Full and even dark fruit with spice and cream notes mark this handsome, affordable red. It’s not at all heavy, and is quite tasty, with dry herb-tobacco shadings on the tart, dry berry flavors. Finishes with nice length, and goes down real easy, just like the 1998, which performed well in our World Cup of Syrah last fall. Editors’ Choice.——W.E.(3/1/2002)—— 88