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Wine Spectator 93 Points:
"Smooth, round and generous, this positively glows with gorgeous plum, blackberry and floral spice aromas and flavors, echoing on the long, expressive finish. This just doesn’t quit. Drink now th...read more
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Sequel Syrah 06 - John Duval, former winemaker of Penfold's internationally famous Grange Red, makes the Sequel Syrah in the style of his iconic Australian wines.
Sequel Syrah 06 Wine Spectator 92 points: "Bright and gener...read more
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Heady, dark aromas of violets, bacon smoke, espresso bean, and spiced black berries announce the arrival. Multi-demensional and layered, the black berries, plums and currant just don't stop giving.
The tannins are present, balanced by big fr...read more
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O'Shea Scarborough "The Immortal" Syrah 06 is made from fruit from the winemaker's favorite vineyard, Lewis Vineyard.
Our 2nd release of what we think is the best vineyard in the state for Syrah. I’m sure people would argue otherwise (peopl...read more
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O'Shea Scarborough "The Black Cask" Syrah 05 is the winery's first vintage of Syrah.
...read more
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Dunham Syrah Columbia Valley 04
Price: $45.99
$41.39 - Any 12 bottles
- regular size (375 or 750 ml)
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Wall Street Journal says: "Delicious! Best of tasting. Another big winner from a top winery. Big yet lean, perfectly balanced, with rich fruit, lemony acidity and tightly controlled, edgy tastes, with a great finish of minerals. Intellectual yet b...read more
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This beautiful Syrah starts with gorgeous aromas of blackberry, cherry, lilacs, and black olives. The wine shows a deep, purple color, with flavors of black cherry and plums accented by hints of roasted meat, smoke and licorice. The finish just keeps...read more
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Big Table Farm Syrah 06 - “Dense purple, with the nose exhibiting blackberry and acacia flower notes, this 2006 Syrah has good acidity, medium to full body, and beautiful purity and length. Amazingly, this wine was made in two lots - one with 75% ...read more
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Trust Cellars Syrah Walla Walla 07 - First Walla Walla Syrah from Trust Cellars, with fruit from Les Collines Vineyard and Va Piano Vineyards.
Trust's take on Walla Walla Syrah shows the versatility of Steve's winemaking. Fat, lush, and fru...read more
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J. Christopher "Cristo Irresisto" 08 - juicy, rollicking summer red blend in the style of the Southern Rhone. Soft and approachable, grill a burger, pour a glass of Irresisto, and watch the sunset.
70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Viognier
...read more
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Nuthatch Walla Walla Seven Hills Vineyard Syrah 06 - Huge! This is burly, muscular blackberry-tinged Walla Walla Syrah is not for the faint of heart.
100% Syrah from Seven Hills Vineyard - 63 cases made.
Full bodied, with luscious blac...read more
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half bottle size- 375ml
Sequel Syrah 06 - John Duval, former winemaker of Penfold's internationally famous Grange Red, makes the Sequel Syrah in the style of his iconic Australian wines.
Sequel Syrah 06 Wine Spe...read more
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Tyrus Evan Red Mountain Claret 05 is made from 60% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot, and 20% Cabernet Franc, all from Washington's Ciel du Cheval Vineyard. ...read more
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A big red blend from Southern Oregon focuses on a ripe sweet plum jam with undertones of coffee and smoke. The Cabernet Franc in the blend brings a desert herb and flint characteristic that would pair well with hearty winter stews or a rich lamb t...read more
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Nuthatch Walla Walla Syrah 07 - Cola, Loganberry, anise, finishing with a yin and yang of sweet vanilla and bitter cocoa. Tons of fruit, beautifully layered, that packs a punch but does it in style. From the amazing 2007 Washington vintage.
