Domestic Syrah...Rose even!! Eating crow??

Peter Creasey

Peter Creasey

Peter Creasey
I have been known to be critical of domestic Syrahs. Maybe the time is now that I need to eat some crow!

Lagier Meredith Napa Valley Mt Veeder Syrah Rosé '10 -- Lovely Rosé, just the right rose color, refreshing acidity, quite dry without being astringent, watermelon/strawberry notes, nicely straight-laced with style, what a nice Rose, excellent food wine. Tonight served as an aperitif.

Then Domaine des Cantarelles Syrah de Fayel Vin de Pays du Gard '09 with chicken and pasta salad (garlic, tomatoes, basil/pesto, pine nuts, etc.).

Everything worked well before and for dinner on our beach balcony overlooking the surf.

The Lagier Meredith husband-wife team deserve accolades for formulating and producing this very price worthy delight.

Highly recommended!

. . . . . . Pete
 
originally posted by Peter Creasey:

The Lagier Meredith husband-wife team deserve accolades for formulating and producing this very price worthy delight.
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Pete,
I've loved everything form them that I've tried. Their Syrahs are, to me, among the most nuanced I've had from CA and their Chester's Anvil Zin is also among the most interesting that I've had. They're also good folks. Just give yourself an hour to get up to their place from the valley floor if you ever visit.

Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by Peter Creasey:
Domestic Syrah...Rose even!! Eating crow??
I have been known to be critical of domestic Syrahs. Maybe the time is now that I need to eat some crow!
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As good as this one wine may be, it's only one wine so am not sure that it invalidates any general criticisms you have.

Otherwise, sounds like a nice evening. Hopefully you can find the right setting for the riesling sometime soon.
 
originally posted by Bryan Garcia:
How many wines must you dislike before you can make a critical general criticism?
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I have no idea.

But it seems like he had not really found a CA syrah that he liked in the past. So even if he found one, I'm not sure that is enough to change the view of the overall category.

I'm a big fan of ESJ. I would probably like a few other producers who make similar wines if I actually had the time to drink them. But none of that takes away from/invalidates my general aversion to oversized CA syrah.
 
originally posted by Sharon Bowman: No thumbnail?
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Sharon, Pretty funny!

It did feel like I shortchanged my report without a photo. Alas, with company on our balcony enjoying the surf and sunset, conjuring up a photo just wasn't in the cards. The subject matter probably didn't rate the effort in any case.

. . . . . . Pete
 
originally posted by MLipton: They're also good folks. Just give yourself an hour to get up to their place from the valley floor if you ever visit.
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Mark, Yes, I am aware of that. Their reputation is tops.

We have not visited them ourselves but I have sent relatives there who have come away with accolades like yours...for them personally, for their setting, and, of course, for their wines. And visitors tend to come away as permanent customers.

. . . . . Pete
 
originally posted by Salil Benegal: I'm curious - which are the domestic Syrah producers that you've not been a fan of?
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Salil, Fair question!

Unfortunately, I wasn't enamored enough with the ones I've tasted over the years to etch their names in my mind.

I used to like the Truchard Syrah a long time ago but lost interest. Some of the Zaca Mesa Syrahs have had some interest in the past.

All in all, there are so many Syrahs from Southern France that, to me at least, have more to offer at significantly more appealing prices (like the Domaine des Cantarelles Syrah de Fayel Vin de Pays du Gard '09, for example, which I mention in the parent note).

. . . . . . Pete
 
originally posted by Bryan Garcia: How many wines must you dislike before you can make a critical general criticism?
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Bryan, It's more a question of what percentage of the domestic Syrahs that I have tried have I found to be short on appeal. In my case, the percentage is high. Granted, this may be the fault of my palate or my selection process but I stand my (perhaps faulty?) conclusion.

. . . . . . Pete
 
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