1990 McDowell Syrah “Mendocino”

This was represented to me by the winery as an Estate wine. The cork read “Les Vieux Cepages,” the name of their late varietal program. Who knows? Anyway, it was terrific, still youthful and vibrant, tannic indeed, cranberries and plums in an honest, Californian manner. And again, as with the Sierra Vista, proof that if you grow Syrah in the right place, you can get plenty of flavor development without making flabby, pruny, porty, throat-sterilizing point-monsters. We hoovered it. I’m sure it could go a few more years, but it’s awfully good right now. Double Curly.

SY (1/02)