2017 Syrah Walla Walla Valley
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Tasting notes
Aromatically lifted, the 2017 Walla Walla Syrah bursts with purple flowers, lavender, spiced plum, blackberries and black pepper with a subtle smoky flavor, dried herbs and wet river rocks. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is nimble but offers layers of complexity with flavors of dusty dark cherry, black raspberry chutney and black pepper, showing a balanced structure with a dustiness at its heart. The wine delivers pleasure with lingering spice tones through the food-friendly finish, ending with lively tension and a seductive floral tone.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Incorporating 3% Viognier and from the Les Collines and Holy Roller vineyards in Walla Walla, the 2017 Syrah Walla Walla saw tons of stems and spent 17 months in 4% new French oak. It's one of the larger production releases here and has a complex, stemmy style in its ripe red fruits, dried flowers, orange zest, and peppery herb aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, elegant and nicely balanced on the palate, it's another lighter, more medium-bodied, juicy effort from this estate that has wonderful complexity and elegance yet comes up short in richness and depth. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years.
Medium red. Musky, moderately ripe scents of raspberry, pepper, mocha and herbs. Then supple in texture but energized by lovely peppery vinosity. Ultimately a moderately ripe Syrah with modest fruit sweetness and dimension. A hint of peppery dryness cleanses the palate on the back end. Well-made Syrah in a minor key. (13% alcohol; from a blend of vineyards, including Forgotten Hills; owner/winemaker Greg Harrington continues to make a winery-only Syrah entirely from Forgotten Hills fruit)