Varietal Composition: 100% Syrah Alcohol: 14.9% by volume Bottling date: March 15, 2007 Release Date: Fall/Winter 2008 Production: 267 cases
This Columbia Valley Syrah was produced exclusively from grapes grown at Champoux Vineyard (58%) above the Columbia River near Alderdale, Washington and at Dubrul Vineyard (42%) near Sunnyside, Washington in the Yakima Valley.
The warmth of the 2005 vintage is definitely reflected in this rich and very complex red wine. Average brix at harvest was just over 25 °. The grapes were harvested by hand and sorted prior to destemming and were fermented in small stainless steel tanks. The wine was punched down two times per day. Following pressing, the wine went to older 500-liter puncheons and newer French oak barrels for maturation and development. The wine aged in these barrels for 18 months and was bottled in spring of 2007.
Flavors of ripe mountain blackberries, vanilla, and spice marry beautifully showing great balance. This wine is fuller in the mouth with a silky texture, softer structure and a delightfully long finish. There is the familiar high-toned fruit aroma that I absolutely love! This wine cries out for sturdy Mediterranean food. While this wine may be consumed now it will benefit from additional cellar time. Cellared properly, this wine should age well for five years from vintage.
"A muscular, dense and tannic Syrah with a distinctive mineral underpinning. The expression is focused on concentrated, tightly wound blackberry and cassis, with some alcoholic heat. This is almost Australian in its sculptural elegance, and needs breathing time to let the mix of licorice and coffee come out in the finish."
Reviewer: Paul Gregutt
Reviewer Publication: Wine Enthusiast
Review: Wine of the Week, March 7th
"I came home from a prix fixe dinner last week with my dessert in a box. The pairing of Chocolate Torten with Rick Small's Syrah was truly serendipitous. Though this column is supposed to be about pairing Syrahs with spicy meat dishes, don't miss the opportunity to indulge your sweet tooth with the more seductive, supple and fruity of these wines. Look for a nose of fruit-forward blueberry and cassis mingling with earth and spice. Flavors of blackberry, coffee, cocoa and toasty cedar are a great foil for chocolate dessert."
Lowden, Washington 99360
