~$40-50US 100% Syrah, Rockpile AVA, Sonoma, California

16.1% ABV required about 3+ hours for the heat to blow off…

Color: Aubergine
Nose: Very concentrated berry fruits, iodine, iron
Palate: Sappy, explosive fruits, still mineral water, mouth-coating, disciplined oak, tannins deliver solid structure
Finish: Oily, measured in minutes, black licorice

This California Syrah is very expressive and bursting with mountainy, rocky character. Hits the tongue with serious intent - power, volume, weight, sweet, and savory. Much more interesting (to my palate) than the majority of Australian Shiraz’s I have had in the last year. It not only offered fine tannic structure without over-oaking, but brought a whole family of mineral, stone, and medicinal components into the mix in a very compelling way.  I could see enjoying this a hearty beef and root vegetable stew, or drinking it on it’s own.

~$17US Mostly Zinfandel / A little Petit Sirah, Sonoma California

Rich deep purple color. Totally candy-store on the nose; Skittles, Spree, Jollyranchers.Full-bodied on the palate. 15.2% alcohol (noticeable) with some oak and medium tannins keep this a few more steps away from grape Kool Aid. Mixed blackberries, raspberries and Sprees, all stewed together with a few pine-needles. A strange waxy note, like a box of crayons shows up in the mid-palate. Fun and easy to drink, especially after a little of the alcohol blew off (45 minutes?). More of a cocktail wine than a meal-pairing one.

Party Juice! Big fruit and a great wine to share with friends. A benchmark over-the-top style Zinfandel, under $20.