Winemaker Notes
The growing region in Washington State is ideally suited to maximize the full expression of Syrah. Spicy, rich and complex, with soft tannins and bright acidity, this Columbia Valley Syrah is the perfect food pairing wine.
Blend: 82% Syrah, 16% Grenache, 2% Mourvèdre
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
A terrific value in Washington State Syrah, the 2015 Syrah Columbia Valley (82% Syrah, 16% Grenache, and 2% Mourvèdre brought up in neutral barrels) offers loads of ripe black fruits, peppery herbs, and earthy goodness in a plump, forward, yet concentrated style. It has top-notch purity, well-integrated acidity, and a great finish, all making for an outstanding Syrah that will keep for 6-8 years.
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James Suckling
This takes off as a riper style with plenty of bold plums and blackberries, cassis and blueberries on the palate. Sturdy, bold tannins to close. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2015 Columbia Valley Syrah (which incorporates 16% Grenache and 2% Mourvèdre) offers up aromas of crunchy black currant fruit and pencil lead. On the palate, it's medium-bodied, rich and chewy, with bright fruit flavors and balancing acids and a long, tangy finish. While the torrid 2015 vintage seems to have burnt off some of Syrah's more obvious varietal markers, it's a well-made, delicious wine for a competitive price.
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine is a blend of fruit from Seven Hills, Candy Mountain, Summit View, Bacchus and Stone Tree vineyards. Aromas of raspberry and blackberry jam are followed by ripe rich fruit flavors and a warm finish. There’s no mistaking the warm vintage that it comes from.
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.”
A large and geographically diverse AVA capable of producing a wide variety of wine styles, the Columbia Valley AVA is home to 99% of Washington state’s total vineyard area. A small section of the AVA even extends into northern Oregon!
Because of its size, it is necessarily divided into several distinctive sub-AVAs, including Walla Walla Valley and Yakima Valley—which are both further split into smaller, noteworthy appellations. A region this size will of course have varied microclimates, but on the whole it experiences extreme winters and long, hot, dry summers. Frost is a common risk during winter and spring. The towering Cascade mountain range creates a rain shadow, keeping the valley relatively rain-free throughout the entire year, necessitating irrigation from the Columbia River. The lack of humidity combined with sandy soils allows for vines to be grown on their own rootstock, as phylloxera is not a serious concern.
Red wines make up the majority of production in the Columbia Valley. Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant variety here, where it produces wines with a pleasant balance of dark fruit and herbs. Wines made from Merlot are typically supple, with sweet red fruit and sometimes a hint of chocolate or mint. Syrah tends to be savory and Old-World-leaning, with a wide range of possible fruit flavors and plenty of spice. The most planted white varieties are Chardonnay and Riesling. These range in style from citrus and green apple dominant in cooler sites, to riper, fleshier wines with stone fruit flavors coming from the warmer vineyards.