First Washington Syrah - Red Willow Vineyard

“In farming there is no substitute for the soil, water, and hard work. Inherently, the nature of farming brings a spiritual dimension to our efforts. There is a connection of past, present, and future generations.

For us wine brings the soil, the site, the season, and the efforts of many people together into a single vintage. Later that vintage becomes a cherished memory of that year.” –Mike Sauer

Wine News: David Lake & Mike Sauer wanted to plant syrah in their pet vineyard, Red Willow. It was 1985 - long before that colorful cast of California characters known as the Rhône Rangers had banded together, and all the arguments about heritage and origin had made Syrah a sexy varietal.


What does it all mean? Why celebrate? Whats the big deal? We are just simply honoring the 20th bottling of Washington State Syrah. We are just honoring Red Willow Vineyard. And of course, we are honoring two guys & one dream: Stupendous, Sexy, Sensual, Lip Smackin' Syrah.

Cheers Fellas. Keep Crafting Excellent Wines.

Chez Daniel

Grilling gives food a more assertive flavor, so the wine you drink needs to be equally assertive, with lots of fruit. This isn't the time for a delicate older wine that would be overwhelmed. Wines with lots of fruit also hold their own against any sweetish sauces, like many barbecue sauces.



SYRAH: Syrah has become my go-to wine for grilled meat and poultry. The wine's ripe fruit, accented by spicy, sometimes peppery notes, makes syrah the perfect companion. Plus, you can find good examples at a range of prices.



-Laurie Daniel
Laurie Daniel has been a journalist for nearly 30 years and has written about wine since 1993.

photographs by Philip Wartena

Camp Drinkalottawinee

Syrah: TWO CAMPS ARE EMPHATICALLY EMERGING
What are people's preferred Syrah/Rhone style?

First Washington Syrah - Red Willow Vineyard, originally uploaded by VisitYakimaValley.

We've come to the conclusion that there really are only two Syrah camps.

1. Features Producers like: Alban, L'Aventure, SAXUM, Mollydooker, Torbreck, Red Car and Rhone Valley producers as Cuilleron and Domaine Marcoux. Think of this camp as the thick, dense, VERRRRY fruit forward, ripe and lavishly oaked kids.
THINK: The big kids, sometimes the bullies, the kids who were strong and really good at sports, football quarterbacks and head cheerleaders who usually had the BEST fake i.d.'s.


2. This second camp is smoothly acidic, more edgy, aimed at spice, earthy, leaner, hints of smoke and wood. This camp includes such producers as Peay, Radio-Coteau, Wind Gap, Shane, Sanguis, Lagier-Meredith, Failla, Samsara. This group also includes the Rhone Valley traditionalists such as Chave (JL), Beaucastel, Graillot and Guigal.
THINK: The debate team, the artists, the all star long distance track stars, the kids who could figure out intense math problems but still rock out the school dance.



So we ask YOU. Our readers.

What style do you prefer and why? What is your favorite Syrah?

Violet! violet

Purple is a general term for the range of shades of color occurring between red and blue.

The word 'purple' comes from the Old English word purpul which originates from the Latin purpura. This in turn is derived from the Koine Greek πορφύρα (porphyra), name of the dye manufactured in Classical antiquity from the mucus-secretion of the hypobranchial gland of a marine snail known as the Murex brandaris or the spiny dye-murex.[5]

The first recorded use of the word 'purple' in English was in the year AD 975.[6]


What shades of Purple are your favorite?

Cerulean?
Indigo?
Red-Violet?
Magenta?
Heliotrope?

Rangers, thats the Rhone Rangers, pal

Syrah belongs to the Rhone, along with Mourvedre, Petite Sirah and Grenache (to name a few). It's probably a good idea to familiarize yourself with the organization known as The Rhone Rangers.

The Rhone Rangers dedicate themselves to the grapes whose ancestral home is in France's Rhone Valley. The French government recognizes 22 varieties in the various appellations that comprise this large and diverse wine-growing region. Rhone Appellations (including Cote Rotie, Hermitage, Condrieu, Chateuneuf du Pape, Gigondas, Bandol, Cotes du Rhone and several others) each choose a different subset from the collection of grapes known (from their place of origin) as Rhone varietals. For a wine to be considered a “Rhone Ranger” wine, and poured at an official Rhone Rangers tasting, the 22 recognized accepted varieties must comprise at least 75% of the blend.

