A well-made, straightforward charmer is the 2013 Syrah from the Columbia Valley. Its healthy ruby/purple color is followed by a medium to full-bodied, clean and short Syrah that gives up plenty of ripe fruits, toasted bread and oak. Drink it over the coming 3-4 years.

Also rock-solid, as well as a serious value, the 2011 Syrah is medium to full-bodied, rich and rounded, with a hedonistic slant to its chocolaty dark fruits, licorice and toast. It too is a crowd pleaser that will dish out loads of pleasure over the coming 3-5 years. These forward, up-front and delicious efforts are made by Mike Januik and in almost all instances, they represent solid values. Tel. (425) 481-5502; www.noveltyhillwines.com

Also very well put together and also showing good typicity, the 2010 Syrah delivers classic aromas and flavors of black fruits, smoke, spice and meaty nuances as well as a medium to full-bodied, pure and textured palate. Showing no hard edges, good purity of fruit and a clean, focused finish, it too will be a crowd pleaser over the coming 3-4 years. Drink now-2018. Tel. (425) 481-5502

Novelty Hill 2009 Syrah features juicy ripe cherry accented with nutmeg and caramel. While not especially recognizably of its cepage or distinctive, its pure fruit and polished texture are quite winsome, and I would expect it to perform well for several years. A vegetal note creeps into the finish, though it might more adequately integrate with time. Novelty Hill wines are made by veteran Mike Januik in the same (deluxe, now five year old) facility as are his Januik wines (reviewed separately in this report), but is a partnership with Tom Alberg and Judi Beck that originated when in 2000 they consulted with Januik on the establishment of what became Stillwater Creek Vineyard. Unsurprisingly, that inspirational Frenchman Hills site (for a bit more about which, see my comments in the introduction to this report) is the source for around one-third the volume of Novelty Hill’s wines (and is, incidentally, where I tasted them). While there are a number of excellent white wines on this roster, it should be borne in mind that more than three-quarters of Novelty Hill production is red, vinified along the lines sketched in my account of Januik wines in the present report. Tel. (425) 481-5502

The 2008 Syrah Columbia Valley sports an alluring nose of smoke, game, and blueberry. Ripe and spicy on the palate, this smooth-textured wine is an outstanding value meant for drinking over the next 6-7 years. Novelty Hill and Stillwater Creek Vineyard are owned by Tom Alberg. The vineyard, located on the Royal Slope of the Frenchman Hills (way off the beaten path), was planted in 2000 and has acquired a reputation for the high quality of its fruit. Tel. (425) 481-8317; www.noveltyhillwines.com