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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.
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
Angel Vine
2009 Zinfandel, Les Collines Vineyard
Walla Walla Valley
$23.00
Les Collines (the
foothills) is located on the border between Washington
and Oregon in the foothills of the Blue Mountains.
With an upper elevation of 1,380 feet, it is one of the
higher vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley AVA.
Winemaker Ed Fus consistently makes his most-awarded Zin
from fruit grown at Les Collines. This vintage
ranked number one in this year's zinfandel tasting.
Look for aromas and flavors of black pepper,
boysenberry, black cherry, vanilla, leather and toasty
cedar. Great with hot dogs and even better with
classier fare.
Maryhill Winery
2009 Zinfandel, Proprietor's Reserve
Columbia Valley
$36.00
Have you planned your
harvest visit to the Columbia Gorge yet? It’s a
beautiful time of year to see the Gorge and all the
local wineries will soon be harvesting and crushing
grapes. Maryhill Winery is one of just a few
Washington wineries producing Zinfandel and their
Proprietor’s Reserve bottling features ripe and toasty
character that pairs well with foods from the grill.
Look for aromas and flavors of blackberry, vanilla,
smoky cedar, caramel, tobacco and mocha.
Angel Vine
2010 Zinfandel, Alder Ridge Vineyard
Columbia Valley
$22.00
This wine is the lighter brother to the Angel Vines Les
Collines bottling described above. Aromas and flavors of
blackberry, floral perfume, dried herbs tingle the senses with a
light-bodied palate and food affinity for a wide range of savory fare.
Other Reds and Red Blends
Pendulum
2010 Red Wine
Columbia Valley
$20.00
This blend of Bordeaux and Rhone varieties – Cabernet
Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache, Mourvedre and Malbec – offers interest and
diversity to wine lovers. Showing aromas of spicy cherry candy and
raspberry, the palate adds flavors of plum, cocoa and toasty barrel
spice.
Spangler Vineyards
2009 Claret
Southern Oregon
$25.00
In winemaker Pat Spangler’s lean style, this blend is
very appealing as a Cabernet-based wine to accompany a meal.
Showcasing cherry and berry fruit, it offers notes of spice, plum, smoky
oak and hints of chocolate and olive – a nice pairing with our lamb and
beef mixed grill.
L’Ecole No 41
2009 Apogee, Pepper Bridge Vineyard
Walla Walla Valley
$50.00
Before we go too far, bookmark
www.lecole.com/walla-walla-valley and read the sections on vineyard
sources for these first two wines. Winemaker Marty Clubb has
crafted Apogee and Perigee since 2002 and each vintage offers new
insights into Walla Walla Valley fruit... and L’Ecole winemaking.
Marty strives to offer Old World character in his wines. Look for
cassis and black cherry with ample toasty spice, tobacco, coffee,
vanilla and herbs – very good with lamb and beef.
L’Ecole No 41
2009 Perigee, Seven Hills Vineyard
Walla Walla Valley
$50.00
L’Ecole No 41 is partners with Leonetti Cellar
and Pepper Bridge Winery in the Seven Hills Vineyard near the
Oregon/Washington border, planted in 1981. The wines from this
mature plot are elegant, earthy and seductive, lending themselves to Old
World treatment and restraint. Earthy mineral marries with rich
black cherry and plum on the nose and with notes of blueberry, toasty
cedar and herbs on the palate.
DeLille Cellars
2009 Chaleur Estate
Red Mountain
$70.00
From his years as a semi-pro winemaker and sommelier,
Chris Upchurch now presides over a stable of wines that offer challenges
with each vintage and a chance to meld his Francophile Old World
tendencies with the powerful fruit of Washington’s Red Mountain.
As Upchurch says, “a winemaker cannot make great wines without first
defining in his or her own mind and palate what a great wine tastes
like.” Chaleur Estate offers aromas of red and black fruits with
highlights of barrel spices and floral/citrus notes. A palate of
mixed berry, cedar and vanilla define this tempting, elegant wine from a
powerful vintage. Blend: 68% Cabernet Sauvignon | 23% Merlot | 7%
Cabernet Franc | 2% Petit Verdot
Rolling Bay Winery
2009 Cuvee Aldaro, Upland Vineyards
Yakima Valley
$26.00
Alphonse de Klerk is the owner/winemaker at Rolling Bay
Winery on Bainbridge Island in Washington’s Puget Sound. He
sources grapes from the Columbia Valley including this blend of Cabernet
Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot from the Upland Vineyard in the
Yakima Valley. Aromas of black cherry and plum mingle with earthy
notes of herbs and smoky cedar. The palate is soft but rich with
dark fruit flavors.
Thurston Wolfe
2008 The Geologist
Columbia Valley
$50.00
This is probably Wade Wolfe’s finest Bordeaux-style blend
to date. It is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% each of
Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot. It is not heavily oaked and
lets the varietal character show through with complexity and finesse.
Tasted next to the $200 Joseph Phelps Insignia, it showed very well in
comparison. Look for aromas and flavors of dark cherry, cassis,
floral perfume, smoky cedar and a soft finish of berry and vanilla.
DeLille Cellars
2009 Harrison Hill
Snipes Mountain AVA
$75.00
The Harrison Hill Vineyard in the Snipes Mountain AVA is
considered by many to be the second-oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard
in Washington State, planted in 1962. The vineyard is comprised of
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot vines, which comprise the
blend of this vintage (with 1% Petit Verdot added from Red Mountain’s
Ciel du Cheval). Winemaker Chris Upchurch used a deft touch with
the oak, adding layers of spice and leather over a base of bright cherry
and cassis with notes of blackberry, pepper and coconut. Sold out
at the winery, check your quality wine merchant for possible
availability.
DeLille Cellars
2009 Grand Ciel
Red Mountain
$150.00
This impressive wine (the finest Grand Ciel released so
far) is crafted from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grown in DeLille’s Red
Mountain Estate Vineyard of the same name. Like all of the finest
Cabernet Sauvignon wines, its strength is in structure and balance, but
intense and complex fruit tantalize the nose before the wine hits the
palate. One first notices black currant, blueberry and spicy
pepper. These yield to a panoply of aromas and flavors including
blackberry, olive, vanilla, citrus, chocolate and spicy cedar. It
is intense with superb mouthfeel and balance that carry on to the final
sip – a wine to savor.
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Copyright © 2000 - January, 2014 Susan R. O'Hara. All rights reserved.
Last revised: 01/07/2014
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