Want to host your own Rhone Party? The Rangers will send you a FREE STARTER kit. Just click here.

Uruguayan Tannat

You made room for Chilean Carmenere and Pinot Grigio's. There's always space on the shelf for Argentine Malbec.

So how about Uruguayan Tannat?

Acidic and very, very tannic - Tannat is now recognized as the National Grape of Uruguay. It's grown in France, Spain, Australia and in Virginia, here in the States. Used as a blending grape in most places to lighten the load of its astringent body and tight tannins --- in Uruguay the traditional, savory meats of the barbecue are a perfect match for this bold wine.

We like trying new appellations and grapes. You know, being a from a new world appellation ourselves. It's important to open up doors to horizons you've never tasted before.

Crottin

Crottin is fancy french for an exclusive goat cheese, that can be aged or served raw. It is, without a doubt, delicious.

A crottin is also a term for horse dung which looks similar in shape to a Crottin goat cheese.

Crottin is a great Syrah cheese and it's also an excellent conversation starter at any Thanksgiving Table.

Spread the Crottin Love.

dis and dat

One of my favorite french wines in my collection was of a vintage and vineyard that everyone "detested" and thus the wine was reduced dramatically which prompted me to buy a case of it. I'm chancey like that.

So even though French newspapers are disparagingly calling the 2008 harvest a failure. I'm going to keep my eye's open for deals. And if any of you have a '94 Duhart Milon laying around, I'll come over and share it with you ;)

Château Duhart Milon, 4th Growth A.C. Pauillac

The Rothschilds bought this château, which is separated from the vineyards of Château Lafite only by the small hamlet of Milon, in 1962, and since then much has been done to re-establish the reputation of its 4th growth wine. The 50 hectare vineyard is planted to 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 21% Merlot, with a tiny proportion of Petit Verdot.

Château Duhart Milon has the same family feel of perfume and suppleness as the wines of Lafite. Aged in oak barrels from Lafite, this wine has a fine aroma of black fruits, cedar and minerals, with blackcurrant flavours and plenty of subtle wood, hints of liquorice and mocha.

Race to Thanksgiving

Aaah, Turkey Day. Much discussion about the correct wines to pair with all the diverse Americana dishes. Reds? Whites? Sparklings?

Here's a quick guide, over at our friends Richard Leahy's place. He makes a valid point about drinking locally.

Right on, man, Right on.

Drinking locally means less freight/shipping waste on gas, airplane maintenance, truck drivers, refrigeration and packaging used for transport. It also means supporting local business and tasting your very own backyard.

You never know you may discover an amazing treasure.

mix'n'match

The Washington Post commented on the practice of mixing grape varietals together to create unique blends

Who doesn't love a serene Viognier/Syrah/Zinfandel blend, right?

Back on earth where we speak a more commonly lay version of language -- I want to know what unusual pairings are popular?

Personally, I love this with this:




I learned how to make it as a young girl, living in Spain. Sacriligious, sure. Tasty, sure sure. Perfect AM wine beverage? Absolutely? Probably going to get me in trouble with wine snobs everywhere, probably.

How to make Kalimoxo.
(see, now don't say I never taught you anything!)

traveling the world, one bottle at a time

Key Syrah Locations 

• France: Northern Rhône Valley
• California: Central Coast, Napa Valley,
Sonoma County
• Washington: Walla Walla, Columbia Valley
• Australia: Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Heathcote,
McLaren Vale

Whats your favorite region to drink?

Well, what do YOU call it?

Syrah Pseudonyms 

Shiraz, Schiras, Sirac, Syra, Syrac, Sirah, Hignin Noir, Candive, Entournerein, Antourenein, Serene, Serenne, Serine, Marsanne Noir and Balsamina. 

No matter what you call it, it always looks just about the same. Glorious, plump, juicy, inky, dusty and fragrant. It's harvest time, the fruit is coming in and staining hands a glorious fuschia color.

Artful arrangements of naked stems are appearing all over the cellar floor and crush pad.

It's almost too tough to sweep them up into the trash.

Everything associated with SyrahShirazSchirasSiracSyraSyracSirahHignin NoirCandiveEntournereinAntoureneinSereneSerenneSerineMarsanneNoirandBalsamina is beautiful.