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By Chuck Hill
Wines of the Week
Chuck's Wine Reviews
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Wines of the Week
A Bouquet of Syrahs for Spicy Foods Part 2 of 3 Walla Walla is a great destination, and this week I will focus mainly on those local vintners. L 'Ecole No
41 The venerable schoolhouse that is home to
the L'Ecole No 41 tasting room has
been a fixture in the Walla Walla wine scene for over 20 years. Don't
miss a stop Woodward
Canyon Rick Small's Syrah offers the high pedigree of grapes grown at Champoux and Dubrul Vineyards, some of Washington's finest fruit. Bright aromas of blackberry, red currant, vanilla and spicy oak lead to a rich palate that winemaker Rick suggests pairing with "sturdy Mediterranean food." Woodward Canyon's tasting room is right next door to L'Ecole. Reininger Continuing your travels toward downtown Walla Walla, you'll find Reininger Winery on the north side of Highway 12. Chuck Reininger's 2005 Walla Walla Valley Syrah also hails from famous vineyards - Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills. Exploding with ripe blueberry aromas, hints of lavender, pepper and rich earthiness complete the olfactories. A ripe and juicy palate begs for rich and spicy meats.
Bergevin
Lane Just west of downtown Walla Walla, a warm welcome awaits you at the Bergevin Lane tasting room. Be sure to sample their current release of Syrah. The 2004 edition features ripe cherry and blueberry fruit with notes of oak and dark chocolate. The palate is not overly heavy, making this a great sipping wine before the spicy foods arrive at the table.
Amavi Cellars Jean-Francois Pellet is winemaker for Pepper Bridge Winery and the little brother Amavi Cellars located in downtown Walla Walla. This outstanding Syrah offers both power and finesse, a combination not easy to attain. Bold aromas of blueberry, plum and smoky meat aromas lead to a rich, chewy palate the bursts with ripe fruit and finishes with notes of toasty oak. A good value to pair with your finest efforts from the grill. Whitman Cellars Whitman Cellars winemaker Steve Lessard worked at several California wineries before coming north to spend six years at Hedges Cellars before making the leap to Walla Walla and the new Whitman Cellars venture. The winery and tasting room are just northwest of downtown and offer informative tastings and informal tours of the operation. Steve's 2005 Syrah is a powerful wine, offering blackberry and cherry aromas with earthy-meaty notes and hints of toasty oak. Flavors of black fruits and earthy complexity make this a wine for your spiciest dishes! Ash Hollow If you're in downtown Walla Walla, you're within walking distance of the Ash Hollow tasting room. Don't miss a chance to visit, try their wines and check out the work of their featured local artist. The 2006 Syrah comes from the estate vineyard located just inside the western boundary of the Walla Walla Valley appellation. Look for ripe blueberry, blackberry and plum with notes of tobacco - all neatly tucked into a frame of toasty cedar with a cocoa finish. Abeja John Abbott has been the winemaker at
Abeja since the beginning and has crafted each vintage with care and
insight. This latest Syrah release features fruit from the estate
vineyard at the winery, east of Walla Walla on Mill Creek Road. A more
restrained - classic - Syrah, look for aromas of rich plum, meaty
blueberry and spicy pepper with floral and woody notes. The palate
echoes the aroma and is great with spicy Indian cuisine. The wine is
available in 6-bottle cases at the winery; single bottles from your
local wine merchant.
Watermill Winery This relatively new operation is located in Milton-Freewater, Oregon, just south of Walla Walla. Winemaker Rich Funk crafted this intense Syrah from grapes grown at some of Walla Walla's finest vineyards. The nose is complex with blueberry, plum and herbal notes. The palate is silky with rich flavors of berry, plum, licorice and toasty oak. Don't miss visiting some of last week's featured wineries: Three Rivers on Highway 12 west of Walla Walla and Trio Vintners at the Walla Walla airport.
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here if you're touring; it's right on Highway 12 in Lowden. Marty
Clubb's 2005 Syrah offers complex aromas of blueberry, plum, earth and
toasty oak. The palate adds flavors of cocoa, leather and spice to the
mix. Great with spicy foods from the grill. 
