I tried this wine several months ago during a wine writers tour while it was still a tank sample. Winemaker Andrzej Lipinski dries a portion of the grapes in tobacco kilns to extract more flavours and ditch some of the excess water (think of it as the appassimento or Amarone-way that the Italians use, just sped up). What he's come up with is a way to show true flavours even in less than favourable vintages. 50% of these Syrah grapes saw the inside of the drying kiln, and from it has extracted real "syrah" character (not Shiraz). A nose of smoked meat, pepper and raspberry leading to flavours that follow along the same lines yet seem light on the palate. Great finish with well-maintained acidity along with white pepper and ramped up spiciness. Price: $27.95 - Rating: **** 1/2