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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2015 and 2020 (based on 21 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 88.5 pts. and median of 88 pts. in 31 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Carniolan on 4/21/2016 & rated 85 points: meh (1988 views) | | | Tasted by RPerro on 4/20/2016 & rated 90 points: Great QPR syrah! Blue & black fruit, a touch of oak and spice. Well integrated, and drinking really well. (2173 views) | | | Tasted by denver_vinder on 1/30/2016 & rated 88 points: blackberry, Blackberry and Blackberry - nothing much else. Decent at 14-15 degrees but not a particullarly great wine. Medium- body, medium fresh acidity and medium tannins. open an hour before drinking. (2624 views) | | | Tasted by fingers on 1/10/2016 & rated 88 points: It would be easy to write this off as just another crowd pleaser if it weren't for the fantastic length to the finish and a decent ability to express a sense of terroir. A lot more going on below the surface than what a $15 bottle usually delivers and I think it's pretty well ready to go with a short aeration. Neither the acidity nor the tannins are particularly evident and I suggest getting to these within the next 2-3 years. 5+11+15+7= 88 (2920 views) | | | Tasted by RPerro on 1/6/2016 & rated 90 points: This is a great QPR weekday quaffer! Paired with rotisserie chicken, and it was fabulous. Blackberry fruit, cracked pepper, a touch of vanilla on the finish. Body, acid and tannin are all right where they need to be (medium, with light tannins). Drink now - 2018. (2484 views) | | | Tasted by fredman on 12/27/2015 & rated 87 points: Very decent bottle at a good price. (1490 views) | | | Tasted by BRR on 10/19/2015 flawed bottle: Very corked. D'oh! (1260 views) | | | Tasted by Champagneinhand on 8/21/2015 & rated 85 points: fruit forward WA Syrah with QPR. Nothing great but decent texture for the warm vintage. High ABV still apparent. I making more room in the cellar. (1379 views) | | | Tasted by drumice on 8/8/2015 & rated 88 points: Enjoyed with steak frites. Notes consistent with previous, but after lingering in the decanter over the course of two hours, there was a precipitous drop-off in quality. (1120 views) | | | Tasted by RPerro on 8/3/2015 & rated 88 points: Popped and had a glass on day 1...don't remember it much. Lots of fruit I guess. Flash forward 3 days and...wow. Quite impressive for a wine that was vacu-sealed and put back in the wine fridge for a couple days. No evidence of oxidation or that "stewed" aroma from wine left open too long. Was a bit sharp when first opened, but after it sat out for an hour things smoothed out and this drank pretty well. Still showing ample oak and a hint of alcohol heat on the nose. A simple wine, but has some savory aspects that have come forward over the fruit. Roasted meat/sanguine, olive tapenade, with some sour black cherry fruit fading into the finish. Finish is all cherry and espresso, with a touch of heat lingering. Better with food on day 3. For $14, a nice QPR. (1125 views) | | | Tasted by RPerro on 6/25/2015 & rated 90 points: This is really, really good stuff for the price! QPR off the charts. Big black fruit, pepper, nice structure. (1200 views) | | | Tasted by Champagneinhand on 2/20/2015 & rated 87 points: pnp, but this wine is just starting to beef up a little. Some nice blackberry and vegetal notes, with green peppercorn and roasted meat aromas. On the palate the deep purple wine is middle weight and has some uneven tannins right now, but if you finish the wine within an hour it doesn't really interrupt the enjoyment of this wine. Decent acidity. It will never be confused as great syrah but a decent price for good juice. (1690 views) | | | Tasted by RPerro on 2/7/2015 & rated 91 points: P&P, paired with take-n-bake combo pizza. Great wine, big, bold, fruit-forward, but with nice acid and a smidge of tannin. Blackberry fruit prevails. Stood up to, and even complimented the pizza quite nicely. For $14 at Full Pull, a killer QPR! I bought 4, wish it had been a case. (1339 views) | | | Tasted by RPerro on 12/14/2014 & rated 91 points: Pop & pour. This was lovely! Super-dark Syrah from Olsen Estates Vineyard. Priced at $14 from Full Pull this has to be one of the top QPRs of the year! Big blackberry fruit, cracked pepper, espresso. Yum! Drink now or hold up to 5 years. (1597 views) | | | Tasted by Robert Pavlovich on 12/10/2014: The nose is pleasant and somewhat expressive, showing some earth, violets, purple fruit, with a little muskiness. Medium bodied, with good black and green pepper, tangy, fresh fruit. Nice, mild to medium finish, with some decent tannic grip and persistence. Alcohol well hidden, and there's no oak