2003 Holbrook Syrah, Santa Barbara County

Mar 12th, 2008 by admin

With such a surfeit of inexpensive but overripe, over-oaked Syrah that is indistinguishable from other red wines, this wine is terrifically refreshing. Yes, it’s on the ripe side too, but not too much, and yes, it has its share of oak, but it’s in balance and wraps around the fruit, and there’s a sense of varietal correctness, in other words, you get the idea that you’re actually drinking Syrah; more importantly, it’s petty darn tasty Syrah.

The nose shows lots of blackberry and boysenberry with an undercurrent of peppery spice and earth. In the mouth it’s ripe and fairly round, with pleasantly juicy flavors and a caress of oak leading to medium-long finish. This is a great TJ’s deal if you can find it.

Price: $7.99

Score: 199%