More QRW Summer 2009 feature articles:

All Things Grape and Small / Randy Sheahan

Meursault's Super Seconds / Clive Coates, M.W.

QRW's 25th Annual California's Best of The Best / QRW Tasting Panel

• California Cabernet Sauvignons
• California Red Blends
• California Zinfandels
• California Chardonnays
• California Pinot Noirs
• California Sparkling Wines

Best of The Best: California Wine Values / QRW Staff

QRW's California Winery of the Year / QRW Staff

Wining and Dining: Amalfi Coast and Capri / Edward and Mireille Guiliano

Chile's Maipo Valley: Cabernet Paradise / Tom Hyland

Dernier Cri: Random Rants / Randy Sheahan

The Syrah grape has gone from a non-entity in California barely ten years ago to a real player today. Indeed, the Golden State has almost 19,000 acres planted in that famed Rhône varietal and produces just under two million cases annually of Syrah-based wine. And with good reason. A vigorous, thick-skinned, black grape, Syrah thrives in the warm, sunny climes of California, producing big, rich, spicy wines brimming with blackberry fruit. As evidence, we submit the following 15 wines ...

2005 Shafer Syrah "Relentless" (Napa Valley), $70.
78% Syrah and 22% Petite Sirah. Big, deep, pure, plush, round, blackberry, mocha and vanilla flavors — perfection itself. BEST OF SHOW

Elias Fernandez, Shafer Winemaker Photo: © Russ Widstrand

2005 Kendall-Jackson Highland Estates Syrah "Alisos Hills" (Santa Barbara County), $35.
Big, bold, firm, dense, sinewy, black fruit, French roast and spice flavors built for the long haul.

Randy Ullom, Kendall-Jackson Winemaster

2005 Fess Parker Syrah "The Big Easy" (Santa Barbara County), $40.
Lush, round, richly concentrated, black fruit, mocha and vanilla flavors.

Blair Fox, Head Winemaker, Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard

2005 Rubicon Estate Syrah "RC Reserve" (Rutherford), $62.
95% Syrah, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Petite Sirah. Lush, ripe, round, succulent, utterly entrancing, black fruit, vanilla and mocha flavors.

Scott McLeod, Rubicon Winemaker

2006 Valley of the Moon Syrah (Sonoma County), $20.
98% Syrah and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. Intense, lively, well-knit, blackberry and French roast flavors supported by nice ripe tannins. BEST VALUE

Greg Winter, Valley of the Moon Winemaker

2006 Bell Wine Cellars Syrah "Canterbury Vineyard" (Sierra Foothills), $26.
Big, rich, ripe, juicy, round, elegant, blackberry, cassis and chocolate flavors.

2006 Clif Family Syrah "Gary's Improv" (Napa Valley), $30.
Plush, pure, silky, utterly delicious, blackberry and vanilla crème flavors.

2006 Ferrari-Carano Syrah (Alexander Valley), $37.
Deep, rich, velvety, well-concentrated, blackberry and mocha flavors.

2005 Fess Parker Syrah "Rodney's Vineyard" (Santa Barbara County), $40.
93% Syrah and 7% Petite Sirah. Big, deep, rich, ripe, black fruit, French roast and nutty oak flavors.

2005 Truchard Syrah (Carneros/Napa Valley), $28.
Big, deep, rich, resonant, never-say-die, blackberry, spice and French roast flavors.

2006 Clos La Chance Estate Syrah (Santa Cruz Mountains), $35.
Ripe, pure, lush, blackberry and roasted nut flavors.

2003 Hanna Syrah "Bismark Mountain" (Sonoma Valley), $43.
98% Syrah, the remainder being Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Big, rich, plush, albeit well-structured, black fruit, mocha and vanilla flavors.

2004 Kunde Estate Syrah (Sonoma Valley), $24.
90% Syrah, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Viognier and 1% Zinfandel. Pure, elegant, well-concentrated black fruit, spice and French roast flavors.

2005 Peju Province Syrah "Persephone Vineyard" (Napa Valley), $40.
Big, rich, ripe, plump, succulent, black fruit, coffee and vanilla flavors.

2004 Rubicon Estate Syrah "RC Reserve" (Rutherford), $62.
90% Syrah, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petite Syrah. Big, ripe, plump, juicy, black fruit and mocha flavors.