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If you ask the sommelier at a steak-house to recommend a full-body wine with your Ribeye steak, his response might not be a California Cab. Surprised?
Dark plump Syrah grapes
Syrah wines are deep ruby colored (darker than Cabernet Sauvignon), full body with strong tannins and lots of flavors such as dark berries, chocolate, espresso and pepper. Syrah not only pairs well with meats but is a versatile pairing with other foods. But the best reason to drink Syrahs is their high level of tannins, making it one of the healthier wines to consume.
I often drank Syrahs during a trip to France. Syrah wines originated in the Rhône region of France but wine-making in the northern and southern areas of the Rhone Valley is different. Northern Rhone wines from appellations such as Hermitage, Saint-Joseph and Côte Rôtie are often from 100% Syrah grapes while southern Rhones are typically blends, Cotes du Rhone and Chateauneuf du Pape being the most popular.
Syrah is also grown in New World regions such as Australia where the wine is called Shiraz. California and Washington state also have noteworthy Syrahs as well as South America and South Africa. The style of New World Syrah/Shiraz is more fruit forward than French Syrahs which provides an earlier drinking window and a more affordable price. As for value, I find good value in Washington state Syrahs.
TENET Syrah Pundit 2013 $21
Columbia Valley, Washington
88% Syrah,6% Grenache, 4% Mourvèdre
92 points, Wine Spectator, #34 Top 100 2015
“This shows nice tension between the ripe, dark flavors and crisp, lively structure, featuring a sleek core of plum and smoky tea flavors that carry easily into the long and deftly balanced finish. A little cellaring should soften the tannins. Best from 2017 through 2020.”
CHARLES SMITH Boom Boom! Syrah 2014 $16
Columbia Valley, Washington
100% Syrah
90 points, Wine Spectator, (2013 Vintage)
“Fresh, lively and sleek, with red berry, raspberry and spice box flavors in a neat package, lingering expressively. Drink now through 2017.”
DID YOU KNOW?
The Rhone blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre is also known as the GSM blend. The popular Chateauneuf du Pape (CDP) is made with the Rhone blend though small amounts of 15 other varietals can be used.
Cheers, Bob the WineGuy
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Bob the WineGuy 
Those labels are scary! I hope the wine doesn’t taste like those labels look! Thats another difference between Washington State wines and their French contemporaries: the French would definitely have more traditional labels.
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Get over the labels – the wines are very good!
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Hello Bob, heading up to BI for a few days and plan on
bringing some NY strips to eat with Mark and Pop. Think
I’ll give one of these Syrah’s a try.
FYI. This is the vineyard I was telling you about at the
hardware store.
http://www.ellijayrivervineyards.com/
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John, be sure to grab the Pundit, it won’t disappoint. BTW remind Mark we are spending week in June at BI.
Thanks for vineyard link.
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