Monte De Oro 2006 Reserve, Vista del Monte Vineyard Syrah (Temecula Valley)

Country: US

Province: California

Region: Temecula Valley

Variety: Syrah

Winery: Monte De Oro

Points: 87

Taster: Virginie Boone

A big burly Syrah from this Temecula producer whose goal it is to become the premier winery of Southern California, the wine is loaded with plummy black fruit and a peppery mouthfeel, its oakiness derived from the almost three years it spent barrel-aging in new French oak. Not for the meek at 15.6% alcohol, it finishes a tad sweet.