S Y R A H . / . P E T I T E . S I R A H 99 SOL ROUGE 2011 Syrah Lake County $32 99 VIE 2011 Syrah Las Madres Vineyard; Carneros - Sonoma County $39 98 ESMERALDA (CHATOM VINEYARDS) 2009 Syrah Calaveras County $34 98 MCMANIS 2013 Petite Sirah California $11 98 POMAR JUNCTION VINEYARD 2007 Syrah Monterey $42 98 VIE 2012 Syrah White Hawk Vineyard - Santa Barbara County $45 (tasted 5/23/15) 97 AIRFIELD 2014 Syrah Yakima Valley $18 (tasted 11/2/16) 97 CASS 2006 Syrah Paso Robles $36 Wonderful, rich layers of black and red fruit, hints of blueberry and floral undertones in a spicy, sexy body. One of the best syrahs we’ve tasted. 97 CHATOM VINEYARDS 2010 Syrah Calaveras County $23 97 DUSSEK 2013 Syrah Columbia Valley $20 (tasted 9/4/16) 97 DUSSEK 2012 Syrah Columbia Valley $20 (tasted 1/14/16) 97 MANZANITA CREEK 2010 Syrah Pigoni Ranch - Alexander Valley $38 First thing that hits you is the beautiful aromas of mint/eucalyptus followed by blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, roasted herbs, a bit of spice and a dose of sweet oak. A really well-balanced wine, rich and smooth with flavor, the velvety body leads you through to a long, lingering, round-tannin finish. 97 MCMANIS 2012 Petite Sirah California $11 97 OLSON OGDEN 2007 Syrah Stagecoach Vineyard - Napa Valley $52 Dark, rich and complex, this wine offers deep blue, black and red fruit flavors layered in a smooth, velvety, spicy body, with a finish that is to die for. 97 SOL ROUGE 2009 Petite Sirah Lake County $32 Interesting floral elements envelope blackberry, blueberry, cranberry, licorice and some red fruit aromas, with light spice lingering. There aren’t many good petite sirahs on the market. Most are very tight/tannic. But not this one. This is a well-balanced, tasty wine that should be an example of how this varietal should be made. 97 VIE 2009 Syrah Las Madres Vineyard - Carneros - Sonoma County $39 Wonderful black, blue and red fruit aromas, with spice and whiffs of smoke and cola. This is a smooth, sexy wine, well-balanced and mouth filling, with an explosion of fruit and smoky-spice in the long, long lingering finish. 97 VIE 2009 Syrah White Hawk Vineyard - Santa Barbara County $45 Complex black, red and blue fruit aromas, with complements of earth, cigar, pepper spice and oak. This is a pretty intense wine, displaying rich fruit and secondary elements in a firm but rounding finish. Decant before enjoying! 96 BOGLE 2009 Petite Sirah California $11 96 CYCLES GLADIATOR 2019 Petite Sirah California $13 (tasted 9/10/21) 96 MCMANIS 2012 Syrah California $10 96 QUASAR 2015 Syrah Aconcagua Valley - Chile $30 Pretty red, black and blue fruit aromas with a dollop of pepper spice, light earth/minerals, and a dash of oak. On the palate, this is a well-balanced wine, displaying wonderful ripe fruit flavors in a medium-to-full body, and ending in a nice, long, lingering finish. (tasted 6/8/17) 96 ROWDY BUSH 2020 Petite Sirah Lodi $15 (tasted 10/10/22) 96 ROWDY BUSH 2018 Petite Sirah Lodi $15 (tasted 11/17/19) 96 ROWDY BUSH 2016 Petite Sirah Lodi $15 (tasted 6/25/18) 96 SOBON ESTATE 2008 Syrah Amador County $14 Wonderful black, red and blue fruit, pepper spice, with whiffs of smoke and cola. The palate is smooth and sexy, well-balanced and mouth filling, with an explosion of blue fruit and spice in the long lingering finish. 96 SOL ROUGE 2011 Petite Sirah Lake County $32 96 SOL ROUGE 2008 Syrah Lake County $32 Rich aromas of black, blue and red fruit, with spice, chocolate and smoky bacon notes following. On the palate, this is a rich, tightly-packed wine with spice and dark fruit flavors battling for attention with oak and chocolate. Although there’s a lot of winemaking influence, it’s done in a very sexy way. 96 VIE 2009 Syrah Les Amours - Santa Barbara County $42 Rich blue, black and red fruit aromas, with spice and hints of cigar/tobacco smoke and cola. Tightly-packed on the palate, this wine offers compact fruit and spices leading to a long finish. This wine needs a little time to age/breathe. 96 VIE 2008 Syrah Las Madres Vineyard - Carneros - Sonoma County $39 Deep blue, black and red fruit aromas, with spice and whiffs of smoke and cola. The palate is smooth and sexy, well-balanced and mouth filling, with an explosion of fruit and smoky-spice in the long lingering finish. 95 IRONSTONE 2010 Petite Sirah Lodi $10 95 MATCHBOOK 2016 Petite Sirah Dunnigan Hills $17 Aromas of nice, juicy black, red and blue fruit, with some spice, light soil/dust, coffee/tobacco and oak following. You don’t see many good petite sirahs around. It’s a very difficult grape to make an approachable and balanced wine with. Although this wine is a bit chewy/gritty, the fruit and spice drown out that flaw, creating a wine with some character. It’s a bit short on the finish, but with a few years in the bottle that shouldn’t be a problem. (tasted 12/19/18) 95 OLSON OGDEN 2007 Syrah Unti Vineyard - Dry Creek Valley $38 Classic syrah flavors of blue, red and black fruit, spice, and hints of leather and smoke. Packed tight, with firm tannins, this wine needs a few years to open and show its true colors. 