The seductive, lovely, rich and fragrant 2013 Syrah Goldridge offers loads of blackberry fruit, camphor, pepper and a beautiful, full-bodied, heady mouthfeel. Drink now-2024.

The three 2012 Syrahs include the juicy, round, heady 2012 Syrah Goldridge, which displays dusty, loamy, sexy blackberry and cassis fruit, a medium to full-bodied, supple mouthfeel and a lush, heady finish. This is just a beauty that begs for consumption now and over the next 5-7 years.

The 2011 Syrah Goldridge is somewhat superficial and compact. This one-dimensional but pleasant effort should be drunk over the next 2-3 years. The ever reliable Tom Dehlinger continues to turn out realistically priced wines of exceptionally high quality. Their newest offerings, the Altamont Pinot Noir and Syrah, come from a hilltop vineyards planted in gravelly red soils previously called “Estate.” The Frei Road Syrah emanates from a 2.5-acre block of what was the Martinelli-owned Zio Tony Ranch. Dehlinger has never been one to utilize a tremendous amount of new oak for their Chardonnay program, and both the 2010 and 2011 Estate Chardonnays reflect that. Tel. (707) 823-2378

Much better, the 2010 Syrah Goldridge is more layered and richer with blacker fruits and a fuller, riper, more intense style. Consume it over the next 5-7 years. The ever reliable Tom Dehlinger continues to turn out realistically priced wines of exceptionally high quality. Their newest offerings, the Altamont Pinot Noir and Syrah, come from a hilltop vineyards planted in gravelly red soils previously called “Estate.” The Frei Road Syrah emanates from a 2.5-acre block of what was the Martinelli-owned Zio Tony Ranch. Dehlinger has never been one to utilize a tremendous amount of new oak for their Chardonnay program, and both the 2010 and 2011 Estate Chardonnays reflect that. Tel. (707) 823-2378

The 2009 Syrah Goldridge emerges from the glass with an exciting, heady concoction of dark red fruit, flowers, spices and licorice. It possesses gorgeous focus, energy and drive from the very first taste. I especially like the energy and vibrancy here. Sweet floral notes are layered nicely into the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. I tasted a large number of wines with Tom and Eva Dehlinger, including several older wines, all of which have held up beautifully. These remain some of the most fairly priced wines in California. Tom Dehlinger describes 2009 as a very cool Pinot vintage. Dehlinger reports that yields in 2009 are down approximately 40% because of cold weather before and during bloom. The Pinot ripened evenly, and the harvest started on September 4 as opposed to late August, which is more typical in these sites, once known for their similarly early-maturing apples. In 2009 Dehlinger bottled his High Plains Pinot separately rather than blending it into the Altamont, which is frequently the case, as it is again in 2010. Rains during the harvest were trickier for the later-ripening Syrah, which wasn’t picked until October 20. Elegance and freshness are the hallmarks of the 2009 Syrahs, which stand in stark contrast to the riper, more concentrated 2008s. Vintage 2010 is another story completely. The Pinot harvest was even later than in 2009, and didn’t get started until September 22. In 2009 Dehlinger has several new wines, including a Zinfandel. Dehlinger made Zinfandel from 1975 to 1983. When the opportunity arose to purchase high-quality Zinfandel and Petit Sirah, Dehlinger decided it was time to take the plunge once again. Tel. (707) 823-2378