2005 Columbia Valley Syrah
The 2005 growing season was near perfect! A cool spring followed by a long warm summer with sunny days and cool nights. The grapes were the most beautiful we have seen to date.
The 2005 Syrah is a full bodied, rich red with wonderful integration of flavors. It is big and spicy with aromas of bacon, earth and chocolate followed by silky tannins on a mouthful of plums, blueberries and blackberries finishing with that trademark mocha.
In 2005, we co-fermented the Syrah with 8% Viognier in a classic Côte Rôtie style. The grapes were sourced from McKinley Springs vineyard in Horse Heaven Hills. It was aged in 100% new French oak for 14 months. We produced only 150 cases. The ideal consumption is 3 to 7 years from release date, but this wine will develop for another 10 years. The alcohol by volume is 14.7%. It was bottled January 19, 2007.
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REVIEWS
Special Best of the Year Issue
December 31, 2008
#49 94 points
Top 100 Wines of 2008 represent the most diverse and dynamic segment of the wine industry
The year's Best Washington Wines Seattle Times December 2007
94 Paul Gregutt Wine Enthusiast This is Washington Syrah at its most distinctive. The fruit stands out with tart and tangy flavors of boysenberry, raspberry and a tartness reminiscent of cranberry. There are streaks of meat, smoke and bacon, and the acids are clean. This is a glorious food wine, but so juicy, assertive and delicious that it almost demands to be drunk on its own. Will it evolve in the cellar? Probably, but it’s hard to keep your hands off it long enough to find out.
Excellent Wine Press NW Spokane’s Joe Gunselman developed this wine in rather classic fashion. He zeroed in on one vineyard: McKinley Springs in the Horse Heaven Hills. He chose the Côte Rôtie route by co-fermenting with Viognier, then employing 100% new French oak. The results are jammy black raspberries, warm and inviting chocolate, spice of anise and caraway seed, and smoked meat. A little patience will allow it to loosen up just a bit.
Bellingham Herald Massive and meaty, with understated dark fruit flavors and hints of coffee and bittersweet chocolate.
