The Withers Winery Mr. Burgess Sierra Foothills, 2010

As a Europhile, I was dubious when I read that the Withers team intended, with this wine, to "pay homage to our heroes in Hermitage and Cornas" of the Northern Rhone. After tasting a bottle, I'm not sure I would trade any of my Domaine Thalabert (a Crozes-Hermitage) for it, but I do find it a very powerful and enjoyable New World Syrah. (Actually, it is 90% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre.) 

Deep and dark. Enchanting bouquet of black berries and currants, cassis and lavender. Beefy notes on the palate with a medium plus body (14.1%) and an exciting level of acidity--far more than I would expect in a New World Syrah. Tannins are no problem here as they might be with a 15-year-old Hermitage or Cornas and the deep-fruited finish is glorious. This 2010 is still available at the winery for $32.50, but I paid $15 at auction in early 2023. There were numerous bottles available at that time; wish I had bought more.