2008 Keplinger Sumo

Black fruits, licorice, tar, grilled herbs and smoke are some of the notes that flow from the 2008 Sumo. All of the elements are beautifully balanced in this powerful, intense red. The 2008 is 75% Petite Sirah, 20% Syrah and 5% Viognier. I can't wait to see where this goes with more bottle age.

Black fruits, licorice, tar, grilled herbs and smoke are some of the notes that flow from the 2008 Sumo. All of the elements are beautifully balanced in this powerful, intense red. The 2008 is 75% Petite Sirah, 20% Syrah and 5% Viognier. I can't wait to see where this goes with more bottle age. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018. Helen Keplinger is the winemaker at Bryant, where she now also makes her own wines with her husband, Douglas. Keplinger credits the years she spent working in Priorat as shaping her philosophy on wine and life. These Rhone blends are made from hillside vineyards in Amador County, El Dorado County and Knights Valley. The wines are aged in French oak, 20-65% new, depending on the wine. Racking is kept to a bare minimum and the wines are neither fined nor filtered. Readers owe it to themselves to check out these pure, handcrafted wines. Tel. (707) 252-7417

(79% petite sirah, 19% syrah and 2% viognier): Saturated ruby. Highly complex, syrah-influenced aromas of black cherry, fruity tropical dark chocolate, meat and pepper. Lush, rich, broad and sweet in the mouth, but with refreshing peppery lift to the black fruit and floral flavors. An exhilarating hint of white fruit contributes to the wine's overall appeal. The powerful, very long finish features terrific breadth and a firm tannic spine. Exceptionally good petite sirah, with just enough syrah (and viognier) to give it verve, definition and real flavor interest.