Wine Reviews of Northwest Wines - Red Wines Page

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Updated 10/12/2011

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Reviews of Pacific Northwest Red Wines

Syrah

Coeur d'Alene Cellars
2006 Syrah, Stillwater Creek Vineyard
$36.00

This wine was the favorite of our tasting and coincidentally helps to illustrate several points I made in the introduction.  It was co-fermented with five percent Viognier which adds the floral notes and complexity on the palate described above - delicious!  Round aromas of ripe blackberry and blueberry are nudged by notes of earthy floral spice and toasty oak.  Mouth-filling black fruit flavors mingle with floral and spice notes on the palate.   

Spangler Vineyard
2008 Petite Sirah, The Terraces
Southern Oregon
$28.00

Pat Spangler continues his string of successes with Petite Sirah from The Terraces vineyard in Southern Oregon.  Just when I said you needed to co-ferment with Viognier to get floral character in your Syrah/Petite Sirah, along comes Spangler Petite (100%) with oodles of floral and berry aromas dancing brightly in your glass and leading you to a juicy palate of black cherry, plum and spicy pepper.  Not as big as the 2007, but very food friendly with bright acidity on the finish.


Three Rivers Winery
2007 Syrah, Boushey Vineyard
Yakima Valley
$50.00

Now here's another twist: instead of adding Viognier to your Syrah, squirt in some blockbuster Cabernet Sauvignon to add dimension and interest.  This is not a traditional Rhone blend, but the five percent addition of Cabernet expands the wine's complexity and food-pairing horizons.  Look for aromas of blackberry and black cherry with notes of smoky bacon, vanilla and spice.  Flavors on the palate echo the nose with the addition of toasty blueberry and a toasty vanilla finish.   

 

Doyenne
2007 Syrah, Grand Ciel Vineyard
Red Mountain
$75.00

This 100% Syrah is sourced from Delille Cellars' vineyard on Red Mountain.  With no added Viognier, there is plenty of Syrah's own floral character present in the wine, along with herbs, lavender and mineral, all overlaying a rich background of  black cherry and plum in both aroma and flavor.  This shows the terroir influence on varietal expression. 

Hightower Cellars
2008 Murray Syrah
Red Mountain
$20.00

Tim and Kelly Hightower have their estate vineyard and winery on the upper, western slope of Red Mountain.  Together with their faithful winery dog Murray, they produce excellent wines with the motto "hand picked, hand sorted, hand made."¯  Murray suggested that they co-ferment five percent Viognier with the two clones of Syrah, and behold, a juicy and approachable Syrah featuring black cherry, plum and earthy herb aromas and flavors - and just a hint of floral character. 

Adamant Cellars
2008 Syrah
Walla Walla Valley
$25.00

Devin and Debra Stinger founded Adamant Cellars in 2006 at the Walla Walla Airport winery incubator area (small buildings that are leased to fledgling wineries to help them get started).  Devin has succeeded in crafting many fine wines, and the winery is now looking for larger, more permanent quarters.  Their 2008 Syrah is sourced from some of Walla Walla's most notable vineyards and offers aromas of ripe cherry and blackberry wrapped in earthy spice.  Juicy berry flavors are swathed in toasty oak which lingers on the finish with a hint of vanilla.

Rasa Vineyards
2007 QED
Walla Walla Valley
$50.00

Brothers Pinto and Billo Naravane are long time wine enthusiasts who have left the academic and commercial confines of the technology world to stake their fortunes on Washington Syrah.  They speak confidently about producing world class, terroir specific  Syrah wines.  The scientific cognoscenti will recognize the name of this wine as the abbreviation of the Latin phrase for "and so it is proved"¯ written at the end of a mathematical proof.  (So this is why I took those calculus classes 40 years ago.)  The proof of QED is the purity of Walla Walla Syrah showing earthy dark fruits, floral perfume, caramel and spice.  94% Syrah, 3% Mourvedre, 3% Grenache.

