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2017 Horsepower Vineyards High Contrast Vineyard Syrah

Removed from a subterranean wine cellar; Purchased direct from winery; Consignor is original owner

Ends Sunday, 7pm Pacific

RATINGS

96The Wine Advocate

...pronounced smoky aromas that waft with delicate notes of dark chocolate-covered blackberries, then show hints of roasted coffee bean, notions of petrichor, baked earth and dried herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is elegantly powerful… There is a velvety firmness to the mid-palate before moving onto an elongated finish that grows in complexity and amplitude as the expression resonates harmoniously...

95James Suckling

Aromas of brambleberries and wet earth with some smoke and green cloves. Full body, round and succulent tannins and a juicy, earthy aftertaste. Savory.

95+ Jeb Dunnuck

...notes of chocolaty black fruits, toasted spice, mulled plums, cured ham, and sweet mulch... Full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, with plenty of tannins...

93Wine Spectator

A vivid expression, elegantly but deeply structured, with bold blueberry, black olive, smoky meat and garrigue notes that build tension toward defined tannins.

92+ Stephen Tanzer

...blackberry, pepper, brown spices and dark chocolate. Then juicier and more delineated...with plenty of texture and breadth; also darker in its fruit character... Finishes with firm tannic spine and a touch of youthful bitterness.

REGION

United States, Washington, Walla Walla Valley

Walla Walla Valley AVA likes to call itself the Napa Valley of Washington, and given the concentration of well-reviewed wineries in the appellation, the comparison is understandable. The Walla Walla appellation is comprised of 340,000 acres, of which 1,200 acres are vineyards. Walla Walla is located in the southeastern corner of Washington and it extends slightly into northeastern Oregon. It is named after the Walla Walla River Valley, and the city of Walla Walla is the commercial center of Washington’s wine industry. The city was founded in the 1840s by the Hudson’s Bay Company as a trading post, but as early as the 1850s farmers were planting grapes for winemaking. Prohibition shuttered winemaking in the early 20th century, but a winemaking renaissance started in the 1970s when Leonetti Cellars, still one of the state’s most acclaimed wineries, started producing acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignon. Walla Walla’s AVA status was awarded in 1984 and today there are more than 100 wineries. Cabernet Sauvignon is the most frequently planted grape, followed by Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese Chardonnay and Viognier.

TYPE

Red Wine, Syrah (Shiraz)

This grape is grown in milder climates and produces a medium-to full-bodied wine. It is also known as Shiraz, but should not be confused with Petit Sirah, which was developed by crossing Syrah with Peloursin.