The label says “Estate Red”, so I had to look up the varietals because I sensed Syrah from the get-go.  Mind you, I had just spent 19 hours on airplanes to get home from Asia and did not realize I was opening a $60 bottle of vino for a casual drink.  The Syrah was pronounced, with pepper and spice on the nose.  I thought I was drinking a Rhone red, not realizing that this wine was actually from the Sonoma appellation of Dry Creek Valley.  I guess I was really tired from my flight!  Turns out it is a Syrah/Petite Sirah blend (You may recall my love affair with the Petite).  I think that is what is making this wine so interesting and adding the nuances.

The pepper came through again on the palate with dark cherries, which threw me off.  Plums and blackberry also made an entrance.  The wine was all over the place, the profile was Rhone yet the cherry component was very Burgundian.  It was extremely balanced and offered great acidity.  Background tannins held it in check but I fear for long term cellaring.  The wine is a delight to drink now, but at this price it is only a three star wine that wears a 91 point rating in my opinion.  I am thinking it would rock a cheese platter and perhaps a pork roast or just by itself.  I would reserve it against a red meat dish as it shows a delicate side that needs some finesse.  Overall, a lovely wine that I think would offer great pleasure in the right moment with the right person.  Easy to drink, yet complex.  Salut….