WTN: Cristom WillametteVlly Syrah '04

Tried this last night:
1. Cristom WillametteVlly Syrah Estate (14.5%; http://www.CristomWines.com) 2004: Very dark color; beautiful cracked black pepper/cold-climate Syrah some blackberry/licorice/DrPepper slight roasted/meaty/pungent slight toasty/oak bit Rhonish nose; tart very cracked black pepper/spicy/cold-climate Syrah slight green olive some blackberry/Syrah complex some roasted/smokey/Rhonish flavor; very long strong black pepper/blackberry/Syrah tart Rhonish finish w/ some tannins; loads of cracked black pepper and rather Rhonish; needs several yrs; sort of Graillot-like; very fairly priced at $30.00
___________________________
And a wee BloodyPulpit:
1. I raved about the '03 version of this wine when I had it over a yrs ago for its cold-climate/Syrah character and rather Rhonish character. The '03 was, I believe, the first WillametteVlly Syrah. I cracked one a few days ago I still liked it a lot. I saw this '04 version on the shelf ystrday, so grabbed it. It's even better than the previous version. A terrific Syrah w/ very good minerality & Rhone character.
Tom

I need to try this. I haven't had an Oregon syrah yet.

Jason

Jason,
Most of the Oregon Syrahs come from down South in the RogueRiver region. Particularly the DelRio Vnyd sells lots of Syrah grapes. The Cristom comes from much cooler WillametteVlly and is a whole nuther breed of cat. I think they have the only planting of Syrah in the WV, but not sure about that.
Tom

I thought Penner Ash had a syrah...do you know where that was from? Maybe Washington now that I think about it.

I blew it last time I was up there by not going to Cristom. I will not make that mistake in 07.

Jason

The Penner-Ash IS pretty good, as well. Forgot about them. About half from DelRio and the balance from the OR side of the ColumbiaVlly AVA.
Tom