Falcone Syrah 2010

Falcone Family Vineyards Syrah Paso Robles 2010: The cracked-pepper scents were expected, but the pine-tree presence on the nose of this complex but rewarding syrah from the husband-and-wife team of John and Helen Falcone (for many years at Rusack, but now at Gainey) was an enlightening surprise.

Opaque in its deep purple color, the typical syrah flavors of various berries and smoke dominated the tongue — probably enhanced by the 6 percent petite sirah in the blend — but did so with a mouth-watering balance.

See falconefamilyvineyards.com.

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