Serious Washington State Syrah: Why Isn't This Board Talking About It?

[ky1em1ttskus]

@Steve Saxon

@R. Gaston

@Rick.T

WA State wineries contribute over $2 Billion a year to the US economy and their wines aren’t significant. The state has numerous producers who have attained cult status with wineries like QC and Cayuse which are comparable to iconic wineries from CA like Marcassin and SQN. To say that a state that producers such wines and revenues is not significant is crazy.

I’m not a big fan of WA wines either but do respect what the people involved in the production of these wines have accomplished which is nothing short of spectacular.

I like your passion…but to compare QC and Cayuse to Marcassin and SQN…well that’s crazy. Got on the Cayuse list in a year…it’s been 7 years and counting to get SQN and I live 2 miles away!!

As I stated before, I’m not a fan of Wa. State wines however I think your argument is crazy. Just because the wait list to get on the SQN mailer is longer doesn’t mean the wine is any better. And what’s the difference whether you live 2 miles or 2,000 miles away? It’s a mailing list.

I agree.

[larry_schaffer]

Love the passion of the original thread, and I think your general sentiments are true. Other than an occasional thread on Cayuse or Reynvaan or QC, you do rarely see threads on WA wines . . . but that might not be a bad thing. There are obviously plenty of folks drinking the stuff on this board - just check out their CT inventories (-:

The same argument could be made for nearly every other region and/or variety - perhaps not Burgundy . . . but every other region (-: And poor Roberto, he’s DYING for a thread on some obscure Italian variety every now and then!

I will also agree that the WA wine region has had a significant impact on the US wine market. For sure. Go into any supermarket and you’re bound to see a good supply of WA wines on the shelves.

And yep, there certainly are some WA wineries attaining ‘cult’ status - but of course, YMMV when it comes to ‘defining’ this status.

Keep up the posting and see who else follows . . .

Cheers!

[larry_schaffer]

Regarding ‘cult status’ and whether a wine deserves it, YMMV - as I said above. I have seen posts on hear claiming this status for various wines, and I’m always amazed at the ‘arguments’ made to agree or disagree with the sentiments.

And don’t even get me started whether these are ‘worth’ it . . . that is truly and individual decision/like and should NOT be pushed upon anyone else. I think we can ALL point to tastings where much less expensive - and oftentimes MUCH less respected - wines outperformed ‘cults’ . . . and this will continue to happen again and again and again . . .

Cheers!

[Gary_York]

A few “cult” wines don’t make a region or a state. Cults are mostly driven by marketing and exclusivity, not wine.

[Marc_Frontario]

2003 cougar crest syrah…rocked me

[dsGriswold]

I finally started buying WA four years ago when getting on a Syrah kick, now back to OR Pinot. When Pinot again tires me, the Syrah will be ready to drink. If I was an East Coaster, I would buy French and Italian. Leave the West to us locals.
BTW, a Swedish CTer says they import WA wines due to a flap with the French.

[Eric_LeVine]

@GregT

In the 1970s, Andre Tchelistcheff was consulting for Chateau St Michelle and in the early 1980s he sent some barrels from BV to his nephew, Alex Golitzin, whose first vintage in 1983 won first prize from the Enological Society of the Northwest.

The first vintage of Quilceda Creek was 1979.

[Dave_McCloskey]

@Tom Lee

Hey Joe, I’m with you. I think if you search here you will find a substantial number of threads on Cayuse. Reynvaan, Betz, No Girls, Rasa and Force Majeure to a lesser extent.

Leonetti has never been a favorite on this board but I think what Chris Figgins is doing at Leonetti, Doubleback and FIGGINS is noteworthy.

Quilceda Creek is a topic onto its self. I’m a fan.

Tom

I suspect Leonetti would get more press if people on this board were exposed to the 2009 Reserve. My initial impression upon first trying it in 2012 was a solid 93/94 pts. I think the Reserve has the potential to be a 96 pt. wine in a few years. It should be though at that price point.

