2002 Terre Rouge Syrah Les Cotes de L'Ouest

[VouvrayHead]

from just outside of Amador. This wine was $14, and tastes like something well over $20...

Really strong extraction... Deep dark color, big fruity nose. tastes like blackberry jam and pepper and smoke. It's not the most complex, but the intensity is really impressive with good structure and a long finish.

Most Rhone rangers I've tasted go for the south, but this one is definitely trying to do the north. It would be a beast (and probably a better, but age-required wine) with more tannins, but as it is it's still a big boy but also easy to drink despite it's fairly young age.

For what it's worth, WE gave it 93 pts. I'm often let down by WE (more than WS or WA), but not this time.