Top US Syrahs

[Joel_Pulver]

Cayuse
Reynvann
Corliss
Sine Que Non
Carlisle

[JohnP]

While many in this thread are incredible, no one has mentioned the diamond in the rough out of the Sierra Foothills of Placer County, CA

Pruett Championship Cuvee

One of the purest Syrah I’ve tried in California to date. Not cheap at 125, but worth its weight.

[H_Wallace_Jr]

Enfield Wine Co.
Arnot-Roberts
Pax
ESJ
Piedrassi
La Clarine Farm Sumu Caw syrah. Hank has this site so dialed in. If you like nervy, aromatic, savory syrah, the 2016 is $30 incredibly well spent.

[Jud_Reis]

Edmunds St. John
Rhys
Arcadian
Scherrer

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

Perfect list - I am not a huge new world Syrah fan, and all 4 of these producers consistently make age worthy syrahs that regularly wow me.

[Albert_R]

A lot of great suggestions. We recently tasted with Paul and Jackie and their Halcon Alturas was outstanding!

[Jeremy_C]

Drinking a 2006 Ridge Lytton Estate tonight that is quite yummy.

[Larry_Weitzner]

Donelan
SQN
Carlisle
Betz
Thackrey

[JDavisRoby]

Enfield Wine Co.
Arnot-Roberts
Pax
ESJ
Piedrassi
La Clarine Farm Sumu Caw syrah. Hank has this site so dialed in. If you like nervy, aromatic, savory syrah, the 2016 is $30 incredibly well spent.

Is La Clarine still using glass closures?

[James_Zadvorny]

I drink very little US syrah, but have found
Betz (although all my holdings are from the time Bob was winemaker or consulting) to be consistently excellent.

Specific shout out to 2011 Saxum Heart Stone. A cooler vintage, viewed as “weak” produced a beautiful wine, no alcohol heat, complex, subtle etc. Would like others’ views on how that vintage has aged re: other producers.

[H_Wallace_Jr]

Enfield Wine Co.
Arnot-Roberts
Pax
ESJ
Piedrassi
La Clarine Farm Sumu Caw syrah. Hank has this site so dialed in. If you like nervy, aromatic, savory syrah, the 2016 is $30 incredibly well spent.

Is La Clarine still using glass closures?

Not for several years.

[Gray_G]

had a great Saxum Booker Vineyards and a K Vinters Cattle King both 2015 this weekend

[Alan_Eden]

I drink very little US syrah, but have found
Betz (although all my holdings are from the time Bob was winemaker or consulting) to be consistently excellent.

Specific shout out to 2011 Saxum Heart Stone. A cooler vintage, viewed as “weak” produced a beautiful wine, no alcohol heat, complex, subtle etc. Would like others’ views on how that vintage has aged re: other producers.

11 is the most underrated vintage i can think of. It was universally knocked for being sub par and weak but almost every bottle i’ve had from that year has been excellent and one of my favourites from that producer

[Darren_Delmore]

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

Thanks for the mention Mr. Hill.

Syrah was one of my first loves in wine. Used to collect those Novy SLH Syrahs, Foxen, a little Tensley Colson Canyon, and got blown away by the Kenneth Crawford Evans Ranch SRH while it lasted. These days I tend to veer toward even more cool climate wines like Tom. That said, the Drew Syrahs are really cool. Model Farm 2014 Sonoma Coast was a standout at Falltacular last year. Drank a Melville 2012 High Density over the past two nights that was youthful and delicious. Sinor-Lavallee Bassi Ranch Syrah from Avila Valley is California Crozes. Nicole at Stolo is making some excellent wine and that vineyard ripened on November 14th last harvest! So many cool pockets of it along the California coast, yet restaurant wine buyers always tell me nobody orders Syrah off lists?

[Michael_Martin]

I drink very little US syrah, but have found
Betz (although all my holdings are from the time Bob was winemaker or consulting) to be consistently excellent.

Specific shout out to 2011 Saxum Heart Stone. A cooler vintage, viewed as “weak” produced a beautiful wine, no alcohol heat, complex, subtle etc. Would like others’ views on how that vintage has aged re: other producers.

Tough to judge the vintage based on Heart Stone since its a blend of 58% Syrah, 37% Grenache with the balance Mourvedre. It may be more about the blend than the vintage.

[Pat_K]

I, too, am a big fan of Delmore Syrah, and Pinot Noir for that matter. No one orders Syrah from a list? I remember years ago we were in a restaurant in Mendocino. Believe it was the Standford Inn. We were ordering for dinner and wanted just a glass each of red. The server asked if we liked Syrah. Sure! So she poured a bottle that had apparently ended up by the glass but not on the BTG list. It was wonderful; whether the setting, the food pairing, whatever. I asked what the wine was. She said “Rehnquist”, like the judge. My error was I didn’t ask to see the bottle. It was a Jeff Runquist. This took me a while to discover, but we have had a few of his wines since then and they don’t disappoint. Not at the level of Delmore, but still good.

[John_Glas]

2016 Saviah Cellars Syrah The Stones Speak Walla Walla Valley - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (6/19/2019)
Unbelievable wine. The best wine I tasted on my Washington State trip. For the money not many better Syrah wines in the world for under $50. Roasted meats, white pepper, gravel, stone, blueberries and earth. Medium to long finish. Balanced and amzing complexity. Multilayered finish. Drink now to 2028. (95 points)
Anything from the Rocks District. Making some amazing Syrah wines without the big price tag.

[markjchambers]

Alban Reva - 1998 was my first taste of what Cali syrah could be. Bought it off the shelf in Ohio for $38. Love Saxum GSM blends in including those that are heavily syrah (Booker). Booker Fracture is great. Carlisle is a great value and under appreciated. I’m a long time fan of Cayuse but sometimes the funk overwhelms everything else. I recently had a '12 Cailloux that never evolved beyond motor oil - very disappointing. I felt the same way about every 2013 Reynvaan I tried, but the 14s seems to be a lot better.

[Ron_Slye]

Alban Reva - 1998 was my first taste of what Cali syrah could be. Bought it off the shelf in Ohio for $38. Love Saxum GSM blends in including those that are heavily syrah (Booker). Booker Fracture is great. Carlisle is a great value and under appreciated. I’m a long time fan of Cayuse but sometimes the funk overwhelms everything else. I recently had a '12 Cailloux that never evolved beyond motor oil - very disappointing. I felt the same way about every 2013 Reynvaan I tried, but the 14s seems to be a lot better.

A quick note on Cayuse – my experience has been with about ten years or so on them the funk integrates nicely into the rest of the flavors. I have not touched anything later than 09 at the moment I think.

[Ryan_A]

Colgin Syrah
Eisele Vineyards Syrah (former Araujo)
Keplinger (excellent QPR)
SQN
Bevan Cellars when he makes it

[Brian_Tuite]

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

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