Food and Air Defiantly the way to go!

First of all I would decant this wine for an hour to two hours in decanter (I have a large base decanter) or at least a couple hours if just opening the bottle.
That being said the colour when first poured comes out light (Im thinking it is young vines) had defintily has the colour of it being sitting in oak (21months says the label)
The Stats:
Poplar Grove Winery
Syrah 2005
100% Syrah
21 Months in French Oak
8 month bottle ageing
475 Cases Produced
13.8% Alc

The nose on first smell is off Dried Sour Cherries, syrupy fruit hint of strawberry leather for sure and a touch of oak. Now when First smelled it had some game notes that I would say you would find in a burgundy red but when I tried it after an hour was no longer there. The oak at about 1.5hr to 2hr came through from the decanter just big wiffs the same smell from the Poplar Grove 04 Merlot, must be the oak they use because it has a smell that is uncanny. Syrupy Eucalyptus notes. Also Notes of leather definitely.
The taste feels like it has a cool climate character like Rhone Valley but really far north not deep south. Notes of tart cherry mixed with cranberries, nice tannins easy drinking now with nice acid which is great for food the finish is medium length.
Now the beauty of this wine is the way it goes with food, I had a tangy Salad and a Rich Creamy Polenta and both went together which is why this is a must have for dinner. If you going to drink this have it with food not by itself it shrines through with food.
Side note: About 3 hours later when I poured another glass the wine was darker no longer as light as I would say

November '08 Wine Recap

From Left to Right

GMH Meritage / 2004 / Limestone Coast / Geoff Hardy
Lots of Oak on the nose getting the liquorish, anise coming through which I don't like, the wine it self is nice but still alot of oak coming through over all not my favourite do have a couple left in the cellar.

Mas de Beaulieu Syrah / 2007 / Vin de Pays
Nice drink would defiantly drink again, not alot of pepper notes which I dont generally like in Syrahs. Thumbs up for me

Chianti Colli Senesi / 2006 / Chianti Tuscany
Didn't like this I have one bottle left in my cellar going to have to find a way to unload it the major problem was the next day the sulfites hit my chest and to me that means lots of sulfites which makes my next day a bad day and the flavour was mild and boring with food it did "alright".

Poplar Grove Merlot / 2004 / Okanagan BC
Read Review here big nose I have 2005 will try that soon to see how it is.

Chateau Beau-Site [70%~ Cab Sauv]/ 2005 / Bordeaux
A 2005 Bordeaux! read review here

Moulin-A-Vent [Gamay] / 2006 / Beaujolais
Its a Beaujolais yes, I drank it while watching Hellboy 2 because I wanted a easy drinking layed back wine. It did the drink it is what it is a Beaujolais. Tasty yes but nothing to write home about, nice fruit on it that and the movie distracted me hah which btw was a good movie I like Del Toro.

Tua Tua Bay Sauv Blanc / 2007 / Marlborough /
Your Typical New Zealand Sauv Blanc grassiness included tasty delicious when in need of a NZ Sauv Blanc would pick this yes sir.

Poplar Grove Chardonnay / 2007 / Okanagan BC
Read Review here

Chateau Beau Site 2005 Bordeax (Mini Review)

The Stats:
Mainly Cab Sauv Aprox 75% I had found what it was on the internet but lost it
Bordeaux AC Saint-Estephe
13.0% Alc

The Nose:
I found it to be closed and I decanted it for aprox 45mins maybe it was due to the fact that I was having the Poplar Grove Merlot 04 at the same time which was big and in your face. Did Pick up hints of candied red fruits some spices going on.

Taste:
Can't remember this is couple days writing this what I can say was I did enjoy the wine wasn't over the top in your face was a nice drinking with food wine.