Saviah Cellars 2018 The Jack Syrah

Appellation: Columbia Valley

Walla Walla Valley producer Richard Funk’s screw-capped example of Syrah is a crowd-pleaser not only for its qualities but also for the price. It starts with a selection from vineyards such as Stillwater Creek on the Royal Slope and Lonesome Spring Ranch in the Yakima Valley as well as Walla Walla Valley sites Pepper Bridge, Watermill and Dugger Creek. It screams Syrah in the nose with cured meat, mint, blackberry and plum. The structure brings plum jam and blackberry with milk chocolaty tannins and a finish that is luscious and long. Since 2006, Funk has earned 14 Platinums from Wine Press Northwest. Three of those have come via his work with Syrah, and this ended up receiving an unanimous vote for Platinum in October.

Rated “Double Platinum” by Wine Press Northwest magazine.

Price: $18

Production: 2,911 cases

Alcohol: 14.4%

Food pairings: Enjoy with barbecued pork ribs, braised beef, grilled chicken, burgers, lamb, duck, venison, hearty stew or a plate of cured meat and strongly flavored cheese.

Saviah Cellars tasting room

1979 JB George Road

Walla Walla, WA

(509) 522-2181

Saviah Cellars

www.saviahcellars.com

Great Northwest Wine