Top US Syrahs
Top US Syrahs
What are your top 5 Syrahs, blends ok if Syrah is dominant
For me based on actual tasting only, not reputation
Chris Tynan
Alban Reva
Saxum Bone Rock
Bedrock Exposition
Denner
For me based on actual tasting only, not reputation
Chris Tynan
Alban Reva
Saxum Bone Rock
Bedrock Exposition
Denner
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Re: Top US Syrahs
Haven't tasted that many but like Failla Hudson very much. So much so that we import a small amount into Australia.
ITB
Re: Top US Syrahs
Reynvaan
Rhys
Ramey
Tor
Alban
For QPR, I like Rotie Cellars.
Rhys
Ramey
Tor
Alban
For QPR, I like Rotie Cellars.
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Re: Top US Syrahs
Halcon
Rhys
Peay
Copain
Lagier Meredith
Rhys
Peay
Copain
Lagier Meredith
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Re: Top US Syrahs
Chris Tynan
Lilian
K Vintners (take your pick for favorite)
Keever (probably one of the best ever and they no longer make it)
Tensly Colson Canyon
Lilian
K Vintners (take your pick for favorite)
Keever (probably one of the best ever and they no longer make it)
Tensly Colson Canyon
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Re: Top US Syrahs
Gramercy
Pax
Cayuse
Pax
Cayuse
- Brian Tuite
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Re: Top US Syrahs
In no particilar order
Halcon Alturas
Mryiad Halcon
Lagier Meredith
Myriad/Quivet Las Madres
Bedrock Hudson T n S
Halcon Alturas
Mryiad Halcon
Lagier Meredith
Myriad/Quivet Las Madres
Bedrock Hudson T n S
Last edited by Brian Tuite on June 19th, 2019, 6:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
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2019 WOTY...
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"Something so subtle only I can detect it." ~ Randy Bowman
2019 WOTY...
Re: Top US Syrahs
Add: Drew. If you’ve not had any of its three — try to find. (The six or so VD Pinot
Noirs are excellent as well.)
Noirs are excellent as well.)
Re: Top US Syrahs
No love for Qupe?? Just drank a 2005 Bien Nacido...up there with the best of France.
Where is Tom Hill when you need him??
Where is Tom Hill when you need him??
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Re: Top US Syrahs
Saxum Bone Rock
SQN
Older Lillian
Herman Story
Carlisle
SQN
Older Lillian
Herman Story
Carlisle
Re: Top US Syrahs
Alan R is on my wave length, but I will add Arcadian.
P Hickner
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Re: Top US Syrahs
This is a pretty good list for me, though i’ve never been super impressed by Peay. For pure drink-it-now pleasure my favorite was a 2009 Copain Les Voisins - I liked it better than their higher end SVDs. I haven’t had a lot of L-M but Alan supplied one for a tasting and it was great.
I also like Ridge and Dehlinger, but they are farther away from my archetype of Syrah.
Anyone for Tablas Creek? I think I must have tasted a Syrah but can’t recall.
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Re: Top US Syrahs
Incomplete*, but:
Paul Lato
Bevan
Cayuse
Bedrock
Tie for 5th;
![cheers [cheers.gif]](./images/smilies/cheers.gif)
Grand Reve/Force Majeur
Lillian
Tor
Betz
*I did enjoy the one bottle of 2007 Peay Les Titans I consumed, but not enough experience with Peay Syrah to break the Top 5 (I do love their Pinot though).
CT indicates 722 bottles of US Syrah consumed from 87 producers. That surprised me, but I do love me some Syrah.
Cheers,
Steve
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Re: Top US Syrahs
Lucia
Lagier Meredith
Larner
K Vintners
Booker
Lagier Meredith
Larner
K Vintners
Booker
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Re: Top US Syrahs
+1 on the Real Alan. Big fan of Peay Les Titans among others. Generally prefer the cool climate versions to the overipe overly hot Saxums of the world. Nice to see them get some props here. Drinking at their vineyard with Nick is one of my favorite winery memories times two
Re: Top US Syrahs
Good call. Predates most of those listed. Always a go-to and the Central Coast was for years one of the best buys out there. Haven't had them since the winery changed hands a few times though.
A few of the more savory and less jammy types - Wilde Farm Syrah “Halcon Vineyard”, Baker Lane, Wind Gap, Failla, Biggio Hamina Deux Vert Vineyard (no longer available) and surprisingly Martinelli Terra Felice and Meyer Family Yorkville, neither of which are what I would have expected.