Purple Star
2008 Syrah
Columbia Valley
$17.00

This newcomer label is from the winemaker of the former Olsen Estates Winery (see below).  Kyle Johnson is marking time as the Olsen operation winds down - he was previously a winemaker at Chateau Ste. Michelle's Canoe Ridge Estates winery for four years.  This is a fun, carnival ride of a Syrah showing bright berry aromas, with notes of vanilla and caramel.  The juicy palate offers flavors of blueberry, caramel, spice and coconut vanilla on the finish.  Fifteen percent of the proceeds from Purple Star Wines will benefit the uncompensated care fun at Children's Hospital in Seattle.

Olsen Estates
2008 Red Wine
$38.00

This tasty bottling is part of the legacy of Olsen Estates Winery, which is now for sale.  Bottled as red wine, the blend is actually 70% Syrah, 12% Cinsault, 12% Mourvedre, and smaller amounts of Grenache and Counoise.  This is full tilt red wine, a ripper.  Lots of new oak, lots of extract.  The nose features ripe blackberry and blueberry fruit with nuances of toasty oak, vanilla, floral perfume and field herbs.  The palate is a powerhouse of ripe berry, spicy oak and caramel.

Milbrandt Vineyards
2006 Syrah, The Estates
Wahluke Slope
$25.00

From the warm Wahluke Slope vineyards of the Milbrandt brothers comes their Estates Syrah.  Wrapped in notes of toasty American oak, the aroma dances between ripe black cherry, olive/herb, and caramel.  The palate is firm with medium tannins and shows flavors of plum, blueberry, caramel and spice. 

Penner-Ash
2007 Syrah
Oregon
$32.00

Lynn Penner-Ash is famous for her superb vineyard-designated Pinot Noirs and other top quality wines.  A few years ago she began making a Syrah from grapes grown in Southern Oregon, and this year she added a 15% portion from Wahluke Slope vineyards.  Look for aromas of blackberry, baking spice and cedar, leading to a palate of berry, dark chocolate and sweet vanilla cocooned in toasty oak. 

Tranche Cellars
2007 Slice of Pape
Columbia Valley
$35.00

Tranche Cellars is the newest winegrowing estate of Michael and Lauri Corliss whose Corliss Estates wines have gained fame and garnered high prices.  One can suppose that the name of this wine comes as a contraction of Chateauneuf du Pape, the Rhone wine of great repute, but slicing the Pope?  Hmmm.  Anyway - it is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Cinsault and Roussanne.  Earthy aromas and flavors include floral perfume and notes of berry, tar and cedar.

Coeur d'Alene Cellars
2006 Syrah, Boushey Vineyard
Yakima Valley
$36.00
 

CdA Cellars is near the Idaho border with Washington, and the winery uses mostly Washington fruit to craft a bevy of tasty Syrahs.  This vineyard-designated wine uses fruit from Dick Boushey's Rattlesnake Ridge vineyard north of Grandview.  Showing a classic nose of Washington Syrah, one finds ripe black cherry, toasty earth, cookie dough and baking spice.  The palate is rich and generous with flavors of cherry cola, plum, and toasty vanilla.

K Vintners
MCK - Motor City Kitty
2008 K Syrah
Washington State
$35.00

Winemaker/owner Charles Smith's bold and expressive graphics grab the attention of wine lovers just as the unique, provocative names put a smile on everyone's face; the equally bold, expressive wine inside the bottle follows suit.  Rich blueberry, smoky vanilla, earth, bacon and tangy plum will stimulate your nose and palate.  Creativity and quality - what could be a better pairing?

Substance
2009 Syrah
Columbia Valley
$20.00

Based out of Walla Walla, Wines of Substance uses superb fruit from many of the best Washington growing areas to craft wines that are delicious and affordable.  Quality winemaking and attention to detail create wines that taste like they were much more expensive.  Substance Syrah features the quintessential Washington Syrah nose of blackberry, blueberry, earth and smoky vanilla.  The palate adds notes of smoked tea leaf and mint to the lip-smacking fruit bowl.

