With too many syrahs chasing too few buyers, this category has become a tricky one for producers on our West Coast. Many winemakers who buy fruit from high-quality vineyards have had to cut their prices to move their wines. It’s hardly surprisingly, then, that vineyard owners who have planted significant syrah acreage in recent years have been particularly hard-hit. But my recent discussions in Washington State with numerous winemakers during the course of my annual tastings of new releases suggest that the better syrah producers here are enjoying a bit more success in the marketplace with this variety than are their peers in California. And they also benefit from an avid local following. Is it because the wines are better? READ MORE »
