Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Tasted out of bottle, the 2017 Syrah Fred Estate is all Syrah from the estate vineyard in Walla Walla and was aged in neutral oak. Pretty blueberry and black raspberry fruits, ground pepper, some olive and truffle notes, medium body, nicely integrated acidity, and terrific balance all make for a fresh, charming, delicious Syrah that will improve over the coming year or two and keep for 8-10 years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Estate Syrah Fred exudes precision and elegance. The Syrah starts off bold yet floral, with expressive tones of black pepper, black plums and black raspberry that are beautifully balanced in the glass. The palate shows the focus of what àMaurice is doing with their wines. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a focused and balanced structure, the wine exhibits tremendous restraint that wrestles a bold style into a submissive beast. The wine lingers on the finish with elegant florals, a finessed expression of cherry blossoms and a soft spice note. Only 587 cases were created for the world to enjoy. Bravo!
Rating: 91+
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
Responsible for some of Washington’s most highly acclaimed wines, the Walla Walla Valley has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years and is home to both historic wineries and younger, up-and-coming producers.
The Walla Walla Valley, a Native American name meaning “many waters,” is located in southeastern Washington; part of the appellation actually extends into Oregon. Soils here are well-drained, sandy loess over Missoula Flood deposits and fractured basalt.
It is a region perfectly suited to Rhône-inspired Syrahs, distinguished by savory notes of red berry, black olive, smoke and fresh earth. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot create a range of styles from smooth and supple to robust and well-structured. White varieties are rare but some producers blend Sauvignon Blanc with Sémillon, resulting in a rich and round style, and plantings of Viognier, while minimal, are often quite successful.
Of note within Walla Walla, is one new and very peculiar appellation, called the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. This is the only AVA in the U.S. whose boundaries are totally defined by the soil type. Soils here look a bit like those in the acclaimed Rhône region of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, but are large, ancient, basalt cobblestones. These stones work in the same way as they do in Chateauneuf, absorbing and then radiating the sun's heat up to enhance the ripening of grape clusters. The Rocks District is within the part of Walla Walla that spills over into Oregon and naturally excels in the production of Rhône varieties like Syrah, as well as the Bordeaux varieties.