Snoqualmie Vineyards
2007 Syrah
Columbia Valley
$10.00
 

On the slightly lighter side of Syrah, this wine offers aromas of earthy blackberry and vanilla, following with juicy flavors of spicy cassis, grape juice, vanilla and barrel toast.  Ample acidity and firm tannins make it an excellent food wine at a good price.

Robert Karl Cellars
2008 Syrah McKinley Springs Vineyard
Horse Heaven Hills
$26.00

Joe and Rebecca Gunselman are committed to using fruit from the Horse Heaven Hills and are very fond of the fruit they get from McKinley Springs Vineyard.  This Syrah was co-fermented with 8% Viognier in the style of France's Cote Rotie.  Aromas of dusty blackberry, smoky bacon and hints of floral perfume lead to flavors of blueberry, earthy chocolate and spicy herbs.  No new oak was used in aging this wine, allowing the fruit its maximum expression of terroir.  Nice with the barbecue. 

Cathedral Ridge
2007 Syrah
Columbia Valley
$32.00
 

This Columbia Valley Syrah showed the most forward aromas of any tasted so far.  Complex notes of blackberry, clove, olive and sweet herb lead to flavors of tangy berry, baking spice, cherry candy and barrel spice.  Firm tannins stand up to rich food flavors of barbecue and meats from the grill.

Chateau Ste. Michelle
2007 Syrah
Columbia Valley
$13.00

The 2007 vintage was the first where Chateau Ste. Michelle co-fermented Viognier with Syrah in the style of Cote Rotie.  Various extraction techniques were used including pumpover, punchdown and fermentation in roto-tanks allowing control over how much tannin is extracted and leading to a richly colored, more accessible and fruit forward Syrah.  The wine offers ripe blueberry, hers and vanilla on the nose with flavors of herbs, red currants and toasty spice.  Moderate tannins and a juicy mouthfeel make this a very food-friendly selection.

Amavi Cellars
2008 Syrah
Walla Walla Valley
$29.00
 

Amavi Cellars (Amavi is derived from the Latin root words "am,"¯ love and "vi,"¯ life) is located in the prime vineyard area of the Walla Walla Valley AVA, just south of the city of Walla Walla.  Their satellite tasting room is in Woodinville, Washington, about 40 minutes from Seattle.    The 2008 Syrah opens with floral notes of violets and expands with blackberry, earth and herbs.  The palate offers similar flavors with notes of toasty oak and vanilla on the finish. 

Cougar Crest
2006 Syrah, Estate
Walla Walla Valley
$32.00

Cougar Crest Winery is a homegrown Washington story with owners/winemakers Deborah and David Hansen being native Washingtonians and longtime Walla Walla residents.  The winery's estate vineyards are located near the original Seven Hills Vineyard south of Walla Walla.  Their Estate Syrah offers the hallmark blueberry aromas and flavors of Walla Walla Valley Syrah with notes of earthy herbs, floral perfume and a tangy berry finish that is just right to accompany your barbecue.

Airfield Estates
2009 Syrah, Reserve
Yakima Valley
$35.00

The Mike Miller Family has been growing grapes in the Yakima Valley for over 40 years, and their winery operation celebrated the grand opening in 2007.  Son Marcus Miller is the winemaker and daughter Lori is in charge of marketing.  A new satellite tasting room is open in Woodinville.  Look for aromas and flavors of ripe blueberry jam and toasty vanilla, juicy on the palate and great with barbecue.

Zinfandel

 

Other Reds and Red Blends     

Duck Pond Cellars
2009 Pinot Gris
Willamette Valley
$12.00

The Fries family has become a major player in Northwest wine with hundreds of acres of vineyards in both Oregon and Washington.  This VERY tasty Pinot Gris was made from grapes grown in their Willamette Valley vineyards.  Look for bright aromas of pear and citrus with complementary notes of floral perfume and earthy peach.  The palate leans to flavors on the floral and stone-fruit side finishing with ample crisp acidity to make a delightful accompaniment to light cuisine.

