Top US Syrahs

[Anton_D]

Field Book

Retro Cellars

Myriad

Pax

Ridge

[Susan_K]

Gorman
Obelisco
De Lille

[Mattstolz]

In no particular order:

1. Pax Sonoma Hillsides
2. Shafer Relentless
3. Alban Reva
4. Tensley Colson Canyon
5. Carlisle Papa’s

I’m curious because you specifically mentioned the hillsides if you think the same about the most recent 2017 as well?

As for me, my favorite US Syrahs have been made by bedrock and piedrasassi. I think Pax’s syrahs are awesome, but I think his current style needs a LONG time to come around. for example: a recent decade old Wind Gap I had recently was just about perfect. I’m not sure the 2017 Hillsides will ever make it. but I’m holding and hoping!

[Gray_G]

Im surprised Alban is getting so much love, its one of my favourite wines but i thought it was considered to “big” for most people

the loudest voices aren’t necessarily indicative of the majority or anything else FTM

cheers

[Robert_Dentice]

Shocked no one has mentioned Kongsgaard.

[AlexS]

Cayuse
No Girls
Myriad
Quivet
Bedrock

Honorable mentions: Shane, Carlisle, Sandlands, ESJ, Qupe, SQN…would also list Alban but not enough tasting experience.

[Anton_D]

No Girls is great.

We had the 2014 Syrah and Grenache last night…nearly perfect.

They were clean and bright without the fruit distracting one from the structure.

Worthwhile wines!

[Alan_Eden]

Im surprised Alban is getting so much love, its one of my favourite wines but i thought it was considered to “big” for most people

the loudest voices aren’t necessarily indicative of the majority or anything else FTM

cheers

Absolutely, the responses mean absolutely nothing. Bit like your comment

[Alan_Eden]

No Girls is great.

We had the 2014 Syrah and Grenache last night…nearly perfect.

They were clean and bright without the fruit distracting one from the structure.

Worthwhile wines!

What do you mean by the fruit distracting from structure, i understand a fruit bomb but you can have fruit and structure. Structure on its own is boring and harsh like 13’s

[Jonathan_Grunzweig]

Shocked no one has mentioned Kongsgaard.

See post 56 — great minds and all…

[AlexO]

SQN
Tynan Syrah
Bedrock Weill a Way Exposition Series
Alban Lorraine
Cayuse Bionic Frog
Booker Fracture EXT


My best under the radar Syrah: Stony Hill Syrah

[m_p_r_y_b_u_t_o_k]

Cruse. His Heintz syrahs have a meaty/earthy thing that I really love. I’ve had the 15s and 16s. They are very much babies - need a long decant right now.

[Robert_M_yers]

I think you need a track record and to own your own vineyards to get mentioned here and I see too many new producers. Here’s my
Thought and it’s not personal preference, just who does it best in the US for a long period. Top US Syrahs.

SQN - big of coarse but polished in a unique way
Alban - big but unpolished in its unique way
Cayuse - fruit with funk/complexity that has been shown to be consistent.
ESJ - maybe doesn’t fit my criteria (does he own a vineyard?) absolutely but the tenure trumps it. Proven long term results. Someone we all under appreciate.
Qupe/Jaffurs - I often lump these guys together (maybe wrongly) but they are old school proven records in a more medium style.

[David_Baum]

That will bring us back to doe ray Peay

[Robert_M_yers]

In the fa so la 6 to 10 best, (imo of course).
.

[Anton_D]

No Girls is great.

We had the 2014 Syrah and Grenache last night…nearly perfect.

They were clean and bright without the fruit distracting one from the structure.

Worthwhile wines!

What do you mean by the fruit distracting from structure, i understand a fruit bomb but you can have fruit and structure. Structure on its own is boring and harsh like 13’s

Yes, you can have fruit and structure, as I said. This has bright primary fruit that is in balance with the other characteristics.

I guess you needed something to restate.

[Gray_G]

No Girls is great.

We had the 2014 Syrah and Grenache last night…nearly perfect.

They were clean and bright without the fruit distracting one from the structure.

Worthwhile wines!

What do you mean by the fruit distracting from structure, i understand a fruit bomb but you can have fruit and structure. Structure on its own is boring and harsh like 13’s

Yes, you can have fruit and structure, as I said. This has bright primary fruit that is in balance with the other characteristics.

I guess you needed something to restate.

I don’t get it either, distracting?

[Frank_Drew]

In addition to many of the excellent producers already mentioned, I’ll add Cabot.

[J.Vizuete]

In no particular order:

1. Pax Sonoma Hillsides
2. Shafer Relentless
3. Alban Reva
4. Tensley Colson Canyon
5. Carlisle Papa’s

I’m curious because you specifically mentioned the hillsides if you think the same about the most recent 2017 as well?

As for me, my favorite US Syrahs have been made by bedrock and piedrasassi. I think Pax’s syrahs are awesome, but I think his current style needs a LONG time to come around. for example: a recent decade old Wind Gap I had recently was just about perfect. I’m not sure the 2017 Hillsides will ever make it. but I’m holding and hoping!

Not to hijack the thread, but the 2016 Sonoma Hillsides was a revelatory bottle for me. I enjoyed it so much that I purchased a case of the 2017s, which for me is a deep buy (usually stick with 2s and 3s as I’m still honing my own evolving taste preferences). The 2017 Sonoma Hillsides is not at the level of the 2016 by any stretch. Stylistically they are similar, but the 17 has more candied fruit notes and almost a “cocktail” feel in comparison to the very deep, complex, “old world” and savory 2016. That’s my take after 4-6 bottles of each. At the moment, I’m actually not long on the 2017 SH - each bottle I’ve opened has been progressively less “electric” as it settles. And comes with a LOT of sediment. I’m not convinced it will be a great wine to age. Still, what Pax has done with that bottling (in both years) is something completely unique to American Syrah. I’ve had most of the wines in the first group of GregT’s nicely categorized list, and none of them (Arnot Roberts, Piedrasassi, Jolie Laide, Tablas Creek) seem to have the pop and complex aromatics I get from Pax’s Sonoma Hillsides. Hence my pick.

As an aside, the North Coast bottling (around $30) is sort of a baby Sonoma Hillsides with fruit from the same vineyards and similar vinification, but at only $14 more, the SH is a far better wine IMO. The current release (2015) SVDs are fantastic, and will go the distance. I attended a dinner where all of these wines were showcased, here: Dinner with Pax Mahle - WINE TALK - WineBerserkers

[jon_leifer]

in alphabetic order, Arcadian,Bedrock, Carlisle , Donelan