2015 De Lille Cellars Syrah Signature Yakima Valley

The 2015 Signature Syrah (which includes 2%) comes from Ciel du Cheval, Grand Ciel, and Boushey Vineyards and was completely destemmed and aged in 20% new French oak. It’s another Rhône look alike and offers classic notes of blackberries, black olives, bacon fat, and peppery herbs. It’s medium-bodied, fresh, nicely concentrated, and balanced, with present, yet ripe, tannin. It will keep for a decade. Owner/Winemaker Chris Upchurch compared the 2015s from Washington State to the 2009s from Bordeaux, and given the sweltering heat in 2015, I understand the comparison. However, the 2015s come across as more focused and classic in style, in part, I suspect to the vines shutting down throughout the summer and I think the true phenolics actually lag the 2012s, 2014s, and 2016s. These wines are concentrated, have notable purity, and building tannin. They’re going to benefit from short-term cellaring. As usual, I tasted the barrel samples during my visit at the estate and the bottled wines at my office in Colorado.