...read more
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The 2007 Ex Umbris Syrah is the best Ex Umbris yet. Gobs of Marionberries and black raspberries are interspersed with licorice, milk chocolate, and coffee. A superbly rich, supple texture helps carry lingering sweet fruit, violets, and white pe...read more
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Dominio IV Syrah "Song of an Uncaged Bird" 06 has a name unique to the vintage. Dominio IV's 2005 Syrah was called "Old Man Facing East". The winery plans to name each vintage of their wines with different names....read more
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Owen Roe Lady Rosa Syrah 07 - Wine Spectator 94 points: "Polished, refined and beautifully focused to show its plum, clove, nutmeg and cream flavors against superfine tannins. The flavors persist elegantly on the long, expressive...read more
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Smoked meat, black olive and licorice scents with flavors of black fruits. Limited...read more
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This is incredible juice. Trust Syrah 07 follows the style of past vintages - it's more like a great Northern Rhone Syrah (think Cornas) than most New World Syrahs. Smoky blackberry, black raspberry and sweet red cherry are woven with ribbons of ...read more
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Grochau Cellars' Syrah is a hearty, rich, meaty wine, full of blackberry and black raspberry. John's Syrah is Northern Rhone in style, showing excellent balance not always found in Pacific Northwest Syrah. He included 2% Viognier grapes in the w...read more
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L'Ecole #41 Syrah Seven Hills 05 was named one of the best Washington Syrahs by Wall Street Journal: "Very Good. Interesting nose of lavender and eucalyptus. Tastes of blackberry and black cherry, aggressively minerally, with a very dry finish. C...read more
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Hyperion Syrah 06 opens with rich scents of triple berry pie highlighted by subtle grilled herbs. The flavors explode with blackberries, black raspberries, and blueberries. Peppered bacon, earth, and cocoa joins the rich fruit near the finish, w...read more
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Sequel Syrah MAGNUM double bottle size from Longshadows Vintners is a festive, elegant, and impressive gift.
Long Shadows Sequel Syrah 05 received 94 points from Wine Advocate (Parker) 7/08 They said: "The 2005 Sequel is m...read more
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Tyrus Evan Syrah Del Rio Vineyard 06 - 100% Del Rio Vineyard Syrah fruit....read more
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Tyrus Evan Syrah Walla Walla 06 is a new release for 2009. Previous vintage received 92 points from Wine Spectator. Made with Syrah from Walla Walla's Seven Hills and Pepperbridge vineyards....read more
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Ripe, deeply colored and flavored, juicy, pleasing....read more
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Charles Smith's best value Washington State Syrah....read more
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Daedalus Cellars Syrah 06 comes exclusively from a 1.5-acre parcel of McDuffee Vineyard in The
Dalles, Eastern Oregon. A 36-day fermentation assured that we captured every bit of nuance
and expression of minerality, boysenberry, cherry, smoked ...read more
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This Columbia Valley Syrah shows intense blackberry and plum fruit with blueberry and bits of bramble. Nice black pepper accents pop on the juicy finish.
...read more
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One of the very few Willamette Valley Syrahs produced, from the Deux Vert Vineyard. Intense aromas of violets, white pepper and black fruit give way to supple black raspberry and cherry flavors. This is an Oregon Syrah for fans of Northern Rhone Sy...read more
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This wine's aromas lead with sawdust (in a good way) and black plum, as well as the floral peachy scent of superripe fruit. Its flavors are black as night, fig and plum fruit, with cappuccino accents. For rare steak.
Prior vintage notes:
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From the winery: Expect smoky, cocoa and light floral aromas. A full-bodied rich and juicy wine in the mouth gives way to flavors mirroring aromas with a jammy, preserves-like character. An intense, lingering substantial finish. Drink now through...read more
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Dominio IV's Technicolor Bat wine blend offers great value. Dark, dark fruits, dark cherry, cassis, chocolate, and black licorice characterize the wine. It's a blend of Tempranillo (the grape used in Spanish Rioja) and Syrah....read more
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WOW- the guys from Wisconsin do it again. The wine starts with scents of sweet black cherry and a super intense floral component centering around white flowers like jasmine and gardenia. Flavors are also SUPER intense, with black cherry doninating...read more
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The Dusted Valley Walla Walla Syrah is a blend of Les Collines and Cougar Hills Syrah with a touch of Viognier. It is both floral and earthy with the valley's signature soft bright fruit shining through from its glorious start to its lingering t...read more
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The floral bouquet fills your nose with the beautiful aroma of plum with hints of a cigar humidor. Nicely balanced with dried fruit flavors and dark berry acidity. Plum flavors continue in the smooth lingering finish.