McKinley Springs
2008 Rose of Barbera
Horse Heaven Hills
$7.00

Start with an award-winning 2,000-acre vineyard just across the Alderdale Road from Champoux Vineyard (formerly Mercer Ranch) - another hallmark property in the annals of Washington wine history.  Grower Rob Andrews grows the grapes, and winemaker Doug Rowell crafts the wines for this property, including this tasty Rose of Barbera.  Put a light chill on a bottle and find: aromas of ripe strawberry, cherry and light perfume of roses.   The palate is tangy and crisp with bright fruit flavors of cherry, melon, spice and herbs.

Stag Hollow Vineyards
2009 Dolcetto
Yamhill-Carlton AVA, Oregon
$19.00

Owners Mark Huff and Jill Zarnowitz are taking their time developing their vineyard and winery near the center of the Yamhill-Carlton district AVA in Oregon.  They have multiple clones of Pinot Noir, Dijon clone Chardonnay and a few northern Italian varieties... on the last count, lucky for us!  This most charming Dolcetto of our tasting offers aromas of ripe cherry, plum, light herbs and baking spice.  The palate shows flavors of toasty plum, strawberry and earthy spice.  Excellent balance and structure makes for fine sipping with your favorite pasta dish.

Pontin del Roza
2009 Dolcetto
Yakima Valley
$20.00

Check last week's review of Scott Pontin's tasty Sangiovese, then get ready for another charmer from the Roza in the Yakima Valley.  The tempting aroma features ripe cherry and black pepper, leading to a palate of succulent black cherry, citrus and floral notes.  Very nice with pasta dishes.

Airfield Estates
2009 Dolcetto
Yakima Valley
$28.00

Winemaker Marcus Miller crafts fine red wines at Airfield Estates in Prosser, Washington.  He gives each some time in barrel, which adds spicy and soft vanilla character to complement the fruit.  On the nose, his Dolcetto shows earthy/spicy cherry and hints of marshmallow crĆØme.  Flavors of cherry and barrel toast lead to a complex finish with hints of cocoa, herbs and vanilla.

Abacela
2008 Dolcetto, Estate
Umpqua Valley, Oregon
$20.00

Many wine pundits have suggested that Oregon's Umpqua Valley has great potential for growing Spanish and Italian varietals, and Abacela Winery leads the way in making fine wines from several.  The 2008 Dolcetto has more oak flavor and aroma than past bottlings, wrapping fruity notes of cherry, strawberry and citrus with toasty vanilla and spice.  Put a little smoke on your meat by using the grill and the toastiness of the wine will be right at home.

Desert Wind 
2008 Barbera
Sacagawea Vineyard
Columbia Valley
$20.00

Desert Wind's Sacagawea Vineyard is in the Wahluke Slope AVA where the days are quite warm, but the nights cool off to preserve acidity and balance in finished wines.  Aromas of earthy cassis, citrus and toasty popcorn lead to flavors of cherry, spicy herbs and a finish of strawberry, citrus and light coconut.

Woodward Canyon
2009 Barbera, Estate
Walla Walla Valley
$24.00

Rick Small has been growing Barbera at his estate vineyard for over a decade and has done extensive experiments with clonal selection and barrel aging of the varietal.  Forward aromas of candy cherry, black pepper and baking spice are wrapped in notes of toasty oak in this 2009 vintage.  Flavors of very ripe cherry and berry mingle with earthy, toasty oak and suggest serving meat from the grill with smoky flavor to pair with the wine.

Foundry Vineyards
2007 Artisan Blend
Walla Walla Valley
$36.00

A partnership between two arts-oriented families in Walla Walla, Foundry Vineyards is a creative outlet for Mark and Patty Anderson and Squire and Amber Broel.  Their tasty, and food-friendly Artisan Blend includes about half Cabernet Sauvignon and equal parts of Merlot and Malbec.  Look for aromas of red cherry and cranberry with notes of floral perfume, leading to flavors of cherry, raspberry, cassis, herbs and vanilla.

