Niner Wine Estates, Paso Robles (California) Syrah 2012

If you tend to associate Paso Robles red wines with  dull, baked-fruit character, you’ll be surprised at the freshness and vitality that this Syrah offers, especially considering the dry weather and hot August days of the 2012 growing season.  The welcome freshness of this wine is due to several factors, particularly the cooling coastal effect that mitigates the daytime heat, and low fermentation temperatures that preserve delicate aromas and flavors.  Blended from 90 percent Syrah with 5 percent Malbec and 5 percent Petit Verdot, this is a dry red with concentrated, flavors of black berry, blue fruits, and spices.  Oak tannin frames the wine without overwhelming the bright, juicy.  The lovely flavors linger long in the finish.  While delicious now, this wine will come into its own with another year of aging, in my view.