The 2009 Syrah Santa Lucia Highlands is a beautifully rich, powerful red graced with exquisite finesse and elegance. Sweet dark cherries, flowers, spices and game flow from this large-scaled, sleek Syrah. Varietal black pepper, spice and licorice wrap around the dark, muscular finish. The straight Santa Lucia Highlands bottling is superb. It is the equal of most, if not all, the vineyard designates, and also costs less. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019. Adam and Dianna Lee of Siduri make the Novy wines in partnership with Dianna’s family. Essentially the Lees use the Novy brand for all of their non-Pinot wines. The range is quite broad, and quality generally excellent although a few wines I tasted suggest the Lees may be stretching themselves too thin. After tasting virtually all of their wines, it seems like they might be better off focusing on fewer bottlings, but that is just one person’s opinion. The wines from the Santa Lucia Highlands are consistently much more interesting than the wines made from other appellations in the state.Tel. (707) 578-3882; www.novyfamilywines.com

A very fine Syrah, dry, peppery and distinguished. Really defines the cool-climate style of the variety, a full-bodied wine with blackberry, grilled meat and sweetly smoked, sandalwood flavors. The tannins are very refined. The quality of this wine far exceeds the price. A great restaurant Syrah, but production was only 398 cases. ——S.H.(6/1/2011)—— 93

A tremendous Syrah that shows how the Highlands aren’t just for Pinot Noir. Dry and peppery, it has big tannins and crisp acidity framing blackberry, black currant, blueberry and dark, unsweetened chocolate flavors. Impresses for richness, complexity and power. Now–2013. ——S.H.(10/1/2010)—— 93