Saint Cosme 2004 Saint Joseph AOC. 13% abv. About $35.
Not very familiar with Syrah, particularly Northern Syrah. It was a nice day, and one of my favorite wine bars in Northern California was having a Syrah/Shiraz tasting. One South African, an Australian, a Washington State, and two Californians. I lost my notes, but that's ok for two wines I really liked.
The Ojai Bien Nacido Syrah (2001) was quite nice. Very austere and lean and rather tightly structured. I could see buying this one.
The Garritson (sp?) Mon Amie (sp?) was the Syrah equivalent of a Cult Cab Oak and Fruit Bomb. Way over the top and jammy. Will this wine ever be balanced? Not my style at all-and it was the most expensive wine there. Tastes do vary, though.
The South African Shiraz was simply nondescript and illustrated why Syrah makes upa relatively small part of my cellar.
Owen Roe Ex Umbris "crafted to express the smoky notes imparted to the Syrah grapes by a raging wildfire." (not that said wildfire really happened here, but I often like "smokey" and meaty wines. It's surprising how few Syrahs have this character, but this was quite nice, and for $21, it was worth a pickup! Very nice.
Saint Cosme 2004 St Joseph. The only wine served from a decanter. About $35.
This wine was a revelation to me. From the moment I stuck my nose in the glass, I knew that a beautiful wine was ahead of me. I don't necessarily have the words to describe it, but in addition to the standard nice red and black brambly berry and cassis fruit, there is simply something alive and energetic and minerally in this wine-both the nose and the palette. Utterly captivating. A brief informal survey of other participants seemed to find some agreement on the wonderfulness of this wine. This apporaches my first five-star wine.