Domaines Entrefaux Syrah Crozes-Hermitage 2004

This is 100% Syrah with a deep purple color so dark that it is almost pitch black, with loads of wild blackberry, cassis, and smoky fig-like fruit. This one will be spectacular with a bit of cellaring, if you can wait that long.

One of my favorite regions for red wine is Crozes-Hermitage. Located on grounds surrounding the famous appellation of Hermitage, the vignerons here produce some of the best under-$20 Syrah in the world. In order to drink the wines of their famous neighbors, Hermitage and Côtes-Rôtie, you'd have to spend at least four times as much, and there's no guarantee they'd be any better! A perennial staff favorite, the 2005 Domaine des Entrefaux is, at six years old, starting to shed some of its initial fruit and to feature more of its animalistic tertiary notes. You'll get loads of fresh meat, earth and violets, but it remains remarkably elegant for such a wild profile. Also helping to balance the savory characteristics are supporting notes of blueberry and spicecake. This is captivating, cerebral, nuanced wine.

An exceptional 100% Syrah from the Northern Rhône for a great price! The vineyards lie in Mercurol, which is said to be the best location for Crozes-Hermitage. The wine has flavors of plums and dark berry fruits, with roundness in tannins that make it a wonderful wine that’s ready to drink. Dark ruby in color, the wine has delicately balanced mineral and spice characteristics. Serve with gruyère and summer sausage or spicy barbecued ribs.

Ruby-red. Cherry and plum on the nose, with hints of licorice and dark chocolate adding interest. Plump and juicy, with moderately concentrated dark berry flavors and gentle tannins. Supple, persistent and easy to drink.

An exceptional 100% Syrah from the Northern Rhandocirc;ne for a great price! The vineyards lie in Mercurol, which is said to be the best location for Crozes-Hermitage. The wine has flavors of plums and dark berry fruits, with roundness in tannins that make it a wonderful wine thatandrsquo;s ready to drink. Dark ruby in color, the wine has delicately balanced mineral and spice characteristics. Serve with gruyandegrave;re and summer sausage or spicy barbecued ribs.

100% Syrah. Very dark, blue-black, soft, plump with fine grained tannins. The ample fruit is quite evident, blackberry, cassis liqueur, with plenty of smoky meat and crackled black peppercorns. Almost a meal in itself, this will evolve into quite a wine if given time.

A solid core of blackberry and plum fruit is supported by notes of iron, tobacco and tar, with nice grip on the finish. Should open up nicely with short-term cellaring. Drink now through 2011.