G . T a t a r
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Re: Top US Syrahs
Carlisle
Cayuse
K
Cayuse
K
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Re: Top US Syrahs
The ownership transitions matter less than the fact that Bob Lindquist is now gone. It's probably not Qupe anymore.
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Re: Top US Syrahs
My faves include:
Arnot-Roberts (surprised I didn’t see others list this one)
Rhys
Arcadian
Alban
Lillian
Cheers,
Bill
Arnot-Roberts (surprised I didn’t see others list this one)
Rhys
Arcadian
Alban
Lillian
Cheers,
Bill
CT handle: Billigan
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Re: Top US Syrahs
All in on Rhys, Arcadian, Bedrock, Lagier-Meredith, & Pax.
Same of the names listed make wines that are too big for my tastes (e.g. Alban). I like what I have had from Ramey so far, but it's much too limited a sample size.
Arnot-Roberts would have made my list, but it's wine specific. Some I really like (e.g. Griffin's Lair, Clary Ranch), while other bottlings leave me cold.
One winery that likely does not have significant exposure to more in the community is Enfield Wine Co. John Lockwood is making wonderful Syrah.
Same of the names listed make wines that are too big for my tastes (e.g. Alban). I like what I have had from Ramey so far, but it's much too limited a sample size.
Arnot-Roberts would have made my list, but it's wine specific. Some I really like (e.g. Griffin's Lair, Clary Ranch), while other bottlings leave me cold.
One winery that likely does not have significant exposure to more in the community is Enfield Wine Co. John Lockwood is making wonderful Syrah.
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Re: Top US Syrahs
Alban
Jaffurs’ Bien Nacido and Upslope
Bedrock Griffin’s Lair
Jaffurs’ Bien Nacido and Upslope
Bedrock Griffin’s Lair
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Re: Top US Syrahs
ESJ
Lagier Meredith
Rhys
Qupe
Lagier Meredith
Rhys
Qupe
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Re: Top US Syrahs
85% of my CA Syrah.
Also like Copain, Arnot_Roberts, Rhys
Re: Top US Syrahs
Agreed! Do not sleep on John's Enfield Syrahs. The recent La Femme Sauvage release using carbonic is unique and the Haynes Vineyard syrah is great.D@vid Bu3ker wrote: ↑June 19th, 2019, 4:23 amAll in on Rhys, Arcadian, Bedrock, Lagier-Meredith, & Pax.
Same of the names listed make wines that are too big for my tastes (e.g. Alban). I like what I have had from Ramey so far, but it's much too limited a sample size.
Arnot-Roberts would have made my list, but it's wine specific. Some I really like (e.g. Griffin's Lair, Clary Ranch), while other bottlings leave me cold.
One winery that likely does not have significant exposure to more in the community is Enfield Wine Co. John Lockwood is making wonderful Syrah.
J@mes Fr@wley
Re: Top US Syrahs
Alban
Andremily
SQN
K Vintners
Cayuse
Myriad
Andremily
SQN
K Vintners
Cayuse
Myriad
my friends call me Gary, so much time, so little wine, Albanista, K Vinters rocks! MCK, Cattle King, love Gri3v3 Family wines Double Eagle baby! flavors please, non-religious freedom
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Yup....
Yup, Mel...I'm here. Most of my favorites have been mentioned. Certainly Qupe is right at the top of my list. The current Qupes are all made by Bob.D@vid Bu3ker wrote: ↑June 19th, 2019, 4:02 amThe ownership transitions matter less than the fact that Bob Lindquist is now gone. It's probably not Qupe anymore.
But we'll see what happens going forward. It'll be interesting if they can source from all the same vnyds that Bob used to source from.
Certainly not Sawyer-Lindquist, though.
As for Alban & SQN.....those are huge wines that wow you w/ their power & extract. But they just never seem to develop the coplexity & nuance
that a Qupe or an EdStJohn routinely do.
I tend to like very cold-climate Syrahs: StoloFamily, Delmore, Peay, McLauren, Qupe, Lagier-Meredith, etc.
But, then, what do I know?? I've only followed Calif Syrah from the very start...the Phelps '73!!
![snort.gif [snort.gif]](./images/smilies/snort.gif)
Tom
- Jay Miller
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Re: Top US Syrahs
Edmunds St. John
Rhys
Arcadian
Scherrer
I would have said Qupe and Copain but with both winemakers gone...
Rhys
Arcadian
Scherrer
I would have said Qupe and Copain but with both winemakers gone...