[Dale_McClaran]

@Steve Saxon

I have no use for Washington State Syrah, especially Cayuse. I really can’t see what people like about it.

Because those of us who enjoy Cayuse have nowhere near your level of palate sophistication and refinement, thus we get confused on what constitutes good wine.

[Steve_Saxon]

@Dale McClaran

@Steve Saxon

I have no use for Washington State Syrah, especially Cayuse. I really can’t see what people like about it.

Because those of us who enjoy Cayuse have nowhere near your level of palate sophistication and refinement, thus we get confused on what constitutes good wine.

I knew it had to be something.

[Dave_H]

@Randy Bowman

Joe,

I’m not sure whether the sheep are led by the wine writers or they don’t know about WA Syrah. We carry a fair amount of WA and OR wines and have always been heavy on the Syrahs. We love them. The 2002 and 2003 L’ Ecole Syrahs are almost ready to drink. We sell about half our WA Syrahs through our website and 90% of the buyers are in WA or OR.

Coincidentally, I picked up a 2002 L’ecole Columbia Valley Syrah a couple of weeks ago, largely because I was curious as to what 10+ years would do to a mid-tier WA syrah. I didn’t make any notes, but I can tell you that it was flatout delicious and showed no signs of fatigue whatsoever.
Best $15 I’ve spent in a long while.

[R_Gaston]

@Steve Saxon

@R. Gaston

@Rick.T

WA State wineries contribute over $2 Billion a year to the US economy and their wines aren’t significant. The state has numerous producers who have attained cult status with wineries like QC and Cayuse which are comparable to iconic wineries from CA like Marcassin and SQN. To say that a state that producers such wines and revenues is not significant is crazy.

I’m not a big fan of WA wines either but do respect what the people involved in the production of these wines have accomplished which is nothing short of spectacular.

I like your passion…but to compare QC and Cayuse to Marcassin and SQN…well that’s crazy. Got on the Cayuse list in a year…it’s been 7 years and counting to get SQN and I live 2 miles away!!

As I stated before, I’m not a fan of Wa. State wines however I think your argument is crazy. Just because the wait list to get on the SQN mailer is longer doesn’t mean the wine is any better. And what’s the difference whether you live 2 miles or 2,000 miles away? It’s a mailing list.

As far as I’m concern you can take all four of those wines and put them in the same boat, stylistically they don’t compare to great Rhones or BDX.

We get it…you don’t like these type of wines…whatever. The question was cult status and comparing the four wines. Comparing whether the wine is better is just stupid. No one could ever agree on that…but defining a wines cult status is pretty easy. I look at secondary markets and how hard it is to get certain wines. SQN and Marcassin are in another league compared to QC and Cayuse.

[Rick.T]

@R. Gaston

@Rick.T

WA State wineries contribute over $2 Billion a year to the US economy and their wines aren’t significant. The state has numerous producers who have attained cult status with wineries like QC and Cayuse which are comparable to iconic wineries from CA like Marcassin and SQN. To say that a state that producers such wines and revenues is not significant is crazy.

I’m not a big fan of WA wines either but do respect what the people involved in the production of these wines have accomplished which is nothing short of spectacular.

I like your passion…but to compare QC and Cayuse to Marcassin and SQN…well that’s crazy. Got on the Cayuse list in a year…it’s been 7 years and counting to get SQN and I live 2 miles away!!

Right now it takes 6 years to get on the cayuse list and I can find SQN and more so Marcassin on the secondary market all day, every day.

[Matt_Latuchie]

Generally speaking, I find that many WA syrah’s have pronounced blueberry notes, which I usually don’t like. I’ve found this consistently in the wines of Andrew Will, Mark Ryan, J. Bookwalter, Sparkman, Charles Smith, DeLille, Cayuse, Betz, & Brian Carter Cellars. On the other side of things, Gramercy, Fausse Piste, Efeste, and Reynvaan have been more exciting for me.

