PARAISO SYRAH - 2001

There's nothing quite like French Rhone wines, except for maybe California Rhone rangers that taste just like Rhone reds. Wines from Paraiso Vineyards get their unique flavors from grapes grown in the Santa Lucia Highlands. One taste of their wines and you'll know exactly what I mean when I say that the climate and soil in Monterey County come through in the glass.

TASTING NOTES:

Classic Rhone nose of spice and sweet berry with black pepper, cherry and sharp acidity. Purple-red in color, austere, with a bit of heat that quickly settles down after letting the bottle breathe. Decent, harmonious finish.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

88 PTS
Crafted wine with excellent structure and well-defined flavor profile. Lots of earthy terroir. At $18 a bottle, a good buy considering you'll need to spend at least that if not more for a comparable French equivalent.