Ojai
1996 Syrah
Santa Barbara - $35.

Very dark purple; very ripe, orange peel, and dried fruit aroma with noticeable earth, alcohol, toast, smoke, barnyard, seaweed and iodine elements; pleasing, blackberry and roasted oak flavors with complexities of mushrooms and minerals; medium to medium-full body, quite rich; balanced; drying tannins; long, warm finish.

Morgan
1997 Syrah
Monterey - $18.

Somewhat lighter color; fruity, earthy, cola, coffee, toasty, clove, and spicy aromas, with hints of smoke, charcoal, barnyard, and band-aids; sweet, raspberry, fruity, faintly herbal (clove) flavors; light to medium body, supple and slightly rich; good balance; medium tannins; short, faintly harsh finish.

Andrew Murray
1997 Syrah
Santa Barbara - $18.

Deep purple, violet edge; cassis, beet, cola, berry, earth, and cedar aromas with some bacon fat, roasted oak and overripe hints of ethyl acetate and volatile acidity; ripe, sweet, cherry and plum fruit flavors, somewhat closed, slightly musty; balanced, round; big, chalky tannins; astringent finish.

Bell
1997 "Canterbury"
Napa Valley - $28.

Dark purple; black fruit, cherry, plum, earthy, musty, leathery, coffee bean, cigar box, cedar, and charred aromas; sweet, complex, cola, berry, chocolate, bacon fat and ethyl acetate-touched flavors, tarry; balanced; upfront tannins leave a somewhat disappointing short finish.

R.H. Phillips
1997 "EXP"
California - $11.

Dark purple; licorice, blackberry, cola,cassis, meaty, tobacco, cedar, vanilla, and violet aromas; big, ripe, young, clean, slightly oaky, blackberry fruit flavors; rich, medium to medium-full body; good balance; faintly bitter tannins in long finish.

Pepperwood Grove
1998 Syrah
California - $6.

Medium purple; bright, clean, direct, youthful, somewhat Beaujolais-like, blackberry fruit aroma with some wood and an odd element (burnt butter?); sweet, slightly underripe fruit; light to medium body, slightly rich; balanced; very pleasant and quaffable.

Qupé
1996 Syrah "Reserve"
Santa Barbara, "Bien Nacido" - $34.

Medium purple, brick edge; shy aroma with hints of black cherries, cassis, earth, meat, bacon fat, barnyard, iodine, smoke and rubber; pleasant entry, deep blackberry and dried fruit flavors with roasted grain notes; medium body with some richness; nicely balanced, good structure; soft tannins, faint heat in finish.

Qupé
1996 Syrah "Reserve"
Santa Barbara "Hillside Estate" - $30.

Medium purple; cherry, clove, and black fruit aromas, smoky and somewhat vegetal with a noticeable hydrogen sulfide funk; cherry, tarry, slightly burned flavors; medium body; balanced with good acidity; dusty tannins; medium finish with a sweet edge.

Jaffurs
1998 Syrah
Santa Barbara - $20.

Deep purple, violet edge; earthy, flowery, grapey, anise, and tar aromas with hints of vanilla and eucalyptus; similar fruity, faintly herbal, black fruit and tar flavors; medium body with some richness; soft, chunky tannins; medium finish.

Sobon Estate
1997 Syrah
Shenandoah Valley - $12.

Medium purple, crimson edge; vinous, smoky, and sour with some initial hydrogen sulfide and burnt rubber stench; sweet, dried cherry, raspberry, and basil flavors are somewhat thin, slightly stemmy; medium body; flabby balance; dusty, chalky, slightly bitter tannins.

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This Panel included Regulars Mark, Deanna, Diana, Roy,
Marlene, Jon, Jim, Chris, Ron, and James

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