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CHEESE PAIRING:
Brie
Fontina
Edam
Double Gloucester
Le Chevre Noir
Cambozola
Maytag Blue |
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Ah, Syrah. My true wine love. As much as I appreciate Cabs and Pinots, there's something about the dark elegance of this grape that curls my toes. Clearly, I'm not the only one. It's upswing in popularity has only occured in the last decade with much of the thanks going to the bold and big versions coming from Down Under. Sure, they've been growing it in the Rhone Valley and Southern France for centuries, but those wines weren't broadly exported because the limited quantities and high prices kept them local, still an issue today. When they finally realized what they had, the Aussies jumped on the Rhone bandwagon with both feet, building their wine prominance on the back of Shiraz/Syrah. The Central Coast of California has also joined in the expansion with almost every winery from Santa Barbara to Mendocino now making a Syrah. There's a possibility that it will become as despised as Merlot when the market is eventually flooded with mediocre versions, however, the depth and structure of the varietal should allow it to weather that storm. The good news for consumers is that there are lovely versions in every price point – with the Aussies giving the best Bang for the Buck – which will hopefully bring more people into the fold. If not, just more for me.
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WHAT TO EXPECT: A dark, sometimes opaque ruby-purple wine with aromas of dark fruits (blackberries, currants, black cherry), smoke, vanilla, chocolate, leather and depending on the region spice, pepper, licorice or mint. The palate is medium to full-bodied filled with lush fruit and generally moderate tannins and acid. The more expensive versions ($30+) are fairly tannic in their youth and need at least 3-4 years, sometimes 7-8, to fully integrate. The $10-$20 versions are brighter and softer, usually made to drink right away. To understand what "terroir" is all about, try a few Aussies or Cali wines from various regions. The differences between them are amazing.
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 | 2007 Brian Benson Cellars Glenrose Vineyard Syrah, Paso Robles, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2007 Cass Winery Syrah, Paso Robles, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2007 Charles Smith "Boom Boom" Syrah, Columbia Valley, WA | RATING: ** |
| 2007 Domaine de Fondreche "Persia" Cotes-du-Ventoux, Rhone Valley, France | RATING: *** |
| 2007 Grey Stack Cellars "The Narcissist" Syrah, Sonoma, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2007 Mollydooker "The Boxer" Shiraz, South Australia | RATING: *** |
| 2007 Terry Hoage "The Hedge" Syrah, Paso Robles, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2006 Barrel 27 "Right Hand Man" Syrah, Central Coast, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2006 Caliza Winery Syrah, Paso Robles, CA | RATING: **** |
| 2006 Cass Winery Syrah, Paso Robles, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2006 Chateau de Campuget 1753 Syrah, Costieres de Nimes, France | RATING: *** |
| 2006 Dom. Terlato & Chapoutier Shiraz-Viognier, Victoria, Australia | RATING: ** |
| 2006 Dry Stack Cellars "Marie's Block" Syrah, Sonoma, CA | RATING: **** |
| 2006 Foxen Winery Toasted Rope Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: **** |
| 2006 Frei Brothers Russian River Syrah, Sonoma, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2006 Grey Stack Cellars "The Narcissist" Syrah, Sonoma, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2006 Hocus Pocus Reset Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2006 Marquis Philips Sara's Blend Shiraz, South Eastern, Australia | RATING: ** |
| 2006 Pipestone Vineyards Syrah, Paso Robles, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2006 Samsara Wines Ampelos Vineyard Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2006 Spicerack Vineyards "Punchdown", Sonoma Coast, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2006 Terra Bella Vineyards Syrah, Paso Robles, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2006 This Is E11even Purple Haze Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2006 Thompkin Cellars Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2006 2 Up Shiraz, South Australia | RATING: ** |
| 2006 Vie Winery Las Madres Syrah, Sonoma, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2005 Anglim Winery Syrah, Paso Robles, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2005 Barrel 27 "Head Honcho" Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2005 Beckmen Vineyards Estate Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2005 Beckmen Vineyards Syrah Barrel Select, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2005 Beckmen Vineyards PMV Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2005 Beckmen Vineyards Block Six Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2005 Booker Vineyards Fracture Syrah, Paso Robles, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2005 Calcareous Vineyards Syrah, Paso Robles, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2005 Cameron Hughes Lot 38 100-Year-Old Vines Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia | RATING: *** |
| 2005 Cameron Hughes Lot 41 Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Australia | RATING: ** |
| 2005 Cameron Hughes Lot 42 75-year-old Vines Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia | RATING: *** |
| 2005 Carina Cellars "7 Percent" Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2005 Cass Winery Syrah, Paso Robles, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2005 Cleb Wines Evelyn Noir Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2005 D'Arenberg Laughing Magpie Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Australia | RATING: ** |
| 2005 Edward Sellers Syrah Sélectionné, Paso Robles, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2005 Halter Ranch Vineyard Syrah, Paso Robles, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2005 Henry's Drive Dead Letter Office Shiraz, Padthaway, South Australia | RATING: *** |
| 2005 Lafond Winery, Santa Rita Hills Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2005 Bodegas Piqueras Valcanto Syrah, Almansa, Spain | RATING: * |
| 2005 Saarloos & Sons O and 2 Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2005 Stolpman Vineyards Hilltops Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: **** |
| 2005 Stolpman Vineyards La Coppa Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2005 Zenaida Cellars Estate Syrah, Paso Robles, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2004 Andrew Murray Estate Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2004 Beckmen Vineyards PMV Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2004 Beckmen Vineyards PMV Block 6 Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2004 Beckmen Vineyards PMV Clone #1 Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2004 Cass Winery Syrah, Paso Robles, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2004 D'Arenberg "The Footbolt" Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Australia | RATING: ** |
| 2004 Elderton Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia | RATING: *** |
| 2004 Halter Ranch Vineyard Syrah, Paso Robles, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2004 Kilikanoon "Killerman's Run" Shiraz, South Australia | RATING: *** |
| 2004 Penman Springs Vineyards Syrah, Paso Robles, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2004 Stolpman Vineyards Estate Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2004 Thacher Winery Syrah, Monterey, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2003 Anglim Best Barrel Syrah, Paso Robles, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2003 Beckmen Vineyards PMV Block 6 Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2003 Beckmen Vineyards PMV Clone #1 Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2003 Bernard Faurie St. Joseph, Rhone Valley, France | RATING: ** |
| 2003 Garretson Wine Co. Mon Amie Syrah, Paso Robles, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2003 Rio Seco Winery Syrah, Paso Robles, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2003 Saxon Brown Parmalee Hill Vineyard Syrah, Sonoma, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2003 Tin House Winery Syrah, Edna Valley, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2002 Baileyana Firepeak Vineyard Syrah, Edna Valley, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2002 Beckmen Vineyards PMV Clone #1 Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2002 Kaena Wine Co. Santa Ynez Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2002 Montemaggiore Paolo's Vineyard Syrah, Sonoma, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2001 Bedford Thompson Winery Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2000 Bedford Thompson Winery Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2000 E. Guigal St. Joseph, Rhone Valley, France | RATING: ** |
| 1999 E. Guigal Cote Rotie, Brune et Blonde, Rhone Valley, France | RATING: *** |
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**** Outstanding | *** Delicious | ** Enjoyable | * Drinkable
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