Syncline Cuvee Elena GSM 2010
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Wine
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Robert
Parker
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Wine Enthusiast
This blend showcases Grenache and Mourvèdre, with small amounts of Syrah, Counoise and Carignan. Raspberry, cherry and chocolate flavors combine with and are enlivened by a dash of white pepper. Excellent focus and length suggest that this can be cellared for at least five years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A small step up from the 2010, and an outstanding blend of 57% Grenache, 32% Mourvedre, 5% Syrah and the rest a mix of Counoise and Carignan, the 2010 Cuvee Elena offers up meaty, rich aromas of black cherry and blackberry styled fruits that are intermixed with notions of crushed stone minerality, black licorice, herbed meat and olive qualities on the nose. Beautifully put together on the palate as well, with a medium to full-bodied, elegant and layered texture, notable acidity and a core of fruit that comes out more with air, this superb blend should be given 2-3 years of bottle age and then consumed over the following decade. Drink 2015-2025.
Single Vineyard Syrah and Mourvedre are exceptional; Rhône style blends are stunning with grace and personality; white wines are perfumed elegance.
With the philosophy that great wines are made in the vineyard, James and Poppie are dedicated to ever improving the vines they work with. The Syncline estate vineyard is farmed biodynamically, and the same care and attention to detail is expected from each outsourced vineyard block used in Syncline’s production.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
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.