/roasted/espresso fairly peppery/cold-climate strong blackberry/blueberry/Syrah very spicy beautiful flavor w/ light bit wiry/angular tannins; very long/lingering bit tart/angular/bitey light toasty/smokey/oak strong blackberry/blueberry/Syrah rather black pepper/cold-climate bit Rhonish/coffee/roasted/smokey light earthy/dusty finish w/ light angular tannins; a beautiful example of cold-climate/peppery Syrah.
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. I hate wines like this. Whenever I pull out an older Shane/Dehlinger/Radio-Coteau/Novy/Carlisle Syrah and get blown away by it...I scold myself for not buying more of these wines. This is as good as it gets in Calif Syrah.
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2. Shane: This is, of course, ShaneFinley. Followed him from the very start...I did. After stints at Copain/Kosta-Brown/PierreGaillard, he is now winemaker at Lynmar. And, of course, his own Shane.
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3. Valenti: This is, in fact, up on the MendocinoRidge AVA. So great Syrahs and Viogniers come from this vnyd. It's a beautiful sight/Site as you drive out towards Elk.
Tom