McCrea Cellars Syrah Amerique 06

AVALON RECOMMENDS Similar to an Australian Shiraz, the flavors are clean and berry-driven. The oak acts as a framework providing excellent length and structure, surrounding the intense, mouth-coating fruit. This wine should age gracefully for five to ten years.

Previous Vintage Tasting Notes

Wine & Spirits gave 93 points to this highly regarded wine's 2003 vintage, and named it one of the ten top Syrahs of the year: "Doug McCrea's 2003 Amerique has a generous dollop of Ciel du Cheval mourvedre in the mix, giving it the kind of sauvage character that's found in his fine mourvedre (recommended in New Releases). The syrah component is from Red Mountain's other storied vineyard, Klipsun, which accounts for the lushness of its fruit. Rich, smoky blueberry scents are backed up with lavishly oaked black fruit flavors. "It's the girl at the bar you want to take home," said one panelist, and that hardly scratches the surface of this wine's seductive power."

From the winery:

2004 was a year of many challenges. It began with a devastating freeze in January that permanently damaged many Washington vineyards, particularly in the Walla Walla valley. Fortunately, Rhone varietals are far more winter hardy than anyone would have imagined. Most of our fruit was not affected. The summer was one of the hottest on record, suggesting a very early harvest. But late August cooled and even brought some rain, which slowed sugar development while promoting good acidity and proper physiological maturity. We had a relatively normal harvest from mid-September through late October. The '04 wines are very promising; the fruit characteristics are similar to 2002 and 2003. We anticipate good complexity and intensity, with even better acid and pH ratios than prior vintages.

A pioneer of Rhone varietals in Washington State, winemaker Doug McCrea transforms grapes from the finest Yakima Valley, Red Mountain and Columbia Valley vineyards into wines of extraordinary depth, balance, complexity and finesse. Annual Production: 4000 cases of Syrah, Viognier, Grenache, Mourvedre, Roussanne and Counoise.