100% Walla Walla Valley fruit, ...read more
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Black pepper, cassis, raspberries, minerals, violets, basalt, and graham are rich and lush on the palate. Warm and spicy with a deep tar note in the mouth. Vineyard sources: Sam's Valley, Deux Vert, and Quail Run. 250 cases produced....read more
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Isenhower Cellars Looking Glass Syrah 05
Price: $22.95
$20.66 - Any 12 bottles
- regular size (375 or 750 ml)
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The Isenhower Cellars Looking Glass Syrah 05 is a melange of earthy, and briary raspberry, cherry, and blueberry with hints of smoke, woodland spices, andblack pepper. Across the palette the Looking Glass has a bright entry that goes into a deep rav...read more
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Isenhower Cellars Wild Alfala Syrah has complex aromas and flavors of lilacs, blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, smoke and raw meat. The wine is 100% Syrah from the Elerding Vineyard in Horse Heaven Hills (90% Sara Lee Clone and 10% Phelps Clone...read more
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Highly recommended by Avalon! Beaming, burly black plum and black berry fruit picks up leather, anise, bacon, cocoa, and black pepper moving toward the finish. Concentrated and structured, this is a Syrah that tastes better on day two, as the la...read more
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BIG lush Syrah -- scents range from white flowers, cocoa, toasted coffee beans, and a hint of pine needles that comes from the synergy of aging on the skins of Viognier grapes and the La Tour barrel toast. Flavors start with a big, rich mouth feel, e...read more
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Syncline knows Syrah! The 2007 McKinley Springs is full of black berry and creamy black cherry, with a big dollop of vanilla mocha. It's not an oak thing--Syncline uses very little new wood. Co-fermented with 2% Viognier, which lifts the flavor a...read more
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From the winery: "Lush, rich, very very big wine. Totally Awesome! Vibrant, meaty & dense. Black olive & minerals. Super silky with a finish that will stay longer than your in-laws."...read more
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McCrea Cellars Syrah 06 is a classic expression of Washington Syrah, filled with meaty, smoky notes and rich black fruits....read more
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Mystic Syrah 05 is made from a tiny vineyard in the Columbia Gorge. Complex scents of cassis, black chery liqueur, cedar, and intriguing hints of caraway and herbs. Juicy flavors of black berry, black cherry, and touches of five spice linger on the ...read more
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Wall Street Journal on WA Syrah:
"As a group, these are the most exciting red wines
being made in America today"
$349.95
Contains:
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MORE INFORMATION
NW wineries
producing this spicy wine
to high acclaim By Christina Kelly
Avalon Editor/Writer
Do you like your Syrah bright, jammy and young,
or big, tannic and oaky with a few years in the bottle?
Winemakers in the Northwest produce both styles, as Syrah has become one of
the hottest grapes to come out of Eastern Washington and Southern Oregon. Some
wine experts predict the scrumptious wine will eventually surpass Merlot in
popularity in the next few years.
Despite growing popularity, Syrah confuses
some consumers because it wears many names
throughout the world. The grape is originally
thought to have come from Persia in the 13th
Century, where it was later planted in France’s
Rhone Valley.
Today, Syrah dominates the Northern Rhone
in the wines of Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage,
Cornas and Saint-Joseph. It’s also important
in Southern Rhone where it is often blended with
Grenache and other grapes in Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
The generic Cotes-du-Rhone, a red, everyday table
wine in France, is predominantly made from Syrah.
The flavors are somewhat smoky, spicy and filled
with black fruits.
In the past two decades, a Syrah explosion occurred in Australia, where the
grape is known as Shiraz. It is the most commonly planted grape Down Under.
Shiraz produced in Australia is generally leaner than those produced in France,
with softer tannins and more leather and blackberry flavors.
In the U.S., California is leading Syrah
push, jumping from 139 acres planted in 1988
to 7,200 acres in 1998. Washington’s
Syrah has hit the radar and Oregon is just
peeking out over its vineyards in the southern
part of the state.
Washington
State Syrah
Producers in Washington include McCrea Cellars (see story), Columbia Winery,
Powers, Reininger, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Hogue, Columbia Crest, Seven Hills,
Snoqualmie, Dunham Cellars, DeLille Cellars, Apex, Arbor Crest, Bernard Griffin,
Cadence, Cayuse, K Vintners, DiStefano, Andrew Will, Gordon Brothers, Januik,
Kiona, Walla Walla Vintners, Lost Mountain and Matthews Cellars to name just
a few. New producers are cropping up every year.
A relative newcomer to Washington State, acreage for the Syrah grape has increased
substantially in the past few years. Syrah is just one of the Rhone varieties
sparking new interest in Washington State. There are 2000 acres of Syrah planted
in Washington State, and about 400 in Oregon. Over 50 wineries in Washington
State produce Syrah, and about 25 in Oregon.
Oregon Syrah
Oregon’s
latest Syrah offerings include Solena, Abacela
Vineyards, Eola Hills, Penner-Ash, Viento,
Andrew Rich, Duck Pond and Griffin Creek,
Owen Roe and Rockblock among others. More
Syrah will be produced in Oregon next year
as winemakers attempt to grow the grape in
the North Willamette Valley.
