The Wine Gift Shop

Red Wine by Bonny Doon from Central Coast, California. The label of the Syrah Le Pousseur suggests a mysterious figure, cloaked in a great coat, in which rare vials and flasks of vaguely illicit elixirs, potions and philtres are cached. The image evokes a Tarot card, and as such, represents an archetypical figure, an icon resonant to the unconscious. Great Syrah is all about perfume and the tension between the wild and the refined. 2005 was a coolish year, one of elegance and restraint, and the '05 is extremely refined; the wine (upon decanting) has an especially seductive perfume. The signifiers of vrai syrah: bacon fat is well in evidence, as is the scent of licorice, anise, wintergreen, violet and spicy elements - white pepper, most notably, juniper, cardamom and sandalwood. There is also a brilliant mineral element herein - mostly in virtue of shy-yielding grapes. The texture is particularly noteworthy, with melted, creamy tannins and a very silky finish.

Red Wine by Brassfield from North Coast, California. This signature vineyard of five and a half acres was planted in 2001 and represents the first Syrah produced from the Monte Sereno vineyard located at 2100 feet in elevation on the western slopes of High Valley. The soils on this ridge top are primarily broken shale characteristic of Franciscan formation. Much of this vineyard has a northern exposure which delays ripening by a couple of weeks giving the fruit some additional hang-time, and subsequently softer, velvety tannins. Complex aromas of dark fruits, lavender, cola nut and toasty oak are present and intertwined amongst the elegant flavors, along with a touch of leather, soy and smoky cedar. The broad based palate is framed by the silky tannins providing a wine of great structure for long-term aging, but its soft suppleness makes this stunning wine enjoyable now.

Red Wine by Canyon Road from California. The fruit for this Shiraz wine comes primarily from vineyards in the California Delta region where warm days and cool nights provide an ideal growing and ripening season. Complex flavors of game and exotic spices are woven in with black currant and ripe cherries, giving this wine a true distinction among Shiraz. The palate has a medium body with a full lengthy finish meriting short-term cellar aging or consumption with hearty fare.

Red Wine by Ch. Souverain from Sonoma County, California. Aromas on this Syrah start with blueberry, cassis black pepper and raspberry notes with hints of floral and spice. The mouthfeel is warm, supple and rich, with flavors of ripe berries, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla framing a core of lush fruit. This estate wine is designed to be approachable, yet have a sense of complexity and richness, allowing for development with bottle age. The grapes for Chateau Souverain's Syrah come from our estate vineyards, located at the northern end of the Alexander Valley, adjacent to the western bank of the Russian River. The gravelly soils of the Viognier and Syrah vineyards, positioned on slopes overlooking the river, are of moderate fertility and vigor, which helps to keep the crop loads in good balance. The hillsides, located further back from the river provide the Mourvedre with even less fertile soil than the Viognier and Syrah vineyards, helping to keep this large clustered variety stressed enough to ensure concentrated fruit development. One of The Year's Best Syrahs. Rustic and dynamic, this has the energy syrah gets when the vine hits a balanced ripeness. There's an electricity between the crushed granite tannins and the crushed violet fruit, a juiciness in the end that keeps coming on... -Wines & Spirits

Red Wine by Cline from Sonoma County, California. The 2005 Cool Climate Syrah is deep in color with rich blueberry and black pepper characters and a cedary-smooth finish. The wine's bright acidity makes it an great match for seafood pasta dishes, tri-tip steak smothered in wild chanterelles, and chicken satay.

Red Wine by Cline from Carneros, California. Cline Los Carneros Syrah is grown on a hillside in their Sonoma Carneros estate vineyard. The combination of foggy mornings, warm afternoons and cool evenings make this region one of the most highly regarded in California. Dark, rich and extremely flavorful, this wine offers deep plum and cherry notes accented with aromas and flavors of vanilla and coffee. The combination of tannin, acid, fruit and great mouth feel come together to create a balanced and robust wine.

Red Wine by Echelon from Central Coast, California. Echelon is known best for its Syrah, which imparts that distinct Rhone spiciness and peppery perfume with just the right amount of candied orange peel. The mouth bursts with sweet, ripe strawberry fruit as well as jammy plum traits offset by lively black pepper and cinnamon. This medium-bodied wine displays a dense color and soft, rounded mouthfeel.

