Tried these two this weekend:
1. JadeMtn Syrah NapaVlly (13%) 1993: Dark color w/ very slight bricking; somewhat bretty/horsecollar/leathery slight roasted/Rhonish some blackberry/Syrah slight H2S/smokey/gunpowder/reduced some aged/complex nose; tart rather bretty/horsecollar/unclean some roasted/blackberry/Syrah bit tired/astringent flavor; med.long some tannic/dried out rather unclean/bretty slight blackberry/Syrah/roasted finis; a bit on long of tooth but still some interesting things therein except a bit too bretty for my taste. $14.00
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2. Jaffurs SantaBarbaraCnty ThompsonVnyd (13%) 1994: Very dark color w/ very slight bricking; slight old Rhonish/toasty/smokey/pungent fairly spicy/peppery slight blackberry/Syrah complex lovely nose; tart very slightly dried out/tannic old Rhonish/toasty/smokey some spicy/peppery/blackberry/Syrah some sweet/fruit flavor; very long spicy/peppery/earthy rather smokey/pungent/toasty old Rhonish complex finish w/ light tannins; a bit beyond its peak but a beautiful/lovely mature Calif Syrah; terrific nose but just a tad dried out on the palate. $18.95
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And a wee BloodyPulpit:
1. JadeMtn: This may have been JadeMtn's first Syrah from LouHudson's Carneros vnyd, but not a vnyd designate. I'm pretty sure that JimParas's MtVeeder Syrah vnyd was not yet producing. In its youth, this was a pretty spectacular Syrah, very Rhonish in character. The brett has become a bit too much for my palate but those who worship that character in French wines may like it.
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2. Jaffurs: Also think this was probably the first Jaffurs vnyd-designate Syrah. It's a terrific example of how well a Calif Syrah can mature. One more btl left.
Tom