2015 Corliss Syrah

Brought up in a mix of new and used barrels, the 2015 Syrah (which includes a splash of Roussanne) is a winner and up with the top Syrahs in the vintage. Cassis, toasted spice, graphite, and hints of camphor all emerge from this full-bodied beauty that’s seamless, balanced, and layered on the palate. With ripe tannins and great balance, it's a beautiful Washington State Syrah to drink over the coming 8-10 years.

(95% of this wine is Stillwater Creek Syrah; because winemaker Andrew Trio considered the Viognier to be "over the top and tropical" in 2015, he added a bit of Roussanne to give the wine "a hint of stone fruit complexity"; vinified mostly in concrete, but also some open-top oak fermenters and stainless steel): Bright purple-ruby. Blueberry, blackberry, flinty minerality, cocoa powder, coffee and a hint of game on the nose; suggests an almost liqueur-like concentration. At once layered and firm, conveying a brooding primary character to its flavors of darkest berries, cardamom and cocoa nibs complicated by hints of herbs and peach. I particularly like this wine's lovely restrained sweetness and finishing grip. Much more varietally expressive than some earlier vintages of the Corliss Syrah. (15% alcohol)