[R_Gaston]

@Rick.T

@R. Gaston

@Rick.T

WA State wineries contribute over $2 Billion a year to the US economy and their wines aren’t significant. The state has numerous producers who have attained cult status with wineries like QC and Cayuse which are comparable to iconic wineries from CA like Marcassin and SQN. To say that a state that producers such wines and revenues is not significant is crazy.

I’m not a big fan of WA wines either but do respect what the people involved in the production of these wines have accomplished which is nothing short of spectacular.

I like your passion…but to compare QC and Cayuse to Marcassin and SQN…well that’s crazy. Got on the Cayuse list in a year…it’s been 7 years and counting to get SQN and I live 2 miles away!!

Right now it takes 6 years to get on the cayuse list.

Maybe for Bionic Frog?? All I know…a few years ago I signed up and the next year was offered wines. Not The Frog but most others. Maybe things have changed now.

[Humberto_Dorta]

You can find Cayuse on the secondary market all day too. Fact is you’ll be paying a larger premium for sine qua non and to a lesser extent marcassin. Cayuse goes on the block on wine commune and sells for little over release routinely.
And lets keep it that way

@Rick.T

@R. Gaston

@Rick.T

WA State wineries contribute over $2 Billion a year to the US economy and their wines aren’t significant. The state has numerous producers who have attained cult status with wineries like QC and Cayuse which are comparable to iconic wineries from CA like Marcassin and SQN. To say that a state that producers such wines and revenues is not significant is crazy.

I’m not a big fan of WA wines either but do respect what the people involved in the production of these wines have accomplished which is nothing short of spectacular.

I like your passion…but to compare QC and Cayuse to Marcassin and SQN…well that’s crazy. Got on the Cayuse list in a year…it’s been 7 years and counting to get SQN and I live 2 miles away!!

Right now it takes 6 years to get on the cayuse list and I can find SQN and more so Marcassin on the secondary market all day, every day.

[Matthew_Brown]

@Matt Latuchie

Generally speaking, I find that many WA syrah’s have pronounced blueberry notes, which I usually don’t like. I’ve found this consistently in the wines of Andrew Will, Mark Ryan, J. Bookwalter, Sparkman, Charles Smith, DeLille, Cayuse, Betz, & Brian Carter Cellars. On the other side of things, Gramercy, Fausse Piste, Efeste, and Reynvaan have been more exciting for me.

+1 here on the flavor profile. I also describe it to customers as a plumminess, especially compared to Cali versions. Not a better/worse thing, but can definitely push a person’s pleasure buttons one way or another.

[Scott_Brunson]

@Ed Murray

Personally I find most WA wines to be too sweet and/or too green and/or too similar. I love to go to Woodinville to taste but as someone said earlier, there are generally better examples for the money elsewhere, (Ogier, Jamet etc. I believe were some examples.) If I can find world class Hermitage for the same price or cheaper than something from WA - it’s a no brainer for me.

• a million
  We did a top flight WA tasting at Cellar Tracker Charleston and I nearly collapsed in a diabetic coma. For me they all showed really similar, overly extracted sweet red fruits. I was told to expect lots of funk but for my palate, not so much. Just sweet, sweeter and sweeter still.
  I do like Rasa and Cayuse (sorry Steve).
  I keep trying them but I am not a believer. Joe, post this on the CT forum and you’ll get 10 pages of drooling acclimation. WA wines are quite popular there.

[Steve_Saxon]

@Scott Brunson

@Ed Murray

Personally I find most WA wines to be too sweet and/or too green and/or too similar. I love to go to Woodinville to taste but as someone said earlier, there are generally better examples for the money elsewhere, (Ogier, Jamet etc. I believe were some examples.) If I can find world class Hermitage for the same price or cheaper than something from WA - it’s a no brainer for me.

I do like Rasa and Cayuse (sorry Steve).

Hey don’t apologies to me, I’m glad people appreciate wines I don’t get. More power to them.

[Scott_Brunson]

I just find them less sweet