Red Wine by Francis Coppola from California. This Syrah has a deep ruby-purple color with engaging aromas of black plums and raspberries. Hints of sweet vanilla frame the seamless layers of black currant and berries on the palate. Flavors of dark chocolate and peppery spice highlight the long finish to create a lavishly complex wine with silky tannins.

Red Wine by Francis Coppola from California. Ripe, lush berry fruit flavors and moderate tannins are the trademark characteristics of Francis Coppola Rosso Shiraz. Rich in concentration, yet balanced by the spicy finish, this wine is delicious all on its own or when paired with hearty dishes.

Red Wine by HdV from Carneros, California. A melange of characteristics develop from our four clonal selections. Half of the grapes were fermented in open top fermenters, imparting elegance, floral notes and balance to the wine. The other half were fermented in closed top fermenters providing syrah's distinctive roasted coffee bean character and a strong structure to the wine. The components were then blended and barrel aged in French oak for 11 months. The wine was bottled without filtration. In an elegant Northern Rhone style, the wine shows a seductive and tender texture, with a vibrant core of blackberry and game as well as exotic spices, which lead to a long, floral finish. The 2004 HdV Syrah should continue to improve for another five to ten years. Serve around 64?F and enjoy with venison, a rack of lamb, prime ribs, or a barbecued salmon. -Stephane Vivier, Winemaker, HdV Wines Good ruby-red color. Highly aromatic nose combines blackberry, cassis, smoked meat, truffle, graphite and violet; I might have guessed Cote-Rotie. Juicy, precise and light on its feet, with lively flavors of blackberry and violet.This has the weight and silkiness-not to mention the elegance and energy-of pinot noir. Quite suave on the back end, finishing with very fine-grained tannins and lovely lift. -International Wine Cellar

Red Wine by Ironstone from California. Blend: 91% Shiraz, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon The 2003 Shiraz is an Australian-styled red wine with a distinct spicy nose with hints of pepper and dark rich fruit. Unlike its cousin, Syrah, Shiraz is sweeter with bolder upfront fruit flavors of currant and plums with a white pepper undertone. Full-bodied with a smoky quality, this wine lingers in your mouth dancing on your taste buds. Shiraz is a wonderful food-friendly wine that goes well with Ethnic cuisine and traditional favorites. If you're in the mood for some Cajun cuisine, try it with jambalaya or a pan-blackened steak. Mild curry, tandori chicken or barbequed pork ribs taste sumptuous with this red. And for a casual evening, try it with pepperoni pizza or meat-filled ravioli with a spicy marinara sauce.

Red Wine by Keller Estate from Sonoma County, California. Black is the word that keeps coming up when describing this wine: black color, blackberry jam, black pepper, black leather (OK, it could be any color leather, but doesn't black leather sound better?). In addition, there are notes of chocolate, tobacco, sweet oak and mint. The core of hedonistic sweet fruit is kept lively by bright acidity and the texture is rich, long and full. While still quite young and enjoyable for its copious fruit, this wine is probably best enjoyed 2006 - 2012.

Red Wine by Kinton from Central Coast, California. Kinton is dedicated to producing Syrah from some of the finest vineyard sites in Santa Barbara County. Their wines are dense and concentrated, elegant and sleek. It's not by accident that Kinton is located in Santa Barbara County -one of California's most celebrated appellations for Syrah. The unique conditions of this region allow Kinton to create Syrahs displaying both intensity and balance. The 2005 is racy with plum and dark berry, brightened by high notes of cherry, spiced with black pepper, and scented in the essence of smoky dark chocolate.

