Despite the heat in 2001, harvest came late to Dick Boushey's Syrah vineyards in the Yakima Valley. Dick farms three Syrah sites dotting the slopes just north of Grandview, each with its own personality. We picked grapes from all three, 15 to 20 days later than we did Scott Williams' vineyard for La Côte Rousse. The three lots made a more complex and harmonious wine when blended together.

This wine continues the tradition of letting Syrah express its wild side. It's racy and yet stylish. Black raspberries, smoke, pepper and bramble lead the charge in both the aroma and flavor. It resonates with a big volume of black fruit, plenty of soft tannin, and a rich, lush mouthfeel. It has slightly more structure than La Côte Rousse, but has the fruit to stand up and balance it. This wine, too, is pretty irresistible right now, but will reward a few more years in the cellar.

The fruit was fermented similarly to our past vintages, with the objective of extracting the density and complexity that Boushey Syrah offers. The deep color and overall tannin profile attest to these efforts. And its fruit, tannin, acid and alcohol achieve a harmonious balance. Thirteen months in French oak barrels softened the edges and enhanced the aroma and mouthfeel

Blending Detail:

• 50% Merlot
• 44% Cabernet Sauvignon
• 6% Cabernet Franc

Barrel Program:

• Thirteen months in French oak barrels

AVA & Vineyard Detail:

Yakima Valley

• ​Boushey Vineyard

​Case Production:

• 165 cases   ​

Acclaim

 Wine and Spirits Magazine:

 The 2000 vintage of this wine was judged one of the "Top 10 Syrahs in America" for the year. This will be announced in their October, 2003, issue, but we wanted to give you a heads up in acquiring this new release before the word is out. They awarded the 2000 Syrah La Serenne 93 points, and loved the Syrah La Côte Rousse as well, giving it 91 points.