Syrah/Shiraz tasting.

My local store didn't have much in the way of American Syrahs except for one that I have had before. I really wanted to taste one along a French and Australian example, but oh well. This includes one I had tasted in the month prior.
2008 Chapoutier Crozes-Hermitage "Petit-Ruche" 12.5% abv.
c- concentrated darker/bricking red.
a- spicy, smoky, jalapeno, vegetable.
f- really carries to the mouth. seems watered down. jalapenos, wood. lighter than expected. lighter mouth and shorter finish. interesting vanilla-y/marshmallow finish.
85
2009 Yalumba "Y series" Shiraz-Viognier South Australia 13.5% abv.
94% shiraz, 6% viognier. I know this blend may sound odd, but there is a long tradition of adding viognier to syrah in the Cote Rotie, the northern Rhone region of France.
c- dark purple/ black concentrated color.
a- berry, earth-leather, touch tart cherry, softer.
f- big. some tannin. fruity, soft. med body, med finish.
87
2008 Yalumba Shiraz-Viognier Eden Valley 14.5% abv.
97% shiraz, 3% viognier.
c- dark concentrated inky purple black.
a- tequila? red berries, blue berry. tart cherry. mellow oak, leather.
f- cedary oak, fruit. soft. medium body but shorter finish.
87 (of interest this bottle from a more specific region and costing more got the same score as the one above, costing less).
2008 Heartland Shiraz South Australia 14.5% abv.
c- dark inky purple, very concentrated.
a- tobacco, chocolate, dark fruits, oak.
f- cedary oak. big full bodied longer finish. dark fruits, vanilla, touch tannin.
88
What did I like here? The Chapoutier had the lowest score but it was different and therefore interesting. But I probably wouldn't buy again unless I could find it at a lesser price. The yaluma y series is clearly a good deal, and the heartland wasn't bad either, though a few dollars more. I would buy both again.

California Pinot Noir comparison.

This time around I bought three bottles of California Pinot. One from the north, one from the south, and one from the general California appellation. I also have tasting notes from one I tried at work, as well as a Australian Pinot that I had shortly before.
2009 Bogle Pinot Noir California 14.2% abv.
c- magenta, cranberry juice.
a- apple jam, apple, plum.
f- touch tarry rubber, fruit, balanced, longer finish but lighter bodied. touch of alcohol at the end.
In the same league as other similarly priced pinots (10ish).
85
2009 Brophy Clark Santa Barbara County PN 13.5% abv.
c- purply deep red.
a- more earthy, manure, dark black cherry.
f- medicinal or vitaminy. fruity. alcohol seems more present despite lower abv. this wine became more favorable after a day open, however I would pass on it.
84
2007 Handley Anderson Valley PN 14.2% abv.
c- dusty violet/rose.
a- spicy, fruit, pinot.
f- carries good depth, balanced. Raspberry/cherry. Showed better on second day with cola/anise notes.
90
2009 Talbott "kali hart" Monterey PN 14.8% abv.
c- clear ruby purple.
a- pinot, cherry, alcohol, acid.
f- same. hot. shorter finish. med mouth feel. oak present as vanilla, which seems to lend it an odd sweetness.
85
2008 Little Yering PN 13.5% abv.
c- garnet, touch brown.
a- pinot, baked cherry, earth, acid.
f- similar. Balanced acid, lighter, but not bad for the price(10ish).
85
Clearly the best wine here was the Handley. This was also the most expensive. The Brophy Clark was a disappointment for the price and I will probably not buy anything by them again. Conversely, both the Little Yering and Bogle were good for the price. Many wines at a less expensive price point can show true varietal character, but this seems more difficult with pinot. Great pinot is not something that comes cheap!