Tried these two last night:
1. Carlisle Zin TomFeenyRanch/RRV (15.9%; Plntd: 1926; + PetiteSirah/AlicanteBouschet/GrandNoir; 175 cs) SantaRosa 2004: Very dark color w/ some bricking; intense blackberry/boysenberry/very spicy Zin very RRV/black pepper some toasty/oak slight alcoholic rather complex almost Rhonish quite complex youthful nose; some tart rather ripe/bit alcoholic very strong blackberry/boysenberry/ripe Zin/very RRV peppery some toasty/smokey/oak almost Rhonish/pungent rather complex flavor w/ light drying tannins; very long/lingering intense blackberry/boysenberry/very spicy some toasty/oak fairly RRV/peppery complex finish w/ light bit drying tannins; showing a bit of alcohol & a bit drying out but a beautiful example of a mature RRV Zin; slightly on the downside but still loads of intense Zin fruit; amazingly good shape for a 16 y.o. Zin.
_________________
2. Ojai Syrah Calif (14.0%) 2011: Dark color w/ slight bricking; very strong black pepper/blackberry/Syrah/boysenberry/very spicy strong smokey/toasty/oak strong Rhonish/pungent/forest floor/perhaps a bit of w-c rather complex nose; lightly tart very strong blackberry/boysenberry/ripe Syrah/very spicy quite peppery strong smokey/toasty/oak some Rhonish/roasted/smoked meats fairly complex flavor w/ light graceful tannins; very long/lingering pungent/Rhonish/smoked meats strong toasty/oak strong blackberry/spicy/boysenberry/Syrah/peppery rather complex finish w/ light smooth tannins; a beautiful example of a mature SBC Syrah; probably at its peak & not going to get better; started to dry out a bit on the next day.
__________________________
A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. The Ojai Syrah was a beautiful example of a fully-mature SBC Syrah. It carries a Calif appellation because some of the fruit comes from RollRanch in VenturaCnty, but mostly it's fruit from SBC.
Tom