Pretty quiet on the wine front w/ all the fencing going on:
1. LaSirena NapaVlly Syrah (13.2%) 2000: Med.dark color w/ little browning; bit earthy/dusty very light blackberry/Syrah rather toasty/charred/oak rustic/HowellMtn-like nose; tart/lean/hard slight blackberry/Syrah quite charred/toasty/oak rustic/rough/HM-like quite tannic flavor; med. hard/tannic/astringent quite charred/toasty/burnt/oak very weak blackberry/Syrah finish w/ hard/agressive tannins; probably will never come around. $80
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2. NicholsonRanch Chard DurellVnyd/SonomaVlly (14.4%) ThomasBrown 2006: Med.gold color; very strong melony/Chard/ripe light caramel/toasty/Fr.oak very attractive/perfumed nose; tart pretty rich/lush/melony/Chard/ripe slight earthy/mineral some caramel/toasty/oak flavor; very long lush/ripe/bright/melony/Chard some toasty/caramel/oak finish; quite an attractive & delicious Chard; bit pricey at $42.
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. LaSirenaSyrah: Made by HeidiBarrett. Another typical NapaVlly Syrah made by a Cabernet producer. Made exactly like a Cab w/ very hard/agressive tannins and a paucity of fruit. I doubt the tannins will ever resolve and that this will never be a pleasurable wine. It has a hard/rustic character that reminds me of the Dunn HowellMtn Cabs. Very disappointing.
Tom