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Syrah, you spicy, meaty, smoky, fruity, spicy, leathery grape, we love you. From California to Australia, you make some fine wines. You also appear in Yellowtail form, but we forgive you. That's not your fault.
We chose six wines from the world's major Syrah-producing regions for the Humpday Tipples crew, each representing a different expression of the grape. For dinner we served an assortment of charcuterie followed by spiced lamb shoulder slow-cooked, pulled, and served over basmati rice. Chocolates were dessert.
Bottle 1: Jean-Luc Colombo Côtes Du Rhône Les Forots 2005, Rhône, France ($15)
Rank Amateurs Said: light blue-red color, red fruit and leather in the nose, high acidity, medium body, saddle, tomato skin, not very concetrated, short finish
In a Word: Tangy
Paired with Food: Much better with food to balance the acidity in the wine
Bottle 2: Snoqualmie Columbia Valley Syrah 2006, Columbia Valley, WA ($10.99)
Rank Amateurs Said: blue-red color, tobacco, blackberry, smoke, and cherry in the nose, oak, dried fruit, meat, medium acidity, medium body, licorice in the finish
In a Word: Fruitcake (Spanish style, as in spice + dried fruit)
Paired with Food: Smoke and fruit were enhanced with lamb
Bottle 3: Qupé Central Coast Syrah 2007, Central Coast, CA ($16.99)
Rank Amateurs Said: blue-red color, blackberry, tobacco, new leather, and flowers in the nose, high acidity, medium body, short finish
In a Word: Fresh
Paired with Food: Fruit was good foil for the lamb, acid cut the fat
Bottle 4: Franck Balthazar Cornas Chaillot 2007, Rhône, France ($47.99)
Rank Amateurs Said: purple-red color, tobacco, dried cranberry, beef jerky, stewed herbs, smoke, and leather in the nose, "pop rocks," mineral, damp soil, agave, salted licorice, salt, medium acidity, medium body, anise on the finish
In a Word: Complex
Paired with Food: Flavors continued to evolve with the charcuterie and the lamb, drawing out more in the wine
Bottle 5: Alain Graillot Crozes Hermitage 2008, Rhône, France ($32.99)
Rank Amateurs Said: purple-red color, herbal, peppery, red and back fruit in the nose, rosemary, medium acidity, medium body, long finish
In a Word: Herbal
Paired with Food: Rosemary and herb notes went well with all the meats
Bottle 6: Grant Burge Meshach Shiraz 1996, Barossa Valley, Australia ($49.99)
Rank Amateurs Said: tawny-purple color, decanted to remove much sediment, highly concentrated, plum, dark cherry, shoe leather, and tobacco in the nose, "candy-covered almonds," "like a wallet in a cigar box," cherry jam, cooked plums, medium acidity, full body, very long finish
In a Word: Evolved
Paired with Food: Kept evolving throughout the meal, always tasted something new with each bite
Links
Snoqualmie Vineyards
Qupé Wine Cellars
Grant Burge Wines
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