2008 Ciconia Syrah Aragones

This Portuguese red is beautiful in the glass--deep dark violet in color!

We didn't get too much on the nose except for some currants, almonds, and spice. The aromas were faint, but nice!

It is bursting with red fruits--cranberries, raspberries, and even some plum. The spices come through from the nose and it's rounded out by some light oak and earthiness.

This red is medium-full in body, with a looong finish. Its tannins are subtle and the balance is good. It's not a super complex wine, but not simple by any means. For $13, this is a great value!

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2007 Seufert Winery Flying Figurehead Syrah

This is an interesting medium bodied syrah from Seufert Winery, a family run business in Oregon. They pride themselves with their Pinot Noirs, but there is something to be said about this syrah.

The aromas are earthy, with traces of mocha, oak, coffee, dark fruit, and moss. Although it's medium in body, there is a great flavor profile in this wine that will please most wine drinkers (white pinot noir-drinkers and cab-drinkers alike). It tastes like cranberries and figs, along with some floral notes. These flavors balance well with its subtle acidity and delicate tannins. The finish is smooth and lingering--very nice! For about $20, this wine offers complexity and a delicious flavor profile! Not a bad combination in our book!


We're preparing to compare and contrast 6 of their pinot noirs soon, so be on the lookout for that! Learn more about Seufert Winery here!

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2007 Stephen Vincent Crimson - Syrah/Cabernet Blend

Crimson is a blend of 75% syrah and 25% from California with a wonderful deep red color that stands up to its name. This wine is full of black fruits and toasted oak. Despite its full body, it lacks a lingering finish. It's still a nice effort for only $12. I would definitely give it a try, especially if you're into full bodied reds. It could be a crowd-pleaser!

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2008 Chateau Pesquie Ventoux Terrasses

So, I had high hopes for this wine since past vintages have been good. While it lacks a few things, it still keeps me interested. This Rhone blend is 70% grenache and 30% syrah.

At first sight, it is VERY vibrant in color! There is a boatload of intriguing aromas pouring out of the glass: earth, black fruits, a nice vegetal component, but with some heat, which takes away from it all.

It is really hard to pinpoint this wine when tasting, as it seems too unbalanced to pull all the pieces together. It lacks depth, and the alcohol is a little distracting. What is interesting, though, is its nice earth flavors, blackberries, and balanced tannins and acidity.

A couple more years of aging may aid in rounding out this wine a bit. We'll see... Grab a bottle of this. It's only $10, so you don't have much to lose. I'd like to know what your thoughts are! Pair it with some grilled pork chops if you have the chance!

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2007 ONA Anakena Cabernet, Carmenere, Syrah

Awesome wine! Anakena pulled through with this blend. Nice full body, dry with hints of berries, black currant, and great tannins. It has somewhat of a shorter finish, but the complexity really makes up for it! For $14.99, it's a steal. Be on the lookout for this wine at your local store.

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