A favorite.

From the barrel, it had spectacular extraction of flavor, and a huge, bacon fat, cassis-scented nose that reminded me of top-notch Hermitage. Its texture was softer than a classic Hermitage, but the tannins were ripe and the purity of fruit was admirable.

Emphatic ripeness shows at every turn. This outgoing effort and the sweet, oak-enriched themes of berryish fruit in the nose are replayed fully in the wine's fat and jammy flavors. Plenty of upfront appeal. Drinkable now.

The American Syrah Report Tart and lithe with raspberries, cherries, and boysenberry flavors. The finish is medium-long with a tinge of cocoa; bright finish with moderate tannins.

Cambria is a family-owned, estate winery located in the heart of the famed Santa Maria bend in Santa Barbara County. The Tepusquet Vineyard is located at an elevation of 400 feet on the Cambria estate featuring sandy loam soils and a climate moderated by ocean influence. Winemaker Denise Shurtleff aged this Syrah in French oak, 20% new, to create a rich wine with concentrated dark berry aromas and flavors, with notes of earthy mineral, mocha and dried herbs.

Dark ruby. Dark berries, olive and black pepper on the nose and palate. Firm and tangy, with good clarity and a late note of candied licorice that carries through the finish. Easygoing and ready to drink.

An even deeper extracted color on this wine means the gambit is set for some tasty stuff. First, though, dark fruit, like plum and blackberry, also promise pleasure. The flavors of cassis, red plum, cocoa powder, cinnamon and black pepper, as well as a touch of lavender, play together well on the palate. Intense and well-focused, it definitely makes a concentrated flavor impression that is sustained all the way to the upbeat finish. It's a meaty and delicious syrah that's so easy to drink now.

I can think of almost no instance when I wouldn’t trade whatever is on my plate for some truly great bbq ribs...lots of flavor, lots of juice, and, admit it, lots of fat—if wine is on the table, make it a big, brawny Syrah, like the robust 2008 Cambria Tepusquet Syrah ($19).

Aromas and flavors of red raspberries and black coffee; big, ripe tannins; smooth.

Earthy, ripe California Syrah: 2006 Cambria Tepusquet Vineyard. Paired with Asian-Spiced Pork Shoulder.

Cambria's gamey 2001 from Tepesquet in Santa Maria comes in at $19.

Spicy, cinnamony, plum-pie flavors; crisp, dry.

Sweet and opulent, with coconut and vanilla flavors and a little tangerine on the finish.

A big, sweet, candied nose jumps out of the glass. Delightful flavors of peach, apricot and nectarine skin are embellished with vanilla, while the finish is resilient and lasting.

Bright and intense with lovely acidity and snappy, aromatic flavors and along and complex finish.

...light, crisp, medium-bodied wine that faded in the finish. Nevertheless, there is enough up-front honeysuckle-scented and flavored fruit to provide pleasent drinking over the next year.

A white with the rich appeal of classic Chardonnay, but without the buttery notes. Instead, it's just lovely, straight-up peach-citrus fruit.

Anytime you are in a tasting room, look for late harvest or ice wine bottles. Of course, you won't find ice wines out west. But tasting rooms harbor specialty wines you don't see very often in the rest of the country. I have to write about wine, whether you can find it or not. The winery, Cambria, is first class, in Santa Barbara County (California), and so is the vineyard where these grapes are sourced, Tepesquet. It's intense floral, orange and tropical on the nose. On the palate, it is thick and viscous, and the sweetness paints the whole mouth. Buried deep in the flavors are minerality and spice that trail through to the finish. And there is still enough acidity for structure. It's magnificent.

Intense pear and butterscotch flavors, concentrated fruit, viscous, very dry; lightly tart finish.

Add some cream to white corn and you'll have the signature flavor of Central Coast, or more specifically, Santa Maria Valley chardonnay. The particular richness the grape takes on in this mountain-ringed coastal valley often expresses itself in that flavor, a character you'll find in the scent of the Cambria…Its modest richness and finesse creates a bridge to the Cambria, the most intensely flavored of the three (compared to Kendall-Jackson 1999 Santa Maria Valley Camelot Vineyard Chardonnay and Cinnabar 1999 Central Coast Quicksilver Chardonnay) -- and also the most tightly knit. Here's that creamed-corn pungency, along with a plump feel in the mouth. The balance of the ripeness rides an edge between dark tones and brighter orange peel and lemon peel freshness. A sip of (Sonoma- Cutrer 1998 Chardonnay) Les Pierres will make this appear sweeter, the oak showing more in vanilla sweetness, but the Cambria still comes together into a tight finish, holding its own. Not a bad Central Coast benchmark for twenty-two bucks.

Forward tropical fruit nose with spicy oak backnotes; crisp acidity, layered fruit; quintessential California Chardonnay.

Pretty light-toast, pear, and cinnamon-clove aromas give way to almost cloying mixed fruit and a sticky finish. Very soft and buttery.

It's got great texture. There are hints of honey, pear and ripe apple, and it's got a really nice, smooth finish. A lot of people tend to say it's buttery. It's a good wine if you're moving into fall, when the bodies of wine are usually a little deeper.

Elegant and flowery, with toast and a hint of lemon. Real restraint.