Last edited by Jay Miller on June 19th, 2019, 12:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Top US Syrahs
OP asked what are “your” top 5 Syrahs.
I’ve never had a Peay so it can’t scratch my top 5 list. I’ve had a lot of other great Syrahs, not on my list, one time. Unless I can repeat a great tatsing experience I can’t put something at the top of my list as many wine experiences can be one offs for my palate and don’t show the same next go-round.
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"On self-reflection, I think a big part of it was me just being a PITA customer..." ~ Anonymous Berserker
"Something so subtle only I can detect it." ~ Randy Bowman
2019 WOTY...
"On self-reflection, I think a big part of it was me just being a PITA customer..." ~ Anonymous Berserker
"Something so subtle only I can detect it." ~ Randy Bowman
2019 WOTY...
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Re: Top US Syrahs
Long day yesterday at the Theise portfolio tasting, so I am a bit tired. 

David Bueker - Rieslingfan
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Re: Top US Syrahs
I buy and enjoy Sandlands, Arno-Roberts, Rhys, Bedrock, Anthill Farms and Carlisle syrahs...but I admit my favorite domestic Syrah based wines are the cab/syrah blends from K Vintners and L'Aventure.
Well...
Well, Jay....you can instead say Lindquist Family Vintners...though nobody's had one yet.Jay Miller wrote: ↑June 19th, 2019, 6:34 amEdmunds St. John
Rhys
Aracadian
Scherrer
I would have said Qupe and Copain but with both winemakers gone...
Tom
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Re: Top US Syrahs
Like many others here, I love Alban, but no idea what it becomes in the long run.
For the $ Stolpman is terrific.
But, like pinot noir, IMHO syrah is a grape in which even the best American versions cannot compare with the greatest French counterparts.
For the $ Stolpman is terrific.
But, like pinot noir, IMHO syrah is a grape in which even the best American versions cannot compare with the greatest French counterparts.
Re: Top US Syrahs
This is fun... I will play:
SQN
Alban
Andremily
Carlisle (QPR!)
Booker
SQN
Alban
Andremily
Carlisle (QPR!)
Booker
Mike Q u i g 1 e y
Re: Top US Syrahs
That is a fair point. Sorry for being a bit rude with my response. Try one with about 8-10 years of age on it if you get the chance.Brian Tuite wrote: ↑June 19th, 2019, 6:52 amOP asked what are “your” top 5 Syrahs.
I’ve never had a Peay so it can’t scratch my top 5 list. I’ve had a lot of other great Syrahs, not on my list, one time. Unless I can repeat a great tatsing experience I can’t put something at the top of my list as many wine experiences can be one offs for my palate and don’t show the same next go-round.
John
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Re: Top US Syrahs
From the vault:
If you can find them, Dehlinger and Kathryn Kennedy from the late 90s prove that CA Syrah can age nicely. Fully fruited but savory ...
If you can find them, Dehlinger and Kathryn Kennedy from the late 90s prove that CA Syrah can age nicely. Fully fruited but savory ...
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Re: Top US Syrahs
That was a long wait for that name! Definitely belongs on the list. A long, excellent track record.
I've also had some outstanding syrahs from Copain.
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Re: Top US Syrahs
Big ol' +1 on ESJ
Arcadian
Arnot Roberts (a little more hit or miss but when they're on, they're really on)
Bedrock (same as A-R)
Gramercy (same as BR & A-R)
Less serous but a whole lot o' fun to drink frech and with a slight chill
Haarmeyer
Stirm (carbonic)
I know that's more then 5 sorry for the party foul.

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Re: Top US Syrahs
Peay
Jaffurs
Cabot
Arnot-Roberts
*if we’re considering qpr-it’s Cabot.
Jaffurs
Cabot
Arnot-Roberts
*if we’re considering qpr-it’s Cabot.
It's C(raig)
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Re: Top US Syrahs
I kind of like it that it took 21 posts...very ESJ ishJohn Morris wrote: ↑June 19th, 2019, 7:26 amThat was a long wait for that name! Definitely belongs on the list. A long, excellent track record.
@decaturwinedude
Re: Top US Syrahs
Reynvaan
Bedrock Hudson T n S
Gramercy Les Collines
K Vintners Hidden
II Vintners Stones
Bedrock Hudson T n S
Gramercy Les Collines
K Vintners Hidden
II Vintners Stones
$.E$te$
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Re: Top US Syrahs
SQN
Alban
Saxum
Cayuse
Booker
Alban
Saxum
Cayuse
Booker