Plain and simple; I love syrah! In particular Washington Syrah. I love the bacon fat, boysenberry and smokey tones that dominate the ones that are well made. I also have a strong affection for Rhone varietals that are dominated by the Syrah grape. Unlike the Washington version, the French version tends to be a little gamey and spicy due to the fact that they add Grenache to the mix .... nothing wrong with that!!
Recently, I had a Syrah experience that I would like to share with my friends that illustrates the fact that price and score should not necessarily determine a buying decision. In fact I hope I can save you a lot of money with the insight from this recent experience.
   Not too long ago I opened three different bottles of Syrah, two from Washington and one from California. They ranged in price from ten bucks to seventy bucks. How did this turn out? I will give you my insight and opinion, take it or leave it... it is what it is!
   Let’s start with the mid-priced Syrah from Washington State.

2006 Powers Reserve Syrah Cougar Vineyard, Wahluke Slope. $19.99

   I was very impressed with this effort. When I visited this winery a couple of years ago I realized just how passionate the Powers family was about their wine. Very underrated in my opinion, they produce some excellent wines. This syrah is a classic example. Smokey blackberry and plum on the nose let’s you know you are in for a treat. It fills the mouth with intense dark fruit flavors with a touch of black pepper that carries through and strengthens in the mid-palate. This evolves into dark candied cherry flavors on the finish wrapped in licorice blackberries and pepper that lingers on and on. This is what you expect from Washington syrah and this wine takes it to the next level. If you love syrah, this wine should be sitting in your wine rack.  90 points

The next syrah epitomizes the belief that price should never drive your wine buying decisions. I live by this belief and therefore save myself a load of money.

2003 Canyons Edge Winery Estate Syrah... $9.99

   The nose was quite interesting with red meat, cranberries, red cherries and a hint of mint. Flavors of boysenberries, black licorice, black pepper that are balanced and a lot richer then you might expect. The finish was fairly long with anise, dark fruit and pepper tones. The quality of this wine was quite impressive especially considering the price, a mere ten bucks. I give this wine 89 points without even thinking about it. If you can get your hands on this do not pass up the chance. 89 + points



Before I go on about this next syrah, I would like to take a moment to share an experience that was related to me by a good customer of mine who had learned the hard way. This friend who I will leave anonymous bought a case of fine Bordeaux which Robert Parker Jr. of the Wine Advocate had rated 95 points. In Parkers notes he mentioned that this wine should not be drunk for at least eight years and that it would get better over the next twenty + years. My studious friend tucked this case of wine away looking forward to opening the first bottle in eight years. That day arrived, and much to his dismay, the first bottle was absolutely horrid... vinegar to be exact. Being a man of confidence he figured this must be a fluke and that the next bottle would be fine. After opening the last of all twelve bottles he was horrified. All the bottles had turned to vinegar. So much for the advice from the Wine Advocate. This is not to say that Parker does not know what he is talking about. Quite to the contrary. What this does illustrate is that one has to be careful that they do not take advice at face value. Try the wine first, and see what you think. If you are going to age a wine, make sure that you open a bottle within four years to see how it is doing. After four years of aging you will have a better  bead on what is going on with the wine. You have to remember that wine critics taste the wine from barrel. From years of experience and training they make an educated evaluation of how the wines will do over time. I believe that if you were to ask their advice they would tell you the same thing. Check the wine after four or five years. Wine is not an exact science... it is a living bottle and has a mind of it’s own. Treat it that way and it will bring you great pleasure.
This brings us to the last bottle of Syrah...


 2005 Shafer Relentless Syrah.  “93" points Parker, “92" points The Wine Spectator, and “92" points Stephen Tanzer.

My mouth was watering as I was uncorking this baby anticipating a fantastic bottle of wine. Stephen Tanzer is very conservative so I knew I was in for a treat if he gave it a 92!  If you like a wine that tastes like roasted vanilla bean dipped in liquid oak, then this is the wine for you. As for me I was completely disappointed. I could barely finish the one glass that I had poured... the rest of the bottle went down the sink. I realize that this wine may have some aging potential and I will put a bottle away for a few years to see. But I am here to tell you not to waste your money. This is not an effort worth spending seventy bucks on. Your money could be spent better elsewhere. I have tasted past vintages and have liked this wine, but for the price you could by three bottles of the outstanding Ex Umbris by Owen
Roe and go to bed a very happy person.    85 points.
So there it is... Always make your purchases carefully. Find a wine steward you can trust and ask for their advice. Remember, a wine steward is interested in what you like not in scoring a wine.
Here’s to keeping it real....   Stan