A few times now we've received bottles of Mandolin Syrah, most recently one from 2003, and we have enjoyed this wine. We didn't go ga-ga over it. In fact, I can't remember what the second bottle was that we tasted this with, but it ended up being our pick of the two. Still, this was a good bottle, well enjoyed.

I surfed around and found some interesting information on the winemaker as well as wine itself on a web site called Small Wine Makers:

Mandolin, a small winery with large ambitions, is generating considerable attention for its stylish wines. Developed by Brent Shortridge and Philip Zorn, Mandolin has the luxury of drawing on top vineyard sources in some of California's best growing regions, yielding balanced wines with bright fruit and a long finish. In fact, it is this characteristic that led to the name of the winery - the mandolin instrument, heralded for its brilliant tone and great carrying power, was the inspiration.

The Mandolin winemaking style leans toward emphasizing balance and expressive fruit flavors, rather than sweetness or excessive oak, and the result is a very accessible, flavorful wine that appeals to experienced wine drinkers and neophytes alike. The broad appeal of Mandolin wines is credited to their full middle palate, which maximizes the fruit character of the wines.

Mandolin Syrah

Sourced from a single vineyard noted for its rocky soil in the Monterey region of California. The grapes are cold soaked for 3 days prior to fermentation, after which the wine is aged for 15 months in French oak barrels.

This is a rich, full-bodied wine with lush blueberry, raspberry and black currant fruit. Serve with roasted meats and well-seasoned dishes.