Yes, California Syrah is in it for the long haul

Oh, gentle readers, be patient! Sometimes it's very rewarding. I have long been a fan of Christopher Creek in the Russian River, and finally cracked my last of the 99 Reserve Syrahs and it was absolutely perfect. The over-the-top fruit was gone, replaced by balanced fruit and a finish that just goes on and on.

A couple of years ago, when I first had this, it was tasty, but a a little wild. The brambley fruit was huge and the acid was high. It was very drinkable, but somehow not quite right.

Now it's drinking perfectly and it gives me renewed faith that some of Sonoma's best Syrahs can stand the test of time and mellow out into a beautiful wine. Look for Russian River Syrahs as well as the best of Santa Barbara County for great aging potential.