97% Syrah and 3% Viognier from Los Alamos Valley, California.
SRP of $30 and available for as low as $23. Sample received courtesy Andrew Murray Vineyards for review purposes.
From the bottle:
"The Watch Hill Vineyard lies in the cool reaches of the Los Alamos Valley. The grapes are allowed to reach very high maturity levels, while retaining a stunning natural acidity due to warm, sunny days and cool nights, and soils rich in sand and calcareous material. This results in a classic, cool-climate Syrah that is refreshing, rather than heavy or cloying. We added 3% Viognier to this vintage in hommage of our old Roasted Slope Syrah. The 2010 (like the 2009 before) just begged for a little something extra, and the Viognier delivered by lifting the nose and by helping to keep this Syrah remain yummy and distinctive. The aromas and flavors lean toward bright red fruits...cherries, raspberries, currants, and cranberries, with just a touch of a floral/violet note (from the Viognier) with a spicy note dominated by fresh black pepper and a dose of sweet French oak. This wine is quite quaffable now, but you will be rewarded if you wait 2-7 years to drink this one.
14.1% Alcohol"
Today's wine is another from one of my favorite winemakers, Andrew Murray. If you remember, it was just earlier this week that we reviewed the 2009 Tous Les Jours, which received our highest ever Taste rating. The Watch Hill Vineyard Syrah is one of Andrew Murray's single vineyard wines, which all clock in at over $20, but let me tell you, they are all well worth it.
The 2010 Andrew Murray Vineyards Watch Hill Syrah begins with beautiful and dense aromas of raspberry, plum, spice and maybe even a bit of banana. There's a nice floral component as well. Tasting the wine shows really lush flavors and good structure. This is a really fun to drink wine. The dry and long finish features wonderful peppery spice.
The bottom-line is that this is simply an extremely delicious wine. The 3% Viognier is actually co-fermented with the Syrah, a style of which I am definitely a fan.
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
