Another excellent bargain is the 2007 Syrah 6th Sense, which may be the finest $16 Syrah in the domestic marketplace. Sweet blackberry and black currant fruit intermixed with hints of leather, earth, spice, and smoke aromas jump from the glass of this full-bodied, lush, heady effort. Consume it over the next 2-3 years. This winery continues to be a leader in great values from California. Moreover, there are significant quantities of these wines, so availability should not be an issue for most readers. Tel. (209) 368-7384; Fax (209) 368-5801

There’s a perfectly good, dry Syrah in here, but it’s way too oaky. The underlying blackberry and plum fruit is dominated by toasted caramel and butterscotch.——S.H.(4/1/2010)—— 82