Efeste Syrah Red Mountain Ceidleigh 2006
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Our "Ciedleigh" Syrah (pronounced kay-Lee) is made entirely from Red Mountain grapes. Old and new world in a glass is what makes the Ceidleigh a distinctive wine deserving of its name, which means "celebration" in Gaelic. The wine is inky with ripe plum and dried cherries balanced around a wonderful aroma of earth after a morning rain. It is lush and full, almost Rubenesque but with an elegant attack of fresh strawberries and orange zest finished with a note of licorice.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
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 through 2014. 1,200 cases made.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2006 Ceidleigh (“celebration” in Gaelic) Syrah spent 20 months in 27% new French oak. Deep purple-colored, it displays a bouquet of cigar box, mineral, scorched earth, lavender, and blueberry. Dense and rich on the palate, this full-bodied, pure Syrah has enough structure to evolve for 3-4 years. It should offer prime drinking from 2012 to 2021.
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Wine Enthusiast
This is deeply saturated, lush, scented with violets, raisins and chocolate, still tight and spicy. Excellent depth and structure, with about one quarter of the oak new. It needs some breathing time, and as it opens it shows more Rhône-like flavors of blood and shrubby herb.
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Efestç, pronounced F-S-T is an acronym for Daniel & Helen Ferrelli – Patrick Smith – and Kevin & Angela Taylor. Daniel, a second generation Italian had been making wine in his garage forever,passing on the tradition of his family to his son-in-law Kevin Taylor. Daniel and Patrick met through business and their friendship blossomed through sharing their passion for wine. One evening Daniel was making dinner for his family at the Taylor house and invited Patrick too. A discussion of Kevin and Daniel’s wine making hobby came up. Patrick knew of some people in the wine industry and, why not start a project together!
They met with Chris Upchurch and Jay Soloff of DeLille Cellars and both decided to come on as consultants and Efestç was born. With a love for all wines but strong interest in Australian wines they took a trip there to discover what made the wine so unique. The Spirit of Australia was discovered and returned were three friends and the idea, not to take yourself too seriously, enjoy your family, friends and anyone else that would like to join you in a glass of wine, breaking of bread and a good laugh
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.”
An important winegrowing state increasingly recognized for its high-quality reds and whites, Washington ranks second in production in the U.S. after California. Washington wines continue to gain well-deserved popularity as they garner higher and higher praise from critics and consumers alike.
Washington winemakers draw inspiration mainly from Napa Valley, Bordeaux and the Rhône as well as increasingly from other regions like Spain and Italy. Most viticulture takes place on the eastern side of the state—an arid desert in the rain shadow of the Cascade mountains. Irrigation is made possible by the Columbia River. Temperatures are extreme, with hot and dry summers and cold winters, during which frost can be a risk.
Washington’s wine industry was initially built on Merlot, which remains an important variety to this day, despite having been overtaken in acreage planted by Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Bordeaux blends and Rhône blends are common as well as single varietal bottlings. Washington reds tend to express a real purity of concentrated fruit. The best examples have a bold richness, seamless texture, plush or powdery tannins and flavors such as licorice, herb, forest floor, espresso and dark chocolate.
In terms of white wine from Washington state, Riesling is the state’s major success story, producing crisp, aromatic examples with plenty of stone fruit that range from bone dry to lusciously sweet. Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc perform nicely here as well, and Viognier is beginning to pick up steam.