Red Wine by Matanzas Creek from Sonoma County, California. This is the ninth vintage of Matanzas Creek's limited production Syrah, the third crafted by winemaker Francois Cordesse. Eighty-five percent Syrah, this wine also includes small percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, which each add unique character to the final wine blend. The Syrah fruit was sourced from vineyards located in cooler regions of Sonoma County. Francois meticulously selected fruit that ripened slowly in order to ensure rich and intense flavor character. Francois notes, Syrah is very difficult to grow and vinify, but the result is well worth the effort. The 2004 Syrah exhibits a deep, ruby red color, hinting at the density of flavors to come. The initial nose is of violets and loam from a forest after the rain. The second nose delivers dark ripe fruit, leather and tobacco leaves. The wine is exceedingly soft on the palate, caressing the mouth with the velvety taste of black cherries and ripe plums, a distinct note of pepper and cinnamon, and a remarkable tannic structure. The overall experience is generous and substantial, and the finish is long and luscious. Francois recommends that this Syrah be served cool and decanted for 20 to 30 minutes prior to serving. The wine will age for another four to five years, reaching its peak in approximately three years. At this point it will have developed deeper, earthier characteristics and a stronger leather note.

Red Wine by Matchbook from California. This is a full bodied red with fresh blackberry and blueberry flavors, a touch of smokiness and a hint of vanilla and spice on the finish. Enjoy it with spicy sausages, cured meats and many grilled meats such as chicken, beef and lamb. Don't forget your roasted vegetables on the side. Drink now or within 3-5 years. Blend: 82% Syrah, 10% Malbec, 7% Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Tempranillo. Matchbook has four wines (Chardonnay, Syrah, Tempranillo and a red blend called Blockhouse), all focusing on varietals that perform well in the warm Dunnigan Hills climate. They blend a percentage of coastal fruit to the Dunnigan Hills wines to add structure and intensify flavors.

Red Wine by Smoking Loon from California. With inky purple color, this wine reveals scents of wild strawberry, mocha, and caramel with touches of sage and rosemary. The flavors burst through with intense blueberry and strawberry jam notes wrapped around rich French oak and finishing with touches of milk chocolate, sweetened cranberries, and savory herbs. This wine would be great with a number of intensely spiced dishes such as Korean BBQ, Teriyaki Beef, or your favorite spicy BBQ sauce on grilled chicken. Moussaka, or grilled elk loin would also work well for those a bit more daring. This Syrah can even stand up to a dessert of wild berries over a dark chocolate mousse.

Red Wine by Sonoma Coast Vineyards from Sonoma County, California.

Red Wine by Terlato Vineyards from Sonoma County, California. In France's Rhone Valley, the Syrah grape shows off its full flavor in classic appellations like Cote Rotie and Hermitage. In Australia, Syrah is Shiraz, and the brawny reds from the land down under have made Shiraz Australia's signature varietal. In the United States, Terlato Vineyards 2003 Syrah Dry Creek Valley combines the best of both worlds. Terlato Vineyards found perfect Syrah conditions in Sonoma County's Dry Creek Valley, which shares important characteristics with the Rhone Valley. With luscious fruit and the best concepts of the Old and New Worlds, the winemaking team crafted a voluptuous wine with flavors of black cherry, plum, and currants, and hints of violets. Though ready today, Syrah is slow to mature, so the inaugural vintage will benefit with a few years of cellaring. It has the attributes to be a monumental wine. Rated 91/100 by Anthony Dias Blue.

Red Wine by Terlato Vineyards from Sonoma County, California. Terlato Vineyards found perfect Syrah conditions in Sonoma County's Dry Creek Valley, which shares important characteristics with France's Rhone Valley. Color: Deep purple. Aroma: Toast intermingled with smoked meats. Taste: Flavors of black cherry, plum and currants, with hints of violets.

Red Wine by Vina Robles from Central Coast, California. Color: Dark cherry red with blue tints Dark cherry red with blue tints. Aroma: Intense black fruits together with floral notes and hints of white pepper, earth, liquorice and vanilla Intense black fruits together with floral notes and hints of white pepper, earth, liquorice and vanilla. Taste: Blackberries and boysenberries together with currants, spice and candied fruits. Silky and soft with a juicy quality, well Blackberries and boysenberries together with currants, spice and candied fruits. Silky and soft with a juicy quality, well balanced with soft but ripe tannins and a long pleasant finish.

Red Wine by Vina Robles from Central Coast, California. Dark cherry red. Lots of ripe and sweet fruit with notes of toasted oak. Full, big bodied with lots of fruit. Will age well now thru 2009.