1995 The Other Hand

Readers who love Rhone-styled wines must get on Sine Qua Non's mailing list in order to have a chance of latching onto a few bottles of the following vinous treasure. The 1995 The Other Hand is made from 100% Syrah grown in the Alban, Bien Nacido, and Stolpman vineyards, situated respectively in Edna Valley, Santa Maria, and Los Olivos. Aged 18 months in oak, of which 70% is new, this blockbuster, opaque purple-colored wine offers glorious notes of black fruits (primarily blackberry and cassis), subtle smoke, toast, and licorice, and a whiff of plant material and spice. Full-bodied, yet gorgeously layered and nearly seamless in its flamboyant display of fruit, glycerin, and extract, this large-scaled, yet drinkable Syrah will benefit from another 5-6 years in the bottle, but it is already accessible. It is another example of why I think wineries in this region should be ripping out their Pinot Noir vines and re-planting with Syrah! Look for this super Syrah to age effortlessly for 15 or more years. Oh how I wish there were more small producers such as Elaine and Manfred Krankel. Take my advice - get on their mailing list! Tel. (805) 649-8901; fax (805) 640-1230

Readers who love Rhone-styled wines must get on Sine Qua Non's mailing list in order to have a chance of latching onto a few bottles of the following vinous treasure. The 1995 The Other Hand is made from 100% Syrah grown in the Alban, Bien Nacido, and Stolpman vineyards, situated respectively in Edna Valley, Santa Maria, and Los Olivos. Aged 18 months in oak, of which 70% is new, this blockbuster, opaque purple-colored wine offers glorious notes of black fruits (primarily blackberry and cassis), subtle smoke, toast, and licorice, and a whiff of plant material and spice. Full-bodied, yet gorgeously layered and nearly seamless in its flamboyant display of fruit, glycerin, and extract, this large-scaled, yet drinkable Syrah will benefit from another 5-6 years in the bottle, but it is already accessible. It is another example of why I think wineries in this region should be ripping out their Pinot Noir vines and re-planting with Syrah! Look for this super Syrah to age effortlessly for 15 or more years. Dec 1997, www.robertparker.com

Brighter ruby-red color. Wilder aromas of black raspberry, blueberry, game, leather, tobacco and licorice. Lush and packed with fruit; as seamless as the above but with a firmer structure and not quite as forthcoming today. But finishes extremely long, with very fine tannins. This was explosive after 24 hours in the open bottle. These extraordinary wines from Manfred Krankl, owner of Campanile restaurant in Los Angeles, have virtually disappeared from the retail market, but fans of the finest California wines from Rhone grapes should add their names to the mailing list (805-640-0997).