Columbia Crest Grand Estates Syrah 2020 (USA)

Description

Cherry, Oak, Spice

Bright red with purple hues. Elegant smoky tones lead to notes of concentrated berry, raspberry, boysenberry, dried herbs and hints of pepper. This Syrah’s elegant smoky tones lead to notes of concentrated berry, raspberry, boysenberry, dried herbs and hints of pepper. The supple texture is complemented by flavors of cedar and dark fruits.

The 2020 growing season saw average to warmer-than-average spring and fall temperatures allowing for long hang times, slow ripening, and nice flavor development. Minimal rainfall allowed for optimal canopy management through irrigation. 2020 saw Eastern Washington’s quintessential dry summer with long, warm days and cool nights for optimal flavor development and earlier ripening. Lower than average crop yields at harvest time provided high quality fruit with great concentration of flavors.

Wines from Washington State are a wonderful combination of New World meets Old World and offers a full range of wine styles and a vast selection of varieties.Records show that wine was being produced and enjoyed in Washington State from the 1860s, influenced by the Italian and German immigrants.Following the lull of the prohibition era, the wine industry started up again, and the production was primarily sweet, fortified wine. It wasn't until the 1950s that plantings of vitis vinifera vines increased and a more serious approach to fine wine making began and by the late 1960s Washington State wines were gaining recognition, in particular Grenache. By the 1970s vineyards were being planted in the Yakima Valley, Columbia Gorge and Red Mountain with Cabernet Sauvignon now gaining serious momentum and admiration.By the 1980s more wineries had been established and the Washington State wines were winning top awards and appearing regularly in Wine Spectator.Washington State is divided by the Cascade Mountains which has a huge influence on both the wine industry and the lifestyles of the Washingtonians. The western side reaches out to the beautiful Pacific Coast and many of the original wineries were built here, and there is still a very busy cellar door business, however, rainfall is high on this side of the mountains and it is far too wet to grow grapes (apart from Puget Sounds AVA). Alternatively, the continental climate and more desert like conditions on the east are perfect for vines to flourish. In Washington State, there are now around 900 wineries and 350 plus independent wine grape growers, with over 20,000 hectares planted. Washington State is now the second largest US wine growing state after California. The industry is a mix of larger internationally owned producers, as well as many smaller boutique, family run wineries.