Terre Rouge Syrah

[Innkeeper]

2001 Terre Rouge, Les Cotes De L'Oest, California, Syrah ($15). According to the Eastons the grapes for this wine came from an area just west (L'oest) of the Amador APA, in sandy loamy hills (cotes). Tend to accept that, as this is not a generic California Syrah. It offered blackberry jam spiced with cinnamon and cloves on the nose and upfront. This was followed by pepper and more spice, in the complexity that crossed our palates with smooth tannins' and a two and half alarm finish.

Matched with thinly sliced smoked pork in a very spicy pork BBQ sauce, and mixed salad with OO & white wine vinegar dressing. The wine hung in there between the two. This is a terrific California Syrah in between the $10 (Pepperwood Grove) price point, and the much more common $20+ point.