Big, rich and extracted, this Syrah is a bit heavy and ponderous now. It shows soft flavors of melted blackberry jam, plum liqueur, dark chocolate, grilled meat and smoky oak, liberally dusted with black pepper. Fancy, but could use through 2009 to knit together. ——S.H.(12/1/2009)—— 92

Superripe in black cherry, cola and mocha flavors enhanced with smoky oak, this is soft, but quite elegant. It’s not an ager, but has a full-bodied richness that suggests steaks and chops.——S.H.(8/1/2007)—— 88

Displays a vaguely Rhonish quality in its herbal, near-rhubarb and white pepper aromatics. Placed alongside flavors of tart berries and a relatively light mouthfeel, you might mistake this wine for a modest Crozes-Hermitage. ——W.E.(9/1/2005)—— 86