A worthy alternative to cabernet sauvignon and merlot, the best syrahs stay true to the northern Rhone ideal of making balanced, pungently aromatic wines that belong on the table. Rather than emphasizing power, concentration and heavy fruity flavors... the better syrahs are graceful and relatively low in alcohol. In 1990 Syrah was "barely on the radar." According to the California Food and Agriculture Department only 164 acres were planted in California. By the end of a decade more than 10,000 acres were planted and since then the numbere has more than doubled. For people looking for a wine that was less tannic and not to "challenging" Syrah was the choice of the day. Wise Guys stocks a long list of Syrahs at a number of price points--all at traditional low Wise Guys values1