Tom Casagrande

9.2

Last bottle of the wine that, about 9 or 10 years ago, opened my eyes to the potential in the Columbia Valley and its various AVAs for Rhone varietals. I thought, if this entry-level Syrah was this good . . . . Just double-decanted it so it’s a little closed now on the nose, but the palate is soft and savory. Will update in a few hours and rate at that time.

UPDATE: it’s delicious and fully mature. Most of the fruit has been replaced by savory tertiary notes. Nose shows olive brine and delicate ash-y notes. — 22 days ago

Shay A

9.3

93-94 range

Hard to believe this is a 17yr old WA state Syrah. 100% varietal, all from Les Collines vineyard. 13.9ABV

Sporting a deep purple color even at 17yrs, this feels like it is just now entering prime time. Big aromatics of peppered smoked meats, whole cluster/green herbs, red and blackberry fruits. Floral and balanced with fruit but spices/herbs in the background. Where Cayuse (and all Christophe Baron/Rocks district) wines trend to the savory/sanguine profile (which I enjoy), this balances the dark fruit, smoky/charcoal, savory/spice driven side of Syrah in its typical rustic/feral profile. Nice bridge between cool climate New World Syrah and ripe vintage Cornas. Finish is more vibrant and less requiring of food as the CB wines do.

Followed over three days and shockingly held up. If you have a bottle, open and enjoy but no immediate rush. — 5 months ago

"Odedi"

8.9

Pale reddish in color. Pretty color.

Fruity nose and medium in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with mild complexity.

Showing raspberries, cherries, red currants, earth, light chocolate notes and spices.

Tangy finish with soft tannins.

This is a very tasty Grenache blend from Columbia Valley. Elegant and nicely balanced with a soft mouthfeel. Feels like a Southern Rhone red.

Easy drinking and good by itself or with food.

A blend of 77% Grenache, 13% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah. Aged in used French oak barrels for 21 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$48. — 8 months ago

"Odedi"

9.0

Pale purple in color.

Strong nose of black currants, plums, light oak and chocolate notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with red and black fruits, light wood, spices, coffee, earth, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, herbs and peppercorn.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This Single Vineyard Syrah from Walla Walla Valley is much lighter than I expected it to be. Engaging and interesting. Complex, fruit forward and easy drinking. A nice sipping wine.

A blend of 97% Syrah and 3% Viognier. Grapes were fermented with wild yeast in concrete vats and aged in neutral French oak barrels for 22 months. A small production of less than 3,500 bottles.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$65. — a month ago

Jonathan Wall

9.1

At 7 years old it’s balanced out. Well made. Though lacking some Syrah character. — 4 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Dark purple in color with a wide purplish rim, and medium plus intensity.

Strong nose of black currants, plums, tobacco, licorice, light oak, spices and chocolate notes.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruit forward on the palate with black plums, cooked cherries, currants, light wood, spices, coffee, dark chocolates, earth, herbs, peppercorn and tobacco leaf.

Short finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 5-year-old Syrah blend from Columbia Valley is drinking nicely right out of the bottle, but better after 2 hours of airtime.

As it opens up, more earth notes show up and bring more complexity. Feels like a heavy Southern Rhone red.

This 5 year old Syrah is drinking at its peak, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

Rich and fruit forward. Soft and elegant, with a mouth coating feel. Spicy and complex.

A blend of 70% Syrah, 22% Carignan and 8% Mourvedre.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$25. — 6 months ago

Bob Boyle

9.4

Drinking perfectly, a wonderful wine, tannins fully resolved but still alive on the palate — 2 months ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.1

Beautiful cool climate Syrah, poised and with finesse.
Black fruit on the nose with some leather accents, an uplifting flower note and a pinch of black pepper. Fresh, enticing, witht nice purity.
Quite light on the palate, poised, almost delicate. Nice flow & definition here with purity and a bit of depth. The typical Syrah notes come forward more towards the back.
More in the Pinot camp than Chateauneuf & is drinking beautifully right now. — 4 months ago

"Odedi"

9.0

Purple in color with medium intensity and a wide purplish rim.

Fruit forward on the nose with earth and chocolate notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing red and black fruits with light wood, spices, coffee, earth, dark chocolates, light vegetables and black pepper.

Nice length on the finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This Single Vineyard Syrah feels more like a Grenache than a Syrah. Showing nice balance between the fruits and earth notes.

Would be nice to revisit it in 3 years and see how it evolves.

Easy drinking and good by itself or with food.

100% whole Cluster Syrah grapes were aged in (8% New) French oak barrels for 21 months.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$65. — 5 months ago

Chris Coulombe

9.0

Excellent wine. Good balance. Longer it sits the better. Best wine in walla walla we tried. — 7 months ago