Savage Grace
Yakima Valley Red Willow Vineyard Syrah
Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, Oregon/Washington, USA
Purple, moderate plus pigment extraction. Floral and cherry notes in nose, not sure about black olive as someone else noted, but some herbal and barrel toast notes, yes. Flavors of cherry peel and berry with depth and length. A hint of black pepper in aftertaste after its been open an hour. Restrained acidity and alcohol, soft mouthfeel, tannins largely missing in action but not needed, just inexpressive or well hidden. Not a typical wine producer which is what makes them special; Michael typically puts his own spin on the wines he makes. Paired well with a hearty but light pork and tomato lasagna I made using a Cooks Illustrated recipe from their cookbook
Purple, moderate plus pigment extraction. Floral and cherry notes in nose, not sure about black olive as someone else noted, but some herbal and barrel toast notes, yes. Flavors of cherry peel and berry with depth and length. A hint of black pepper in aftertaste after its been open an hour. Restrained acidity and alcohol, soft mouthfeel, tannins largely missing in action but not needed, just inexpressive or well hidden. Not a typical wine producer which is what makes them special; Michael typically puts his own spin on the wines he makes. Paired well with a hearty but light pork and tomato lasagna I made using a Cooks Illustrated recipe from their cookbook
Apr 12th, 2020
Fascinating. If I were blinded on it I might think it was a Grenache. It’s silky and elegant and just when you think it’s all fruit and flowers you swirl your glass one more time and a black olive catapults out. Not because you utilized physics to get an object out of a glass without inverting it. Sorry. But the smell of olives is like the chaser to the bouquet. So essentially if syrah were a goth martini (black olive garnish) it would be this but one the higher vermouth percentage scale. Please try it.
Fascinating. If I were blinded on it I might think it was a Grenache. It’s silky and elegant and just when you think it’s all fruit and flowers you swirl your glass one more time and a black olive catapults out. Not because you utilized physics to get an object out of a glass without inverting it. Sorry. But the smell of olives is like the chaser to the bouquet. So essentially if syrah were a goth martini (black olive garnish) it would be this but one the higher vermouth percentage scale. Please try it.
May 15th, 2019
Striking Syrah. Extremely floral with nice concentration of dried red fruits and flower petals. Elegantly balanced at 12.4% alc. with soft new oak. Well rounded. Introspective.
Striking Syrah. Extremely floral with nice concentration of dried red fruits and flower petals. Elegantly balanced at 12.4% alc. with soft new oak. Well rounded. Introspective.
Oct 25th, 2017
Drank the 2019 i. Hood River with a friend. it was tasty. Balanced, lovely mouth feel without high alcohol or syrup. I would buy it again at $32 as treat!
Drank the 2019 i. Hood River with a friend. it was tasty. Balanced, lovely mouth feel without high alcohol or syrup. I would buy it again at $32 as treat!
Oct 9th, 2022
Tasted like maple (syrup - not tree) and oak. Interesting and unusual, but not something I’d seek again.
Tasted like maple (syrup - not tree) and oak. Interesting and unusual, but not something I’d seek again.
May 21st, 2019
A WA syrah under 16% ABV? Sign me up. There is some lovely fruit in here—great floral notes and a hint of banana. Would have liked a bit more complexity, but this is very lovely and quaffable. More of this from WA producers, please.
A WA syrah under 16% ABV? Sign me up. There is some lovely fruit in here—great floral notes and a hint of banana. Would have liked a bit more complexity, but this is very lovely and quaffable. More of this from WA producers, please.
Mar 19th, 2018