Blended Red-- Toasted Head Red Table Wine, CA

[wondersofwine]

R. H. Phillips produces the Toasted Head line of wines. Ordinarily the very name would be offputting for me (sounds like too much toasted oak) but the description of this wine at Vincenzo's Ristorante in my hometown on Lincoln, NE made me curious and I ordered a glass. It sells from the winery store for $14. Blend of 37% Syrah, 25% Petite Sirah, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 19% Petit Verdot. The Syrah is from Jones Hill Vineyard with thin, chalky soils and the Cabernet Sauvignon is from Mast Ranch vineyard with red rock soil. Aged for 18 months in French and American oak.
Dark dense purple color with a crimson rim.
The nose mixes dark berries and anise. The palate also reveals a slight pepperiness that often denotes Syrah and ripe concentrated blackberry fruit. Really quite enjoyable and didn't strike me as overburdened with oak despite the product name. Has anyone else tried this?

[winoweenie]

Was my house red during the 02 vintage. Goos stuff P/Q-wise. WW