DECANTER MAGAZINE, June 2006

Lean and earthy, with black pepper, game and wild blackberry notes, this dense wine captures the aromatic features of Syrah from the Northern Rhone, while underpinning it with a round and smooth structure that speaks of the California sunshine it was grown in.

CALIFORNIA GRAPEVINE, October- November 2005
Medium-dark ruby; attractive, forward, spicy, very ripe black cherry fruit aroma; full body; big, dense, concentrated, highly extracted, cherry and ripe blackberry fruit flavors; full tannin...Lingering aftertaste. Needs some bottle aging.  Recommended.

FOOD & WINE MAGAZINE's Wine Guide 2006

Hope, the expert at blending Rhône grapes at Treana, shows he can go solo, too, with a Syrah full of fresh and baked cherry and spice flavors.  Drink now-6 years.

DECANTER MAGAZINE , October 2005
World Wine Awards
Gamey, chocolate, spicy nose.  Vibrant fruit and earthy note.  Well-knit wine.  Good fruit, acid balance.  Spice and roasted herbs.  Well made.

STEPHEN TANZER'S INTERNATIONAL WINE CELLAR, Jul/Aug 2005
Medium ruby-red. Wild, varietally expressive aromas of red berries, plum, black olive tapenade, smoke, meat and pepper. Suave on entry, then supple and nicely delineated in the middle palate, with flavors of dark berries, smoked meat and pepper framed by solid acidity. Finishes with ripe, oak-powered tannins. According to the winery, the vine yield here was just a ton and a half an acre due to the long, cool spring-or about half of a normal crop. 88 points

WINE ENTHUSIAST MAGAZINE, April 2005
Opens with a promising blast of white pepper.  Turns rich, full bodied and complex, with an array of blackberry, plum, coffee, cigar tobacco, spice and oak notes.  The tannins are fairly thick and astringent, suggesting lamb, pork tenderloin or similar fare.  92 points

THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, October 13, 2004
"The panel's favorite of the Syrahs, well-balanced, with a sweet, black fruit nose, lively acidity and generous fruit."