McManis Family Vineyards Syrah, Ripon California 2011, $8/bottle Astor Wine.

Features a purple color with violet edges and a blackberry/cherry nose. Blackberry and cassis rule the palate with a followed by vanilla, a hint of oak and licorice on the tight finish with very modest tannins. This is a jammy and acetic wine that can pair well with lighter fare or spicy food as a good complement; a nice little domestic syrah. A good option for the budget wine buyers looking for value and consistency.

While I have little knowledge of Ripon Valley (central CA), I’ll be looking for other wines from this area.

Here’s a nice resource for other central valley wineries from a website called “Crazy About Wine”, that lists McManis and other wine producers from the central CA area.

à votre santé!