Top US Syrahs

[Dennis_Atick]

Edmunds St. John

[David_Bu3ker]

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??

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.

The ownership transitions matter less than the fact that Bob Lindquist is now gone. It’s probably not Qupe anymore.

[Bill_Moore]

My faves include:

Arnot-Roberts (surprised I didn’t see others list this one)
Rhys
Arcadian
Alban
Lillian

Cheers,

Bill

[David_Bu3ker]

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.

[Michael_Martin]

Alban
Jaffurs’ Bien Nacido and Upslope
Bedrock Griffin’s Lair

[Bud_Carey]

Myriad
Quivet
Lagier-Meredith
Apsara
Carlisle

[Kevin_Porter]

ESJ
Lagier Meredith
Rhys
Qupe

[Dale_Williams]

Edmunds St. John

85% of my CA Syrah.
Also like Copain, Arnot_Roberts, Rhys

[JMFrawley]

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.

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.

[Gray_G]

Alban
Andremily
SQN
K Vintners
Cayuse
Myriad

[TomHill]

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??

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.

The ownership transitions matter less than the fact that Bob Lindquist is now gone. It’s probably not Qupe anymore.

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.
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!!
Tom

[Jay_Miller]

Edmunds St. John
Rhys
Arcadian
Scherrer

I would have said Qupe and Copain but with both winemakers gone…

[David_Bu3ker]

How the hell did I not mention ESJ?!?

[Brian_Tuite]

Any list without Peay is incomplete

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.

[Dennis_Atick]

How the hell did I not mention ESJ?!?

I was concerned. Hope you are feeling okay

[David_Bu3ker]

Long day yesterday at the Theise portfolio tasting, so I am a bit tired.

[S_teve_R_edenbaugh]

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.

[TomHill]

Edmunds St. John
Rhys
Aracadian
Scherrer

I would have said Qupe and Copain but with both winemakers gone…

Well, Jay…you can instead say Lindquist Family Vintners…though nobody’s had one yet.
Tom

[Jeff_P]

Also like Acorn from Healdsburg

[Kelly_Flynn]

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.