2009 La Côte Patriarche

This gets the nod as the blackest of the 2009 Syrahs, with an impenetrable, dense core of color nearly to the very edge of the glass; swirl it and it coats the glass. This old Syrah planting at Red Willow Vineyard showed its stuff in 2009, creating a blend that’s somewhat a cross between the suppleness of La Serenne and power of La Côte Rousse. It makes sense: although Red Willow lies at the far west end of the Yakima Valley, nearer to the Cascade foothills, it’s warmer than the Boushey Vineyard (La Serenne) in the mid Yakima Valley, but not as hot as the vineyards on Red Mountain (La Côte Rousse).

There’s so much stuffing to this vintage of La Côte Patriarche that I’m hesitant to offer a drinking window. The Sauer family has been farming these vines since 1986 when they planted Washington’s first Syrah here: stories are still told of the earliest vintages (made by David Lake MW at the Columbia Winery) and how successfully they’ve aged over time. I haven’t tasted many of them, but I’m eager to track this wine as it matures over the next decade or more..

Serve cool, 60-62°F. Best from 2013 through 2022.