California

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Ruby/purple in color.  The nose has cherries, slightly sour and sandalwood.  On the palate, sour cherries with slight root beer note.  This is a big wine and ageing pretty slowly.  There is still a ton of fruit and the alcohol is in check, so I suspect this will continue to develop.  It will be interesting to see how much complexity it gains.  Like many wines that lean far to one style, if you didn't like this young, you probably won't like it old (and visa-versa).  There is some slight heat on the finish but that settled down with some air.  

This has really improved in the last 6 months.  This has some oak on it which may be a question for some, but if you like this style, it is impressive.  Deep golden in color.  The nose has vanilla and lemon cream.  Slight fesh lumber.  On the palate, there is a lovely oily texture.  Very lemony with a bit of sawdust as well as vanilla.  Very nice acidity.  Worked just find with some cheeses.  Still on the young side and plenty of fruit to hold up as the oak integrates.  It is delicious right now.  

Great example of a cooler climaate northern California Syrah.  This is tight and young and has a couple of decades left, so if opening now, give it some air.  Purple in color.  The nose has boysenberries and black cherries with black pepper, violets and charred meat.  On the palate, there is plenty of boysenberry fruit and a nice underlying earthy note.  Great sinewy tannins with plenty of structure.  Good finish.  Very enjoyable.  

I love this bottling and vintage.  The oak treatment is perfect for the fruit.  Golden in color.  The nose is clean with peach and slight ginger.  Creamy texture.  On the palate, apples, peaches and just a bit sweetness.  Deep and complex.  Long finish.  Great acidity.  Worked great with food but was delicious on its own.  Very impressive.  

This is such a tremendous value.  Around $30.  Purple in color.  The nose is great with raspberries, dark cherries, spice, bramble and char.  On the palate, what a great texture.  Juicy and full.  Lots of fruit, mostly raspberries, blackberries but also some sandalwood notes.  Great balance.  DELICIOUS.   Long finish.  I think these will age for a decade if only I could keep my hands off of them.  

This is a very solid Napa Cabernet.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has cassis, , milk chocolate and spice.  On the palate, this is sweet ripe fruit; cassis, licorice and vanilla.  It drinks quite easily.  Still young, perhaps it will gain more complexity with age.  Nice finish.  A very tasty wine.  

This around $8.  If one is looking for an inexpensive Cabernet, then this will fit the bill.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose has generic red fruit.  On the palate, dark cherry fruit.  Easy to drink.  Not much acidity.  It is what it is.  No pretense of greatness.  

Plenty of value here for under $10.  First, the label tells you this has a vanilla and butterscotch oak profile with apple and pear fruit notes.  Both of those are pretty spot on.  The wine is deep golden in color.  The nose is red apples, with vanilla and slight butterscotch.  On the palate, this is simple and to the point.  Plenty of oaky notes; vanilla and some butterscotch with a bit of apples.  This is made for easy drinking and at that price, just fine for casual drinking or at a party.  

Really nice showing for this wine.  Light golden in color.  The nose has more fruit that the Italian versions of this grape.  Some tropical notes along with limes.  On the palate, the fruit parade continues.  A bit of underlying minerality.  Good acidity.  It has a nice freshness although I would drink these sooner than later.  Good finish.  Under $20.  

Drinking quite well right now.  Perhaps a bit earlier than prior vintages.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is great with sour cherries, cherries, slight black licorice and baking spice.  On the palate, this is deep and complex.  Great texture; a bit soft and a bit velvety.  Lots of sour cherry and black cherry fruit.  It unwinds in the glass showing layers of fruit and damp forest floor.  Great acidity.  Nice finish.  There is some upside potential on this as it will continue to mature for a few years.