Hedges Family Estate
2007 Red Mountain
$25.00

One of the early pioneers in developing the Red Mountain AVA, Tom Hedges and the Hedges Family Estate winery are prime players in Washington's most famous viticultural hotspot.  The Red Mountain Bordeaux blend for 2007 includes 56% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Syrah and 6% Cabernet Franc.  The wine is balanced and finely structured featuring aromas and flavors of black fruits, plum, coffee, leather and finishing notes of vanilla, anise and spice. 

Desert Wind
2008 Ruah
Wahluke Slope
$20.00

The name of this wine comes from the Hebrew for "breath"¯ or "spirit."¯  Blending roughly equal amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon (40%) and Merlot (45%) with Cabernet Franc, the bottling is complex and generous in the nose and on the palate showing aromas and flavors of black cherry, plum, dusty earth, peppery spice and toasty cedar.  A great value for a classy Washington Bordeaux blend.
 

L'Ecole No 41
2007 Apogee
Pepper Bridge Vineyard
$45.00

 

Another excellent candidate for showing site terroir is Marty Clubb's Apogee from Pepper Bridge Vineyard.  A blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with small amounts of Malbec and Cabernet Franc included, the wine shows rich fragrance of black currant, baking spice, vanilla, tobacco and leather.  The palate offers black cherry flavors wrapped in dark chocolate, vanilla, mint and herbs.

Maryhill Winery
2006 Serendipity Red
Columbia Valley
$40.00

At the top of Maryhill's red wine offerings, Serendipity is a blend of all five Bordeaux varietals with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot taking a 61% share of the blend.  The wine is aged for 20 months in French oak, 80% new.  Aromas of smoky cranberry and cherry mingle with notes of vanilla and tobacco, and the palate offers ripe black cherry, blackberry, vanilla and wild herbs flavors - a powerful wine for your tastiest beef or lamb dishes. 


Brian Carter Cellars
2006 Solesce
Columbia Valley
$58.00

 

Solesce is the signature Bordeaux-style blend from Brian Carter Cellars utilizing all of the five Bordeaux varieties.  The aroma is generous with earthy cassis, dark chocolate and notes of toasty oak and floral perfume.  Flavors of plum, cherry candy, smoky herb and cocoa glide on the palate leading to a finish of barrel toast and refined tannins.

Pirouette by Long Shadows
2007 Red Wine
Columbia Valley
$55.00

Winemakers Philippe Melka and Agustin Huneeus, Sr. teamed to combine the traditions of old world winemaking, new world technology, and small lots from Washington State's finest vineyards to craft this enticing red blend.  Crafted from the five Bordeaux varietals listed in part one, this voluptuous bottling scored at the top of our most recent tasting.  Rich aromas and flavors of black currant, berries, cherries, spicy anise and cedar make for a delicious accompaniment to lamb and beef.  

Dunham
2007 Trutina
Columbia Valley
$26.00

This wine was the first collaborative effort between senior winemaker Eric Dunham and winemaker Eric Wampfler.  The blend includes Bordeaux varietals plus 23% Syrah.  Look for ripe cherry aromas with notes of caramel, vanilla and floral perfume.  The palate offers rich flavors of cassis, cocoa and toasty vanilla. 

Goose Ridge
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate
Columbia Valley
$30.00

Highly ranked by our tasters, this blend includes 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 24% Syrah, all harvested from the 1,400 acre, estate vineyard west of Kennewick.  Look for ripe blueberry, spicy oak and anise on the nose, with flavors of plum, cherry and currant with notes of tobacco and toasty cedar on the finish.


Nota Bene Cellars
2007 Conner Lee
Columbia Valley
$32.00

 

This nifty blend features 66% Cabernet Sauvignon and 32% Merlot - almost entirely from Conner Lee Vineyard on Radar Hill near Othello, WA, and a 2% contribution of Cabernet Franc from Kestrel View Vineyard.  With black cherry leading the parade in both aroma and flavors, a contributing marching band of coffee, dark chocolate, vanilla, spice and cassis produces a lively tune to accompany your steak.  Mr. Sousa would have loved this wine!

