Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar, Nov/Dec 07

2005 Vino V Wines Pinot Noir Solomon Hills Santa Maria Valley
($48) Medium red. Spicy redcurrant and strawberry aromas are complicated by whiffs of exotic spices and herbs. Tangy red fruit flavors are tightly wound and sharply focused, offering zesty celery seed and rose pastille qualities and impressive cling. Finishes vibrant but sweet, with a lingering white pepper quality and excellent persistence. Pretty fascinating stuff. 91 points

2004 Vino V Wines Syrah White Hawk Vineyard Santa Barbara County
($45) Inky violet. Brooding cassis and boysenberry aromas slowly open to reveal suave baking spices and licorice, along with a sexy floral character. Fat and ripe, with fleshy dark berry preserve flavors, supple tannins and persistent finishing sweetness. A bit youthfully monolithic right now so put this away for another few years. 88(+?)

2005 Confundido Santa Barbara County
($28; a bizarre blend of 80% syrah and 20% pinot noir) Glass-staining ruby. Ripe cherry and boysenberry on the nose, with subtle floral and spice qualities expanding with air. Suave dark berry preserve flavors offer impressive sweetness and a velvety texture. Weighty, sweet and round, with serious finishing cling. I’d have liked a bit more energy but fans of lush, soft, fruit-powered reds will love this. 88 points