I’m kicking off a Weekly Wine Pick feature — just a short ‘n sweet shout out to a single wine that really got my attention this week. No rules, no particular price range or even availability — hopefully some will be more available than others, but some may require a bit of searching…

Talmage 2006 Syrah Mendocino Ridge Mariah Vineyard ($32). Earthy licorice accents on the nose and palate, with full-bodied, meaty, dark blackberry and currant fruit flavors that pick up sweet smoke, deep spices, bittersweet chocolate, tar and, finally, a hint of brown sugar. Just a baby now, should age beautifully for the next 6-8 years. Locate this wine online or in your area. From Magnanimus Wine Group.

(And here’s a bit of trivia for all you wine geeks: Mendocino Ridge is the only non-contiguous AVA in the US…)