95 SOL ROUGE 2009 Syrah Lake County $32 Rich aromas of black, blue and red fruit, with spice, chocolate, light hearbs and cigar/tobacco notes following. On the palate, this is a rich, tightly-packed wine with spice and dark fruit flavors battling for attention. This wine will open well if decanted before drinking. 95 SOL ROUGE 2007 Syrah Lake County $32 Deep aromas of black, blue and red fruit, with spice, chocolate and earth notes following. On the palate, this is a rich, tightly-packed wine with spice and dark fruit flavors battling for attention in the firm finish. This wine can use a bit of aging to bloom. 95 STEVENOT 2010 Syrah Gran Reserva - Sierra Foothills $24 95 VENGE 2008 Syrah Muhlner Steps Vineyard - Napa Valley $45 Dynamic blackberry, blueberry, black cherry and cola aromas enveloped in light earthy/meaty notes, with chocolate and nutty oak following. Big, slightly hard-edged on the palate, this wine exemplifies what you’d find in the Cote Rotie (France). Give this wine a few years to soften its edges a bit and it’ll turn into a rich, smooth powerhouse. 95 VIE 2008 Syrah White Hawk Vineyard - Santa Barbara County $45 Tight black, red and blue fruit aromas, with complements of earth, pepper spice and oak. If allowed to breathe this wine opens-up well, displaying rich fruit and secondary elements in a firm but rounding finish. 95 VIE 2008 Syrah Les Amours - Santa Barbara County $42 Rich blue, black and red fruit aromas, with spice and hints of smoke and cola. Tightly-packed on the palate, with compact fruit and spices leading to a long finish. Like the White Hawk Vineyard Syrah, this will open well if you let it breathe. 95 WISE VILLA WINERY 2013 Petite Sirah Sierra Foothills $34.47 There aren’t many good petite sirahs around, but this is one of them. Well-integrated fruit aromas of black cherry, blackberry, plum, raspberry and cassis mingle with a splash of pepper spice and oak. What’s nice about this wine is its smooth, well-balanced body. Most petite sirahs are tight and tannic, but this is a nice example of what can be done with this varietal. The finish is a touch sticky, but that should disappear with a little age. (tasted 4/15/15) 94 OLSON OGDEN 2007 Syrah Napa/Sonoma Counties $28 Nice red, black and blue fruit flavors, with some spice and hints of plum and earth. A bit hard edged now, but will be terrific with some age. 94 VIE 2012 Syrah Thompson Vineyard - Santa Barbara County $45 (tasted 5/23/15) 94 VIE 2010 Syrah White Hawk Vineyard - Santa Barbara County $45 93 BOGLE 2010 Petite Sirah California $11 93 CYCLES GLADIATOR 2015 Petite Sirah Central Coast $12 (tasted 4/28/17) 93 TAMAYA 2016 Syrah Curico Valley - Chile $29 The nose suggests dark cherry, blackberry, blueberry, raspberry and touches of black plum, with complements of spice, light floral notes and oak. On the palate, this wine is still young and a bit tight, offering a nice mouthful of fruit and secondary flavors, and ending in a balanced, lingering finish. Give this wine another year or so and it should blossom. (tasted 6/8/17) 93 VIE 2009 Syrah Thompson Vineyard - Santa Barbara County $45 92 CYCLES GLADIATOR 2011 Syrah California $12 92 VIE 2010 Syrah Las Madres Vineyard; Carneros - Sonoma County $39 92 WISE VILLA WINERY 2012 Petite Sirah Sierra Foothills $34.37 Aromas of plum, blackberry, black raspberry, black pepper and leather. The palate is firm, a bit angular, with concentrated flavors and a slightly sticky finish. Although not terribly varietal, it is a tasty wine. 91 CYCLES GLADIATOR 2011 Petite Sirah Lodi $12 91 ROBLAR 2012 Syrah California $10 Typical black, red and blue fruit aromas on the nose, with light eucalyptus/bay leaf, spice and oak. The body is tight, a bit chewy at this point, but the flavors fight their way through, so give it some time in the glass or let it sit in your closet for a year and it should open up nicely. (tasted 1/28/15) 91 ROWDY BUSH 2019 Petite Sirah Lodi $15 (tasted 1/17/21) 91 SOBON ESTATE 2014 Petite Sirah ReZerve - Amador County $24 Nice nose of black licorice, blackberry, blueberry, minerals and a good dose of vanilla and oak. Same on the palate, this is a rather tough wine right now but should soften with some time. This is also a wine for those who like a good amount of oak. (tasted 9/30/16) 91 VIE 2008 Syrah Alder Springs Vineyard - Mendocino County $48 90 MCMANIS 2014 Petite Sirah California $11 (tasted 11/28/15) 90 SOL ROUGE 2008 Petite Sirah Lake County $32