2008 Syrah Mount Veeder

Good bright ruby. Perfumed aromas of plum, raspberry, spices, flowers and lead pencil, plus a suggestion of exotic fruits. Supple, shapely and quite dry, with very good intensity but also a pliant texture to its dark berry and pepper flavors. Shows a lovely light touch thanks to a firm acid spine. Finishes with building tannins that reach the front teeth. This should gain in weight with time in bottle.

Consistently one of the great Syrahs made in California is Carol Meredith’s offering from Mt. Veeder. Lagier Meredith’s stunning 2008 Syrah reveals an opaque ruby/purple hue along with a gloriously intense perfume of roasted meats, herbs, barbecue smoke, burning embers, plums and acacia flowers. The wine possesses exceptional intensity, a full-bodied opulence and not a hard edge to be found. It is a beautifully complex, ethereal Syrah to drink over the next 7-10 years. Tel. (707) 253-0653

Showing similar wild herb and floral aromas as the ’07, the 2008 Lagier Meredith Syrah possesses a vibrant purple color, as well as classy, edgy aromas of blackberries, wild herbs (thyme, sage, rosemary), violets, iron and a whiff of freshly cracked black pepper. Medium bodied with a pure, precise character, this has a light, deft texture, beautiful acidity, and clean, long finish. Seemingly earlier maturing than the ’07, this should have no problem evolving for 3 to 5 years and then drinking well for a decade.