 

Cadence Winery
2007 Tapteil Vineyard
Red Mountain
$45.00

 

Larry and Jane Pearson's Tapteil Vineyard is at the top end of Sunset Road near the summit of Red Mountain.  Winemaker Ben Smith blended 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Cabernet Franc and 11% Merlot to craft this delicious wine.  A nose of dusty cranberry and blackberry leads to a fruit-forward palate of blackberry fruit with hints of spicy vanilla, orange peel and lightly smoky cedar.  Nice structure to accompany rich meats; in fact, Ben says, "This wine needs steak like fish need water."¯

Davenport Cellars
2007 R.H.D.
Columbia Valley
$24.00

Jeff and Sheila Jirka began their winery as a retirement project but now have found success and enjoyment in this nearly full-time job.  Their R.H.D. blend uses fruit from Red Mountain (Kiona Vineyards) and the Walla Walla Valley (Pepper Bridge Vineyard), and is aged in French oak, 50% new.  Aromas of earthy cherry, vanilla and floral perfume lead to ripe cherry flavors on the palate with notes of wild herbs, smoky vanilla and coffee.  It is a very tasty pairing with lamb.

DiStefano Winery
2005 Meritage
Columbia Valley
$28.00

This special blend from DiStefano Winery in Woodinville, Washington combines nearly equal portions of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, and may be a bit of a tough find in the marketplace.  Aromas of black cherry, cassis, tobacco, coffee and vanilla invite a sip, revealing rich flavors of smoky cherry, black currant, vanilla and caramel.  This great, complex blend pairs perfectly with our game sausages.

Brian Carter Cellars
2007 Tuttorosso
Yakima Valley
$30.00

Brian Carter continues to break new ground in the blending of varietals to establish unique Northwest versions of classic varietals.  His Tuttorosso Super-Tuscan blend injects some of the power and intensity of Washington Cabernet and Syrah into a base of 71% Sangiovese to lengthen the finish and provide a framework to showcase the high notes of the Italian varietal.  Look for aromas and flavors of blackberry, spicy citrus, floral perfume, cassis and vanilla.

Chandler Reach Vineyards
2007 Corella
Yakima Valley
$18.00

The grand, three-story, Tuscan-style villa that is the headquarters for Chandler Reach is just off Highway 82 between Prosser and Benton City.  This facility houses the tasting room, winery and offices, and makes a great stop on your wine tour through the Yakima Valley.  The 2007 Corella is a blend of 70% Sangiovese, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot.  Look for light aromas of cherry and earthy toast leading to a palate of bright cherry candy, earthy spice and a soft finish. 

Walla Walla Vintners
2007 Bello Rosso, Blend
Columbia Valley
$36.00

This blend of half Sangiovese and half Cabernet Sauvignon is perhaps the essence of intention in Super Tuscan blends: provide the high notes of fragrance and finesse with the Sangiovese and beef up the blend with enough Cabernet to satisfy the meat-tooth.  Rich aromas of toasty, Mediterranean vegetables, smoky black cherry, floral perfume and lime, lead you by the tongue to flavors of ripe black currant, spicy anise, smoky cedar and vanilla. 

Long Shadows
2007 Saggi
Columbia Valley
$45.00

We have always enjoyed this Super Tuscan-style collaboration between Allen Shoup of Long Shadows and the Folonari family.  This blend comes primarily from vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA - 43% Sangiovese and 36% Cabernet Sauvignon - with 15% Syrah from the Yakima Valley.  A full-bodied wine that complements your favorite meaty pasta, look for aromas of ripe blackberry jam, barrel spice and notes of tar and anise.  The palate is rich and fruity with a tangy finish - complex with notes of citrus, floral perfume, vanilla and fine brandy.

Five Star Cellars
2008 Quinque Astrum
Columbia Valley
$28.00

From the Latin for "five stars"¯ Matt Huse's Quinque Astrum is a Super Tuscan blend of 58% Sangiovese, 33% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Lots of toasty American oak wrap sweet berry aromas in vanilla and coconut, while the palate offers flavors of cherry, tobacco and coffee with finishing notes of vanilla and barrel spice.  Visit Five Star Cellars at the Walla Walla Airport winery area. 

