Last night was the Rhone Rangers Monthly planning meeting, held out the Wine Institute in San Francisco. As usually, many of us brought wines to share while we discussed plans for the annual tasting coming up on April 26th. Here are my notes from the evening:

2001 Castano Solanero
This was one of my contributions for the evening, as I was really looking forward to trying my 1st bottle of this much publicized wine. I decanted it at home for about an hour, then rebottled it before leaving for SF.
Very dark purple color, terrific nose of ripe dark berries and anise. There is a lot going on with this wine, some cedar notes, firm tannins, and a touch of pepper. Great balance, what a fantastic value! I can’t go as high as Parker’s 93, but it’s a solid 90 points, maybe higher with some time. Drink 2004-2008.

1999 Fife Carignan, Redhead Vineyard
Dark, dense purple color. Nose is distinguishable as Carignan, with the typical earthy, mushroom notes, but it also has a lot of barnyard and comes of somewhat medicinal. Rustic, tannic, and brooding, not a great example of what this grape can do. 80 points.

1999 Jaffurs Grenache, Santa Barbara County
Here is a nice Grenache! Color is a light translucent raspberry, with a terrific nose of sweet strawberry and brambly fruits. Sits light on the palate, yet it is rich and full, showing some subdued earthy notes. Great structure, fine light tannins, very nice. 90 points, drink now.

2000 Cline Syrah, Los Carneros
Dense dark purple color, almost black. GREAT nose of dark ripe plums and cloves. Dense and hugely extracted, with ripe dark fruits and some earthy, meaty notes. Firmly tannic, yet nicely balanced. 90 points, drink now-2008.

1997 Preston Syrah, Dry Creek Valley
Dense dark garnet color, creat nose of deep dark plums and sweet cherries. Very smooth soft tannins, but shows a bit thin on the mid palate with some antiseptic notes coming through. Finish is taught and short, with a raw bite on the upper back of the palate. 84 points, drink now.

2000 Renwood Syrah, Sierra Foothills
A bit lighter in color than the other Syrahs, with a nice welcoming nose of sweet fruit, cedar, and light pine notes. Soft, friendly, and ‘grapey’, not terribly complex, but pleasant and fun. 85 points, drink now.

2001 Paringa Shiraz, Individual vineyard (Aussie)
Another of my contributions, this blockbuster QPR winner is always one of my favorites – and it did not disappoint last night. Nice purplish color, with a nose of blueberries, blackberries, vanilla, and spice. Very smooth tannins, balanced, a delight as always. 90 points.

Eric,

What is going on with Fife. Once this was one of my favorite wineries but since the 98 vintage, I have had many bottles of crap. Lots of VA, off aromas, etc. I wonder if he is trying to do too many wines??

Steve

Bay Area Wine Project
www.bawineproject.com

I recently tasted the 2ooo Cline Carneros Syrah. This is the third consecutive vintage I've had and enjoyed all three. The 2000 had the ripest fruit of the three, well rounded and fleshy. It lacked the leather prominent in the '98, but made up for that with a well oaked stye typically found in many Napa Cabs. It is a very nice Syrah for those previously uninitiated to the grape since it provides wonderful fruit and vanilla without much of the tar, spice and lavender that many newbies might find odd. I agree with the 90 pts. At $17 this is also a great value.

I also had the Paringa recently. It was spicy and woody with that edgy Shiraz signature perfume. A great Aussie value.

Eric or Steve,
I just bought a case of the Fife 99 L'Attitude. Tasted this wine at my distributors warehouse without the benefit of any previous TN's. Absolutely loved it and brought it home. The same week Wine Enthusiast gave it a 94 with great cellar potential and a very warm review. Laube scored it 85 and said drink up thru 05. Wondering if either of you have tasted this wine and could offer up any opinions. I feel very fortunate to have secured this offering. I did not care for the 2000 Uplands Zin. Seemed very disjointed.

Sideshow--$17 sounds like a good price for the Cline Carneros Syrah. I think it's 20-22 around here. Is it a buy for that price ?

It's $16.99 at Beverages and More here in California. Full retail at the winery is $21.99, so you should be able to find it for less.