Cycles Gladiator Syrah Impresses Wine Critic

Affordable Central Coast Syrah offers bold flavors and smooth finish.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Wine critic Randy Fuller reviews the Cycles Gladiator Syrah, a $10 Syrah from the Hahn Estate in Soledad, California. Fuller notes the wine's ruby-red color, aromas of dark fruit and pepper, and flavors of blackberry, cassis, chocolate, and white pepper. While the finish has a slight medicinal edge, Fuller finds the wine to be overall very tasty and a good value.

Why it matters

The Cycles Gladiator Syrah represents an affordable, high-quality Syrah from California's Central Coast region, which is known for producing excellent Rhône-style wines. The review highlights how consumers can find great wine values outside of the most well-known appellations.

The details

The Cycles Gladiator Syrah is produced by the Hahn Estate in Soledad, California. The wine takes its name from an old French bicycle company, as the winemaking team is apparently "bicycle-crazy." Fuller notes the wine's ruby-red color, aromas of dark fruit and pepper, and flavors of blackberry, cassis, chocolate, and white pepper. While the finish has a slight medicinal edge, Fuller finds the wine to be overall very tasty and a good value at $10.

  • The review was published on February 15, 2026.

The players

Cycles Gladiator Syrah

A $10 Syrah wine produced by the Hahn Estate in Soledad, California.

Hahn Estate

A winery located in Soledad, California that produces the Cycles Gladiator Syrah.

Randy Fuller

A wine critic who reviewed the Cycles Gladiator Syrah.

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What they’re saying

“This wine from the Hahn Estate of Soledad, CA, takes its name from an old French bicycle company. The whole crew is apparently bicycle-crazy.”

— Randy Fuller, Wine Critic (nowandzin.com)

The takeaway

The Cycles Gladiator Syrah demonstrates that consumers can find high-quality, affordable wines outside of the most well-known wine regions and appellations. This review highlights how an inexpensive Syrah from California's Central Coast can offer bold flavors and a smooth finish, making it an excellent value for wine drinkers.