California and Washington State Syrahs!

Syrah is possibly the most overlooked red grape varieties in the U.S.of A. These Syrah and Southern Rhone styled wines are darlings of critics and deliver bang for the buck. They are all great food wines especially for grilling  and they can also age for a few years (if you can resist 'em!).


 Gorman Winery

2009 Gorman Winery Syrah "Pixie" On Sale $38.99
Firm in texture and explosive in flavor, with plenty of vibrant blackberry, black cherry and black pepper flavors to push through the layer of fine-grained tannins. Finishes with beguiling freshness and vitality. Best from 2013 through 2019. 200 cases made.
Rated 94/100 points Wine Spectator
2009 Gorman Winery Syrah/Cabernet Sauvignon "Evil Twin" Red Mountain On Sale $53.99
Firm in texture, this is expansive and generous in flavor, rolling its licorice-accented blackberry, cherry and tar flavors with focus and intensity against a layer of fine tannins. Shows depth and power, finishing long and vibrant. Best from 2013 through 2018. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 500 cases made.
Rated 95/100 points Wine Spectator
Shane

2011 Shane Grenache Blanc Camp 4 Vineyard Santa Ynez Valley On Sale $22.99
Pale yellow.  A bright, mineral-accented bouquet displays citrus, herb, mineral and floral scents, along with notes of talc and quinine.  Deeper peach and pear flavors are braced by dusty minerals and a touch of bitter lime zest.  Dry, pure and focused, with excellent finishing clarity and length.
Rated 90/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

2009 Shane Syrah "The Unknown" Sonoma County On Sale $26.99
Inky purple.  Explosively perfumed aromas of red and black fruit preserves, olive tapenade, smoky herbs and incense.  Sappy, palate-staining blackberry and boysenberry flavors are complicated by notes of star anise and candied violet, with a jolt of cracked pepper on the back end.  The finish strongly echoes the spice and blue fruit notes, lingering with outstanding clarity and persistent spiciness.  This wine was fermented with 100% whole clusters in one-third new barrels and includes a bit of viognier.
Rated 94/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

2008 Shane Syrah "The Unknown" Sonoma County On Sale $34.99
Opaque purple. Exotic, highly perfumed bouquet of dark berries, cherry-cola and intense black olive. Shows impressive inner-mouth perfume and sweet blackberry and cassis flavors, with supple tannins sneaking in on the back half. Very suave syrah with strong finishing thrust and persistent spiciness. This was fermented with 30% whole clusters.
Rated 92/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

2008 Shane Syrah "The Judge" Bennett Valley On Sale $36.99
Glass-staining purple. Blackberry, incense and spicecake on the nose, with a floral quality coming on strong in the glass. Pliant, alluringly sweet red and dark berry preserve flavors stain the palate, with juicy acidity providing verve. Deeper cassis and blueberry qualities build through a strikingly long, energetic finish. This is showing excellent complexity now but has the depth to age for at least another decade.
Rated 93/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Jonata

2008 Jonata "Todos" Red Blend Santa Ynez Valley On Sale $42.99
The 2008 Todos (mostly Syrah) bursts from the glass with expressive blackberries, blueberries, smoke, tar and incense. It is an exotic, full-bodied wine supported by considerable freshness and vibrancy. It naturally doesn’t have the exuberance of the estate’s best wines, but the price tag is also much more modest. A clean, layered finish rounds things out nicely. In 2008 the blend is 65% Syrah, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot and the rest assorted other varieties. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016.
Rated 92/100 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Beckmen Estates

2009 Beckmen Estates "Cuvee La Bec" Santa Ynez Valley On Sale $16.99
A real mouthful that packs in ripe, potent, powerful dark berry, spice, loamy earth and black licorice notes. Firm, chunky and rustic, yet charming, with a long, chewy finish. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Counoise. Drink now through 2018. 3,500 cases made.
Rated 90/100 Wine Spectator

2009 Beckmen Estates Syrah Santa Ynez Valley On Sale $21.99
The 2009 Syrah Estate possesses dazzling purity and length in a cool, inward style that stands a bit apart from some of the more opulent wines in this lineup. There is a level of delineation in the aromas and flavors here that is quite striking. A vein of minerality frames the inviting finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.
Rated 91/100 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Big Basin

2008 Big Basin Syrah "Coastview" Monterey On Sale $45.99
Deep violet color.  A sexy, complex bouquet shows an array of black and blue fruits, sandalwood, licorice and candied violet.  Sweet, palate-staining blueberry and cherry-cola flavors are lifted by gentle acidity and show a seamless texture.  Ripe and fleshy but vibrant, with excellent finishing clarity and resonating spiciness.  This wine's blend of power and energy is impressive.
Rated 93/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
2007 Big Basin Syrah "Coastview" Monterey On Sale $41.99
The 2007 Syrah Coastview, made from a high elevation (2,600 feet) site overlooking Monterey Bay, exhibits a dense purple color as well as a tight but promising nose of blackberries, spring flowers, crushed rocks, licorice and charcoal. Deep and full-bodied with stunning richness, a multilayered mouthfeel, and excellent length, this 2007 can be enjoyed over the next 10 years.
Rated 93/100 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2008 Big Basin Syrah "Fairview Road Ranch" Monterey
The 2008 Syrah Fairview Road Ranch is from the Santa Lucia Highlands, an obvious cool-climate site influenced by the fog and strong, cold winds coming off Monterey Bay, which is only five miles away. Sweet vanillin intermixed with creme de cassis, blackberry and spring flowers jump from the glass of this dense purple wine. Full-bodied, rich and multi-dimensional, with loads of fruit, a big, fleshy mouthfeel and a lingering finish, this is a hefty as well as generously endowed Syrah that shows good definition and impressive length. It should drink nicely for up to a decade.
Rated 93/100 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2008 Big Basin Syrah "Mandala" Santa Cruz Mountains On Sale $34.99
Lastly, the 2008 Syrah Mandala is a blend of 88% Syrah, 8% Grenache and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. Its opaque ruby/purple color is followed by notes of black currants, blackberries, pen ink and a hint of graphite, a deep, full-bodied mouthfeel and a rich, long finish. As always, these are impressive, well-made, concentrated wines meant to hold up to extended cellaring.
Rated 91/100 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2007 Big Basin Syrah "Mandala" Santa Cruz Mountains On Sale $29.99
From the Santa Cruz Mountains, the 2007 Syrah Mandala seems more primary even though it’s a year older. Dense purple, with sweet cassis and blackberry fruit as well as hints of cherries, licorice and spice, the wine is rich and full-bodied, and although not showing the complexity of the Fairview Road Ranch, it is similar in size, density and potential. It seems more backward, but perhaps it’s at that stage where it has totally recovered form bottling and is just beginning to close down ever so slightly. Hold on to it for the next several years and drink it over the following 10-12 years.
Rated 91+/100 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate