Happy New Year! We hope that the new year will be a good one for you and your loved ones. For us, it is a safe bet that wine, including Syrah, will feature prominently in our lives. However, unless you have a crystal ball, the only thing we can say for sure is “que sera sera – what will be will be” for 2010.
In the more immediate future, we would like to remind you about our upcoming winemaking seminar with Waters Crest Winery proprietor, James Waters. This special session will take place on Saturday, January 23 2010 from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM and will feature a comprehensive lesson on how to make wine, along with a discussion on food and wine pairing principles.
In addition, we will once again host the Society of Wine Educators’ Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) Exam on April 10, 2010 at 12:00 PM. While this is a self-study exam, we will be offering a Review Session on March 27, 2010 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with a 1-hour lunch break. Registration for the exam itself should be done directly through the Society of Wine Educators’ website and will cost $370.00, with the corresponding study guide. The full-day review session, inclusive of a light lunch paired with wines, will be $375/person with a discount rate of $295/person for organizations signing up three or more people.
Drink wisely and well,
Tracy Ellen Kamens, Ed.D., DWS, CWE
CEO: Chief Education Officer
and
Jared Michael Skolnick
COO: Cork Opening Officer
Que Syrah Syrah
Among the noble grapes, Syrah figures heavily in the world of wine and is the fifth most planted red wine grape in the world. Highly regarded for its powerful, long-lived wines, the best examples are full-bodied, with firm tannins and rich mulberry fruit, leather, smoke and black pepper.
Although the grape originated in Southeast France, it is most known for the big, bold wines hailing from the northern Rhône Valley. Here, the much lauded Côte Rôtie and Hermitage are primarily produced from 100% Syrah, with a small percentage of Viognier and Marsanne, respectively, permitted to be co-fermented. Less well known, and therefore, frequently less pricey, are the appellations of St. Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage, which drink well at a much younger age than their more famous colleagues. Further south in the Rhône Valley, Syrah shares the spotlight with other indigenous varieties within Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côtes du Rhone blends and is widely planted in Languedoc-Roussillon, where it provides good structure to those wines.
Given its popularity, Sryah can be found in nearly every other wine producing country with key areas including the United States, Australia, Chile and South Africa. Down under, Syrah changed its name to Shiraz. However, while Shiraz, a city found in medieval Persia, was renowned for its wine, the use of its name for this grape variety is a misnomer as there is no true connection between the two. Australian Shiraz tends to be riper, more fruit forward and reminiscent of chocolate or cocoa on the palate compared to the Rhône wines. This is especially true in warmer Australian climates such as the Barossa Valley and the newer, Heathcote region. Cooler climates produce wines with more elegance and spice. When not bottled on its own, Syrah blends well with Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon.
With its hybrid status as neither Old World or New World, South Africa frequently takes its cue in labeling its wines as either Syrah if they are French in style or as Shiraz if they lean toward Australia in style.
The grapes prefer warmer climates where they can achieve full ripeness. Hence, Syrah does well in California’s Napa and Sonoma Valleys as well as in the Central Coast; Oregon’s Rogue Valley (which is much warmer than the northerly Willamette Valley); and in Washington State.
Tasting Notes
Babcock Winery, Identity Crisis Syrah 2008, Santa Barbara County (CA), USA, $15.00
This is truly an unusual wine. With barely a hint of coppery color, it is the least likely looking Syrah. However, it is 100% Syrah vinified in stainless steel without its skins. It has a dry palate with notes of nectarine, cherry and a hint of spice, along with good acidity.
Casas Patronales, Syrah Reserva Privada 2007, Maule Valley, Chile, $15.00
A step above their entry-level wines, Casas Patronales’ Reserva Privada wines see 12 months in oak, compared to 6. This Syrah has aromas of fruit, oak, cocoa and coffee. The full-bodied palate is very earthy, showing some black and red fruit along with some spice and minerality. Long length.
Horse Mountain Wines, Shiraz 2005, Paarl, South Africa, $10.00
Located just over 30 minutes away from Cape Town, Horse Mountain Wines is located within the Western Cape wine region. Its Shiraz, aged in new French and American oak barrels for 12 months, delivers intense aromas of spice and berries. On the palate, ripe tannins mingle with dark fruit flavors and baking spice.
Loan Wines, Shiraz 2004, Barossa Valley, Australia, $35.00
The hand-picked grapes for this wine come from the vineyards of Loan Wines, which are Certified Organic. With its small batch production (400 cases) and limited yield (1.5 tons/acre), the wine shows deep intense flavors of black fruit, spice and tar.
Monticello Vineyards, Estate Grown Syrah 2006, Oak Knoll District (Napa Valley), USA, $50.00
With familial roots in Virginia, founder Jay Corley sought to honor his ancestors as well as Thomas Jefferson by naming his wine in recognition of Jefferson’s home. Their Syrah is grown on the valley floor in Napa’s Oak Knoll District. This wine presents developing aromas of oak, cedar, and fainter notes of berry, spice and earth. Full-bodied on the palate, lush black cherry flavors are joined by notes of oak, cedar, earth and spice.