A new Shafer project that will tantalize wine consumers is their 17-acre Syrah vineyard planted in southern Napa Valley. While production from the first crop, 1999, will be small, this looks to be a fabulous Syrah. Yields were cut by 50%, producing only 1.5 tons of fruit per acre. The wine is being aged in 75% new French oak casks. The result is a sensational, opaque blue/purple-colored Syrah/Petite Sirah blend with a dazzling nose of blackberry liqueur intermixed with barbecue spices and licorice. In the mouth, it is full-bodied, voluptuously-textured, super-extracted, and rich, with low acidity. (RP)

Dark, rich, intense and spicy, with wonderful aromatics, deeply concentrated and sharply focused currant, blackberry, anise, sage, leather and spice, finishing with supple, mouthcoating tannins. A gorgeous Syrah. Contains 19 percent Petite Sirah. (JL)