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Media Coverage of 2005 Clifton Hill Syrah
Media Coverage of 2005 Alder Creek Syrah
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Rated "Excellent" by Wine Press
Northwest magazine. "Textures match aromas of black cherries and cranberries,
finished by vanilla spice and Good & Plenty candy.
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Recommended by Northwest Palate
magazine "Bold spice and fruit scents show plum and pepper in the nose. Smooth
and polished on the entry; big earthy and plummy flavors are showy and
succulent."
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Media Coverage of 2004 Clifton Hill Syrah
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Wine Enthusiast, October 2006 - Rated 92 Editor's Choice
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Sourced from one of the
mainstay vineyards in Washington's new Wahluke Slope AVA, this Syrah is fragrant
with berry, citrus and mint. It explodes on the tongue with tart, snappy
raspberry and boysenberry fruit; clean and bracing and as fresh as a summer day.
Sappy and sharp, bright and powerful; it's supple and bracing.
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Northwest Palate, September/October 2006 - Highly Recommended
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Blustery aromas of mint, cedar and black pepper swirl around an eye of blue
plum essence. Mouthwateringly rich and bright, the wine dances on the palate
with blueberry and blackberry flavors, complemented by gradations of spice,
dried herbs, black peppercorns and even violets. Big, yet smooth and nicely
controlled, this Syrah would be a stylish match for roasted duck breast.
Excellent Value.
| Wine Press Northwest, Fall 2006 - Excellent |
The first release by Seattle vintner Robert Spalding was a big hit with us,
and he has followed up with a vineyard-designated Syrah from one of the state's
top vineyards, this Milbrandt property on the Wahluke Slope. The wine opens with
aromas of fresh strawberries, cranberries and sweet red apples, followed by
voluptuous flavors of black pepper, raspberyyies and a hint of oak. It's a
medium bodied, easy drinking Syrah.
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Seattle Times, 5/10/2006 -
Washington syrahs have gone from being a curiosity to being solid and
interesting reds to being world-class. Why? Because the vines are getting
older, the vineyard management is improving and the winemakers are approaching
their syrahs in particular with a youthful passion that is absolutely
riveting.
Want to taste for yourself? Here are six new syrahs from some of
Washington's most innovative wineries. These wines are absolutely dazzling.
They light up the palate with a mix of highlighted flavors that California
(and for that matter, Australia) can only dream of. These are wines that
dance. They express all that is brilliant in Washington: the bright, fresh,
tangy berry fruit; the nuances of citrus and spice; and the sharp acids that
provide the nerve structure, the definition and the sheer vitality of this
state's wines.
Seia 2004 "Clifton Hill Vineyard" Syrah (Wahluke Slope);
$23. Seia was featured in this column a year ago when I tasted
the 2003 Clifton Hill; it's come back with an even better 2004 that explodes
from the glass with concentrated scents and flavors of fresh raspberries.
Hints of citrus and mint add zest; the wine is sappy, sharp, tight and
compact; give it a couple of hours to breathe. |
| Gold Medal Winner - Northwest Wine Summit 2006 |
| Silver Medal Winner - Seattle Wine Awards; 2nd place Syrah over $20 |
2003 Cabernet Sauvignon wins Silver Medal at Northwest Wine Summit
Media Coverage of
Seia Wine Cellars' 2003 Syrah
| Wine Press Northwest, Summer 2005 - "Outstanding! Self-taught
winemaker Rob Spalding and this Seattle boutique winery make an opulent little
splash with this tiny release from Milbrandt's Wahluke Slope vineyard. There's
some nose-filling bacon fat and plenty of oak with lots of ripe huckleberry,
blackberry and vanilla also dominating the palate. Look for a Coffee Nip at
the end of this cocktail red." |
| Seattle Times, 3/9/2005 - "Seia's Robert Spalding believes that
single-vineyard wines best express the concept of terroir. This 2003 does that
well, with sweet black-cherry fruit anchoring a tight, nicely textured wine" |
| Northwest Palate, July-August 2005 - "Highly Recommended. Smoky,
toasty aromas with hints of cassis and tar. Concentrated palate of ripe berry
fruit and anise, balanced by bright acidity and sweet barrel toast. Try with
grilled quail stuffed with wild rice and raisins." |
| MSNBC.com, 4/20/2005 - "A syrah in zinfandel’s clothing,
and I mean that in a good way. This is a first effort from winemaker Robert
Spalding, working out of Seattle’s Capitol Hill. With violets and blackberry
in the mix, it’s pretty and lush, if a bit hot at 14.9 percent alcohol." |
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