Doyenne
2008 Aix
Red Mountain
$34.00

Like Doyenne's Metier blend reviewed above, this wine was a favorite with our tasters, and I believe - in regard to blending of varietals - it points the direction for Syrah-based wines in Washington.  The selection is roughly a two-third/one-third blend of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon with a little Mourvedre and Cinsault thrown in.  On the nose: earthy berry, tar, smoky vanilla.  On the palate: spicy black cherry, toasty oak, vanilla and berry finish.  To end with a Mark Twain-esque comment,  "The best Washington Syrah I ever had was one-third Cabernet."¯

Thurston Wolfe
2008 Petite Sirah, Zephyr Ridge
Horse Heaven Hills
$20.00

Wade Wolfe has been crafting fine Petite Sirah from Zephyr Ridge Vineyard for many years.  Aromas and flavors of dark fruits and spice are complemented by toasty notes of oak, and a nice finish of dark cherry and vanilla.  A great wine for enjoying with your upcoming summer barbecues.

Agate Ridge Vineyard
2008 Petite Sirah, Estate
Rogue Valley
$27.00

Anyone who hasn't been watching the Rogue Valley AVA in southern Oregon better take notice.  Agate Ridge Vineyard and other area vintners are crafting superb wines, mostly from estate-grown fruit.  This juicy Petite Sirah from Agate Ridge Vineyard near Eagle Point offers aromas and flavors of ripe cherry, floral perfume, vanilla and spicy oak.  A real crowd pleaser with smoky barbecue, it claimed a top place in our rankings.

Animale
2008 Petite Sirah
Yakima Valley
$26.00
 

Winemaker Matt Gubitosa makes tiny quantities of each varietal on his list, but he knows his vineyard sources and crafts each vintage with great care and remarkable insight - always looking for maximum varietal character and impact.  His Yakima Valley Petite Sirah is intense with aromas of blackberry, spicy oak and earth.  The palate offers complex flavors of cherry, exotic spice and herbs.  Ample acidity on the finish ensures food friendliness.  Blended with 9% Syrah.

See Chuck's Current Wines of the Week series on Zinfandel.


 

Doyenne
2008 Metier
Blend of Mourvedre, Grenache, Syrah
Yakima Valley
$34.00

So is this blend trying to be a tempting imitator of a quality Cotes du Rhone Villages?  Many of our tasters thought so.  The impressive quality of the blend speaks volumes of what Syrah might be in Washington if in the hands of a skilled winemaker not afraid to blend for character and flavor.  Look for aromas and flavors of smoky cherry, tar, spicy oak, earth and baking spice.

Doyenne
2008 Metier
Blend of Mourvedre, Grenache, Syrah
Yakima Valley
$34.00

So is this blend trying to be a tempting imitator of a quality Cotes du Rhone Villages?  Many of our tasters thought so.  The impressive quality of the blend speaks volumes of what Syrah might be in Washington if in the hands of a skilled winemaker not afraid to blend for character and flavor.  Look for aromas and flavors of smoky cherry, tar, spicy oak, earth and baking spice.

Doyenne
2008 Metier
Blend of Mourvedre, Grenache, Syrah
Yakima Valley
$34.00

So is this blend trying to be a tempting imitator of a quality Cotes du Rhone Villages?  Many of our tasters thought so.  The impressive quality of the blend speaks volumes of what Syrah might be in Washington if in the hands of a skilled winemaker not afraid to blend for character and flavor.  Look for aromas and flavors of smoky cherry, tar, spicy oak, earth and baking spice.

Doyenne
2008 Metier
Blend of Mourvedre, Grenache, Syrah
Yakima Valley
$34.00

So is this blend trying to be a tempting imitator of a quality Cotes du Rhone Villages?  Many of our tasters thought so.  The impressive quality of the blend speaks volumes of what Syrah might be in Washington if in the hands of a skilled winemaker not afraid to blend for character and flavor.  Look for aromas and flavors of smoky cherry, tar, spicy oak, earth and baking spice.

 

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