Paso Robles Syrahs

[ludja]

On an wine tasting excursion to Paso Robles a few months back one of the most exciting and interesting aspects of the trip was tasting a large number of syrahs in a wide variety of styles--from more restrained to huge and fruity. The stand out wineries with Syrah for the wineries we visited were Tablas Creek and Dover Canyon.

Have you explored Paso Robles Syrahs? Any favorites?

Here is a recent article in the SJ Mercury News: click

For years, Paso Robles was best known for zinfandel, and cabernet sauvignon still is the most widely planted grape variety. But syrah is where the action is these days.

Paso Robles syrah ranges from super-ripe and plush to spicy and exotic to elegant and savory. Some surpass 16 percent alcohol, while others are more restrained. Nearly all the styles are easy to enjoy.

The diversity of the area means that Paso Robles vintners have the ``ability to make big, jammy Aussie-style and more restrained, structured Rhone-style'' syrahs, says Mat Garretson of Garretson Wine Co. and founder of the annual Hospice du Rhone.

Syrah is by no means a newcomer to Paso Robles. Gary Eberle planted syrah at Estrella River Winery (now Meridian) in the mid-1970s. But it was the arrival of Tablas Creek Winery in 1989 that accelerated the popularity of Rhone grapes in the area.

The article also discusses some of the climatic and soil differences between East and West Paso Robles (101 being the dviding line) and the impact of Tablas Creek on growing Rhone varietals in the region and propogating Rhone varietal stock imported from France.

There are wine notes from some of the following wineries:

East:

2002 Clautiere ($24

2003 Bianchi ($18)

2003 Robert Hall ($18)

2003 Niner Bootjack Ranch ($20)

2002 Eberle Steinbeck Vineyard ($20)

J. Lohr: 2003 South Ridge ($15),

J..Lohr 2002 Cypress Shiraz ($10)

West

the 2003 Saxum "Broken Stones'' ($35),

2003 Tablas Creek ($35),

2002 Austin Hope ($42),

2003 The Aisling ($30).

Adelaida 2002 syrah ($25)

Adelaida 2003 Syrah ($26)

Adelaida 2002 Viking Estate Reserve ($55)

Also:

2001 Nadeau ($18),

2003 Tobin James Rock N Roll ($18),

2003 Gelfand ($22)

[Rebel Rose]

Thanks, Claudia!!

[Vinfidel]

what about justin

[Rebel Rose]

Justin only produces one syrah, and they are sold out. The next release will be in June 2006. You may be able to find some in the marketplace by using winesearcher.com, and you can call the winery and ask to be placed on their email list.