Thanks for the TN note Dale. I haven’t tried the 2018 yet. That vineyard is really coming into its own. I thought the 2019 Foothills Reserve syrah was one of the best syrahs they’ve done, ever.
I opened my last 2013 Reynvaan In the Rocks syrah this weekend and it’s worth a comment. On previous tastings I found this vintage of this wine to be much more reserved, one of the most reserved syrahs I’ve had from Reynvaan in terms of forward fruit and concentration/extraction, and positively needed air time to the extent of being better on day two. This last bottle was even more so with the syrah fruit starting to fade a bit and all I could think of how darn Burgundian it was. On day two this bottle was just so elegant and beautiful. This is not what I generally look for in buying and drinking syrah, for good reasons, but I’ll gladly accept it when it turns out that way.
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I’ve had the Shirley a few times over the years, though probably not in the last five. Always found it just a bit sweet (which I have no tolerance for) and lacking the tension to hold my interest.
Steve, I’m so glad you mentioned the 19 Foothills Reserve as I agree 100% it is one for ages, perhaps one of the top 5 young WA Syrahs I’ve tasted, and I’ve had my share, believe me.
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What are the other 4, Dale?
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Kris, Good Question, Off the top of my head I’d go with the 07 Cayuse Armada, 05 and the 10 Bionic Frog, and throw in the 05 Betz Chapitre 3. Maybe there are others but these easily come to mind.
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I’m not Dale but the two most memorable Reynvaan syrahs drunk young have been that 2019 Foothills Reserve and the 2010 Stonessence. Both in the top 5 WA syrahs I’d say.
The 07 armada taste at the winery remains for me the standard for what a young syrah can be. Need to see this has evolved.
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Betz Besoleil 2021:
This really impresses me. I love the contrast between the intense and sweet raspberry/strawberry/dried fig fruit notes married to the savory complexity - licorice, rosemary, thyme, pepper, soy sauce, smoke, mocha, and tea. Broad, silken palate with a long finish and surprising elegance. Would definately buy this again.
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Sounds really good, thanks for posting. GO DAWGS!
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I had the 2015 Stonessence Syrah very recently–was really singing.
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Washington producers my wife and I enjoyed with dinner in 2024:
Avennia
Long Shadows
Force Majeure
Matthews
Devison
Pursued by Bear
Dossier
Cadence
Kobayashi
Corliss
Liminal
Betz
The Walls
Figgins
Fidelitas
Baer
Cayuse
Tasting rooms visited on our trip to Walla Walla this past May:
Long Shadows
The Walls
Gramercy Cellars
Avennia
WeatherEye
From the Sky Down (amazing)
Dossier
Result of a Crush
Pursued by Bear
Figgins
Force Majeure
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I’ve been sampling a 2018 Desert Wind ‘Ruah’ [Wahluke Slope] over the last couple of days. I had read about it in WS and in a recent book on PNW wines, but had not seen/tasted one until now. It’s an estate grown, proprietary blend of Merlot, Syrah, CS, CF, Carmenere, Tempranillo, Malbec, and Petit Verdot although the first two varietals are the lions share of the blend. Presumably the winemakers are still determining the best grapes for their land, aspect, climat and thus there is an unusual palette for the blender to work with. Still, for my taste, it’s too fruity/loose/unstructured. At least it’s not heavy, at 13.9% abv, and more medium bodied than full. Agglomerated Vinc cork, very premium feeling bottle and label, but the product feels more tuned to the Big Flavor fan than a Francophile. I’d give it a B but would note professional writers were more enthused.
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Couple older WA wines I have been lax in posting. 2005 Sequel Syrah was excellent, as was 2013 Kevin White Hommage Syrah, while the 2016 Powers Reserve Sheridan Vineyard was good, not great.
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Sold Desert Wind back when it was part of Fries family holdings and they owned Duck Pond too, Ruah was $14.99 MSRP back in the 2000s and a solid value.
Haven’t had them in a while nor since the family sold it, but drove by it hudreds of times just off to left as you head into Prosser on way to Seattle.
Will grab one next time I see it and revisit as their owners purchased Conner Lee, unbelievable site IMO, and still own Gard in Walla Walla.
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Nice, Kris. Every single time I try a wine from Powers with those awesome vineyards the can sometimes use (a Champoux Cab recently) I come away somewhat disappointed. The wines just aren’t that great. It’s a good thing their price point is good, but I’m rarely a buy anymore, vineyards be damned.
That’s a precarious positioning of your stem, Arv! (I think that’s your name…can’t really tell).
I had a few Ruahs here and there (the last one was probably over 5 years ago) and, like Kris, was never in love with them, but they were almost always inexpensive as heck. The only reason I’d taste a Desert Wind wine today is if we stopped by the winery for food. I’ve heard the restaurant there is great.
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I visited the Rotie Cellars tasting room a couple of weeks ago and bought three bottles of this estate reserve syrah after a taster. It has nice complexity, and I adore the olive tapenade nose, but it’s too damn big and kept gaining weight the longer it aerated. I ultimately hated it; it was fatiguing to drink. I am going to blame the adiposity on the vintage and look forward to trying again when the 2019 is released.
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Had this 2010 Rotie Northern Blend last night. It was aggressively fruit driven and not very interesting on opening. The fruit settled down with some extended aeration and the tertiary complexity came to the fore - olives, bacon fat, leather, tobacco, a hint of mushroom, and tea. Resolved tannins; silky palate; no excessive weight; a resonant finish. Damn good.
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Great note Scott! 2010 is my absolute favorite WA vintage from the past 20 years. Perfect vintage for my liking!
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