| The Jeriko estate vineyard is in southern | | | | purchased shepherd's pie. This Syrah was very |
| Mendocino County, about 100 miles (160 | | | | present and yet short. I tasted oak and light |
| kilometers) northwest of San Franciso. This area | | | | tannins. I added quite a bit of cayenne pepper |
| near the Russian River is home to some great | | | | sauce and the wine became darker and showed |
| champagne-style wines. The producer plants 1210 | | | | pleasant acidity. |
| vines per acre (about 3 vines per 10 square | | | | The next meal was simply box of vegetarian |
| meters). This high-density spacing is meant to | | | | lasagna to which I added lots and lots of grated |
| force the roots deeper into the gravelly loam soil. | | | | Parmesan cheese. The Syrah was solid and well |
| When the roots have it easy the wine usually | | | | balanced with good oak and some tobacco. It |
| suffers. By the way, Jeriko is the Latin spelling in | | | | worked well with the lasagna's tomatoes. |
| contrast to the more familiar Greek spelling of | | | | My final meal was a broiled steak (London Broil) |
| Jericho. Do you think it's a way of getting | | | | covered with a ketchup and mustard sauce that |
| attention? | | | | was heavy on the garlic. The wine was oaky and |
| OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we | | | | quite long with dark cherries. It had great balance |
| taste and review are purchased at the full retail | | | | between the acidity and tannins. In the presence |
| price. | | | | of potatoes roasted in chicken fat, the wine was |
| Wine Reviewed: The San Francisco Wine Press | | | | as before but the chocolate intensified. Sliced |
| Syrah 2006 DOC 13.8% alcohol about $17 | | | | eggplant roasted in lots of garlic and oil brought |
| Let's start by quoting the marketing materials. | | | | out harshness. The wine was somewhat sweet |
| Description: This organically grown Syrah earned a | | | | and the chocolate remained. |
| Silver Medal at the 2009 San Francisco Chronicle | | | | I paired this wine with schmaltz herring packed in |
| Wine Competition. Our Quality Assurance | | | | oil. The Syrah was round with caramel. When it |
| Laboratory has determined that this wine contains | | | | met yellow cheddar cheese this wine was very |
| 13 mg/L of free sulphur. Tasting Note: We can | | | | round with oaky dark fruit. In the presence of |
| highly recommend the 2006 Syrah, which had a | | | | Swiss cheese this wine was powerful, oaky, deep, |
| gamey flavor and a depth that belied its price. | | | | and dark. |
| (Blair Campbell, at the eastbayexpress website, | | | | Final verdict. I really liked this wine. Because I am |
| April 15, 2009) And now for my review. | | | | tasting two wines at once I often have some |
| When first tasted without any food the wine was | | | | wine left over after all the tastings. Believe me, |
| mouth filling, dark tasting, and yet there was | | | | not one drop of this wine went down the sink. |
| some bubblegum. The initial pairing was with a | | | | |