Mixed flight of red wines

[wondersofwine]

I put together my own flight of three red wines (2 oz. pours) at Dean & Deluca in Charlotte.

2000 Hendry Napa Pinot Noir $3.50 (also considered Etude but will try that on another visit) Reddish-brown color, barely transparent. Cherry/plum nose. Cherries and cranberries on the palate. Medium to long finish. A little mild pepper. A bit tart or sour cherry by itself--might smooth out with food. Could possibly stand up to spare ribs or barbequed pork sandwich.

2001 Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa
$4.25 for 2 oz. pour
Almost opaque dark purple-red, lightening at rim. Nose very subdued initially. Promising on the palate with black currants and faint tobacco. Medium body but lingering finish. The wood influence is in balance. Drinkable without food but should be good with filet mignon or roast beef. Some currants on the nose with a little time and swirling.

2001 Eberle-Steinbeck Vineyard Paso Robles Syrah $3.00 for 2 oz. pour
Dark purple color, opaque.
Distinctive nose but hard to pin down the components. Berry fruit and cinnamon is about as close as I can approximate. Mild, fruity first taste and mid-palate. Finishes with some drying tannins. Almost amusing how the astringency sneaks up on you. Could probably benefit from 2-3 years aging (the store manager says he would not age it more than five years). I believe the fruit is there in sufficient quantity to sustain it for a few years in the cellar.
I had asked the store manager whether to try the Cabernet or the Syrah first. He recommended leaving the Syrah to last which was correct. The Cabernet does not show well after the Syrah which is a full-bodied red wine. Thumbs up to the Syrah. I bought a bottle to take home.