In Southern Oregon, Del Rio Vineyards' 40 acres of Syrah grapes are coveted
by 14 different wineries including Domaine Serene, Penner Ash, and Ken Wright's
Tyrus Evans. Ashland Vineyards and Abacela Winery also produce Syrah grapes
in Southern Oregon. Elk Cove recently released their first Syrah and Viognier,
both from Del Rio fruit.
Syrah is a little like jelly beans—there
are many different flavors to choose from.
Some Syrah is mild, fruity and ready to drink
a short time after bottling. These are some
of the most food-friendly wines available.
However, at the other end of the spectrum,
Syrah can be very spicy and heavy and chewy,
and must be paired with food that can stand up to
the spice and heaviness.
Both styles are available in the Northwest.
The best way to discover a preferred style
is to try them. Chances are, you’ll
find something in the wide range of Syrah,
and, there will be plenty to choose from
in the near future. Winemakers are betting
on it.
“McCrea
Cellars Producing Southern Rhone blends”
“The
Sultan of Syrah Adds to His Bevy of Purple
Beauties”
By Christina Kelly
Avalon Editor/Writer
One of the hottest wines coming from the Northwest
is Syrah, and Doug McCrea, winemaker for McCrea Cellars, believes he played
a large role in the growing popularity of the grape.
In early 1990, McCrea convinced a small number
of grape growers to plant patches of Syrah in their vineyards. The only
person growing Syrah at that time was David Lake, winemaker for Columbia
Winery in Woodinville, and it was more for personal use than commercial
viability.
For
the past 13 years, McCrea produced Rhone
blends with Syrah, developing a loyal following
for the intense, purplish-black wine. He’s
received accolades around the world, high
scores and generally sells out whatever he
produces.
Endearingly
referred to as “the Sultan of
Syrah”—Washington State’s version of the California “Rhone
Rangers,” McCrea is not content to rest on his winemaking accomplishments.
In fact, his ex-wife Susan Neel, who heads marketing and sales operations
for the winery, says McCrea isn’t the
type of person to sit still while the world
goes by.
“He has to be doing something or he gets
restless,” said Neel, who with her second
husband Bob, run the winery with McCrea and
his second wife Kim.
New Blends
In
several Eastern Washington vineyards, McCrea
planted Grenache, Mouvedre, Counoise, Marsanne
and Roussanne—all
grapes used to produce a Southern Rhone blend
wine. Once again, McCrea is at the forefront
of producing new varietals in Washington
State. No one is commercially producing Southern
Rhone varietals in Washington. However, Abacela
Vineyards in Roseberg, OR is producing Grenache
and several other Rhone-style blends.
“The locations were carefully chosen because
we need the hottest spots in the state to grow these grapes,” said
McCrea, who lives near Olympia with his wife and two children, Kevin,
12 and Kalen, 7. “You can produce Syrah
in a cooler climate, but you need a lot of
heat for Grenache and Mouvedre.”
The two sites selected are at Red Mountain and
in the Yakima Valley. Last fall, he brought in Grenache, Mouvedre and
Counoise and created a preliminary blend that sits in several barrels.
He expects to release that blend in a year, depending on how it develops
in the barrel and bottle.
In addition to a red blend, McCrea plans to create
a white blend, using Roussanne and Marsanne grapes. McCrea was also one
of the first winemakers to produce Viognier in Washington and continues
to produce a small quantity. He also makes about 120 cases of Chardonnay
each year.
From Music To Wine
Growing up in New Orleans with a strong French
background, McCrea developed a taste for French wine. His upbringing
steered his tastes in two directions: music (an accomplished jazz musician
and teacher) and premium wine (with a preference for Rhone blends).
He met his first wife Susan while attending Stanford
University near San Francisco. Susan was also a music major but ended
up working in the early high technology industry in marketing. Doug and
Susan both worked for Hewlett Packard in the Northwest.
The couple eventually started McCrea Cellars in
1990 when Doug McCrea realized it was what he had to do, after befriending
Alex Golitzen from Quilceda Creek and taking some enology courses at
UC Davis. Although the marriage failed, the winery thrived and both Doug
and Susan realized they had something special with the winery. Susan
married Bob Neel in 1994 while Bob was working as a product development
engineer. The new couple lived in Colorado, although made frequent trips
to Washington to help with the winery.
“I knew I wanted to be associated with the
winery, no matter what,” said Susan. “It
was clear the winery was too much for Doug
and Kim to handle alone. I was trying to do
two jobs in Colorado and realized that the
winery needed me in Seattle.”
Her husband Bob also assists with McCrea Cellars,
supporting Susan in marketing, and helping with some legal and contractual
matters while working as an engineering consultant on the side.
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