Que Syrah, Syrah!

Imagine you are dining in the Mayacama Bar & Grill and order the braised lamb shoulder. You would like something from the wine list that will create a lasting dining impression. What to order?? Let it be Syrah ... the perfect choice!

Syrah is packed with flavor, color, and a tannin structure built to last. It is relatively hassle-free, both in the vineyard and the winery; it works well either as a single varietal or in complex blends. It has historic credentials for fine winemaking and today it produces world-class wine with characteristic flavors that have been described as dark fruits, sometimes smoke, meat (particularly bacon), leather, and a white pepper finish. Cooler regions seem to bring out black pepper, green olive and spice aromas while warmer regions have more pronounced raspberry, cherry and earthy notes It is as versatile a “food wine” as any red wine can be and with its complexity, depth and spice it is no wonder that Syrah is headed to be a superstar.

Because Syrah has a wide range of tastes that depend on where it grows, I have chosen six Syrahs from a different wine regions to demonstrate its versatility and stylistic differences - Washington State, Russian River Valley, Napa Valley, Santa Rita Hills, Sonoma Coast, and the Sierra Foothills.

The Wines

2013 Charles Smith Boom Boom Syrah, Columbia Valley, Washington
Aromas of fresh picked herbs and wet earth. Rich black cherry and tobacco are followed by hints of lavender on the finish. An explosive dark cherry bomb! Don’t be fooled by the price. This wine over-delivers.

Charles Smith uses a blend from different Washington AVAs to create his Syrah. The Wahluke Slope AVA, planted beginning in 1998, is comprised of well-drained, sandy gravelly soils deposited by ancient glacial floods. Arete, is a site that is notably cooler than other Washington vineyards. It is high above a valley on the crest of a hill, at an elevation of 1,300 feet. This ideal climate is similar to European vineyards, allowing the grapes to hang on the vine until they are at full maturity. The result is grapes that produce intense color and flavor. Weyns is located in the Snipes Mountain AVA in the heart of the Yakima Valley. With slopes facing in all four cardinal directions and an elevation that ranges from 750 to 1300 feet, some of the oldest and most diverse soils in the state - ancient, rocky soils mostly untouched by the Missoula floods. Art Den Hoed stretches for 250 acres over the south slope of the Rattlesnake Mountains in the Yakima AVA at 1300 feet elevation. The excellent air drainage and higher elevation work to preserve the natural acids in the grapes while flavors mature, making this site ideal for Syrah.

2010 DuMOL eddie's patch, Russian River Valley
DuMOL's 2010 Syrah eddie’s patch Hoppe-Kelly Vineyard is beautifully centered. Savory herbs, licorice, graphite, menthol, and blackberries all jump from the glass. Vibrant and totally alive, the 2010 stands out for its focus and sheer verve. Another year or two in bottle should only help the 2010 show even better. Layers of fruit build to the explosive, intense finish. Simply put, this is dazzling juice.

Josh Reynolds says about the wine: "Glass-staining purple. Cherry compote, cassis and blueberry on the nose, with hints of olive, violet and vanilla gaining strength with air. Big, mouthfilling and chewy, with surprising finesse and lift to its fleshy black and blue fruit and floral pastille flavors. Velvety and expansive Syrah, with supple tannins giving support and shape to the impressively long, smoky-sweet finish."

2011 Joseph Phelps Syrah, Hyde Vineyard, Napa Valley
The 2011 Syrah is layered with aromas of black pepper, plum, dark berries and cherries, baking spices, fresh rosemary, cigar box, and floral notes. The 2011 wraps around the palate with gorgeous depth and radiance. Sweet plum, black cherries, menthol, licorice, and leather notes flesh out in an expressive, layered Syrah loaded with class and personality. The palate is long and lush with balanced flavors and abundant fruit characteristics. The wine is 100% Napa Valley Syrah from the Hyde Vineyard. This Syrah is truly the bomb!

The 2011 growing season was marked by cool weather. Winter was fairly dry, yet spring and early summer rains brought needed moisture to replenish the soil. This cool weather affected the flowering period, resulting in lower overall crop yields and looser clusters. In preparing for the unusually cool growing season, vines were forced into competition for water by leaving cover crop untilled, delaying irrigation and cluster thinning. A welcome warming trend in mid-September helped push grapes to maturity. Despite mid-season rain and cool weather in 2011, blends were very carefully created, resulting in wines of great freshness that will be long lived and no doubt continue to evolve.

2013 Melville Syrah, Estate, Santa Rita Hills
The fruit for this wine comes exclusively from their Santa Rita Hills estate and is a combination of two different Syrah clones (Estrella and Clone 99). The Estrella is from Donna’s block which is planted on well drained, nutrient deficient sand. The neutrality of this soil always lends an intoxicating and high toned bouquet of flowers and spice while the Clone 99 from Block I is planted on denser sandy loam soil, bringing depth and richness to the resultant wine.

The Melville Syrah Boasts a deep crimson hue, fresh and ripe aromatics of red delicious apples, black cherries, and blueberry compote are immediately apparent. In the background, denser notes of saltcaramel, beef carpaccio, and balsa wood intermingle with high toned components of rose water, orangeoil, toasted nori, and lavender. The palate impression is tender and polished with a firm presence finishing with significant weight and focus.

2010 Red Car Syrah, Fort Ross-Seaview, Sonoma Coast
One of the original Rhone Rangers, Red Car has been producing Syrah longer than any other varietal. Today, it is at the forefront of the style evolution in California Syrah. Restraint, naturally high acidity, true Northern Rhone Syrah perfume, and silky tannins are important components in Red Car's 2010 Sonoma Coast Syrah along with native yeast fermentation, moderate stem inclusion and being aged in 500L puncheons for 12 months.

The Syrah is a deep ruby with dark cherry and blackberry aromas are complicated by notes of cured meat, pipe tobacco, and licorice. Deep cherry compote and chewing tobacco flavors show good depth and gain sweetness with air. Smoky herb and bitter cherry flavors dominate the focused, juicy finish, which features fine-grained tannins.

2010 Skinner, Estate, El Dorado Hills
This is the inaugural Estate Syrah, which was grown at their Stoney Creek Vineyard in Fair Play at 2700’ in elevation. This wine is co-fermented with 3% Viognier which helps lift aromatics and helps to set the color. A splash of Petite Sirah and Mourvedre complement the flavors and polish the tannins. The wine spends about 30 months in French oak prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered.

This is a polished Syrah containing a rich and supple mouthfeel with ample structure on the long and enveloping finish. The wine has aromatics of black and blue fruit, dark chocolate, leather, dried apricot, dried flowers, and tobacco.

The Offer

2013 Charles Smith Boom Boom Syrah, Columbia Valley, Washington - $24
2010 DuMOL eddie's patch, Russian River Valley - $85
2011 Joseph Phelps Syrah, Hyde Vineyard, Napa Valley - $44
2013 Melville Syrah, Estate, Santa Rita Hills - $50
2010 Red Car Syrah, Fort Ross-Seaview, Sonoma Coast - $62
2010 Skinner, Estate, El Dorado Hills - $38

Try a mixed six pack for $255 (a savings of $48)

Ordering

For all questions and orders, contact Wine Director, Jeff McCarthy. Let us know if you would like your wine shipped or placed in your wine locker. Sales tax and appropriate shipping will be added to all orders. Allow 2-3 weeks for account processing and shipping. During extreme weather, wine orders may be held until it is safe to ship.

Jeff McCarthy, Wine Director
[email protected]
707.569.2906