Patterson Cellars Syrah Alder Ridge Vineyard

Red and dark fruit, blackberry, smoke and some tar. Delicious with our grilled venison burgers. Drink now but has time, too. Great qpr for $15 on close-out.

Hard to rate. PnP, and the nose is initially dominated by a strong vegetal scent. Blows off somewhat over time, but still lingers (and seems like rhubarb), coalescing on the palate with notes of blackberry, black pepper, and hints of smoke. Tannins are more prevalent than expected, and a tarry note emerges late and lingers on the medium finish.