Syrah Muscles In

California Rhône-style reds show greater character, in a problematic vintage

James Laube
Posted: March 17, 2003

  The Lagier vineyard, on Mount Veeder above Napa Valley, has yielded high-quality Syrah grapes.       Top-Scoring Rhône-Style Wines From California       Smart Buys in Rhône-Style Wines From California       Best-Value Rhône-Style Wines From California       Winery Profiles:       Sean Thackrey Winemaking on the edge in a Marin eucalyptus grove       Novy Putting the family to work in Sonoma       Ojai Excelling with an unlikely Ventura winery       Rocca Growing Syrah in the heart of Napa Valley       Related links:       Pinots and Syrahs Shine in Santa Barbara Tasting New wineries are among the names to look for this year       Editor's Picks: California James Laube recommends buying strategies for the coming year       In 2000, a vintage menaced by rain near harvest and unseasonably cool weather (hardly a promising scenario), John Alban made four of the greatest Rhône-style wines in California history.