getting in the way. An enjoyable, well made wine. (1731 views) | | | Tasted by topher2411 on 12/7/2014 & rated 87 points: Blueberry fruit. Picks up some meaty notes with air. Round, medium-short finish. Decent value syrah. (1346 views) | | | Tasted by drumice on 11/4/2014 & rated 89 points: On the nose blackberries, nice herbal element (thyme), nicely framed wood. Smooth acidity with medium-long finish. Alcohol well-integrated for a pnp, nice dusty tannins. This should be interesting to track over time. (1205 views) | | | Tasted by Anthony Lombardi on 10/15/2014 & rated 90 points: Pretty much pop & pour. Blackberry & blueberry nose. Fruity palate with a creamy texture. More black & blue fruit. Moderate acidity, soft tannins. Not one that is going to evolve to special places, but a tasty weeknight wine. (1486 views) | | | Tasted by BRR on 10/13/2014 & rated 90 points: Not decanted. Very varietally-correct aromas and flavors of plum, slightly peppery blackberry, and soy sauce. Not the greatest complexity, but delicious and ready to go. Drink now or over the next 3 years. (1146 views) | | | Tasted by wine247365 on 7/24/2014: $14...Great QPR! As a newbie to WA wines, I'm really starting to like their juice! (1448 views) | | | Tasted by fingers on 5/18/2014 & rated 88 points: Notes after following for two nights open. Color is very dark, hazy magenta with large, slow legs. No sediment. Bright, spicy nose of red berry, herbs, and very light cooperage influence. Palate was very firm to start and really took a full day to open up, but when it did, what a tasty little treat! Very smooth and balanced with nice cherry and tobacco notes. More persistent than it should be for $15. Will also benefit from several more months of rest. 4+11+15+8= 88 (1727 views) | | | Tasted by by on 3/15/2014: Opened about three hours before tasting. Minerally, bright & fruity--currant, dried cranberry, some sour cherry notes on the mid pallet--and a slightly spicy finish. Not a big nose. Smells a little hotter than it drinks.
Definitely not as poised as the 09, but that was fantastic wine for the price. And a sad loss of Olsen Estates... (1512 views) | | | Tasted by mreinitz on 12/9/2013: I didn't like this all that much. Definitely not as good as the previous vintage. It is sharp tasting and roiugh around the edges. I'm not rating it in the hope that the wine is just too young to drink.
As an afternote, Betsy drank the rest of this the next night. I didn't taste it, but she said that it had opened up and smoothed out, and actually used the word "delicious" to describe it. Sounds like a wine to wait on. (1582 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Sean Sullivan
Washington Wine Report (12/26/2013)
(For a Song Syrah Columbia Valley) An aromatically compelling wine with smoke, spicebox, blueberry, boysenberry, and high toned floral notes. The palate shows depth and richness to the fruit flavors backed by chalky tannins. As good a Syrah as you’ll find at this price and better than many others at twice the price. Drinks young still. Give it some time to open up or some additional time in the cellar. 100% Syrah. Weinbau and Olsen vineyards. Aged in second (20%) and third fill oak. 14.4% alcohol. Sample provided by winery. **** points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Washington Wine Report. (manage subscription channels) |
| For a Song Producer websiteFor a Song SyrahWhen Olsen Estates went out of business, all their juice, in bottle and barrel, was purchased by their distributor (Vinum), who created the For A Song label as a house brand to find happy homes for all that quality juice. Since then, the project has been such a runaway success that Vinum has kept the band together. It is still Kyle Johnson, the former winemaker at Olsen Estates, making the wines, and he seems to have a real knack for Syrah.Syrah Varietal article (Wikipedia) | (Wines Northwest)
Note that some producers in the Northern Rhone distinguish between simply Syrah and "Serine", the latter described as ‘an ancient clone of Syrah, the berries of which are more oval-shaped and less deeply pigmented than Syrah’ by producer Tardieu-Laurent. USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.Washington Washington Wine Commission | Credit to Washingtonwine.org for this article
Washington Wine
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Wineries
With 30,000+ acres planted, the state has ideal geography and conditions for growing premium vinifera wine grapes. Primarily grown on their own root stocks, the vines produce grapes of consistent quality, resulting in strong vintages year after year. While its focus is on Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the region also produces a wide range of other spectacular whites and reds.
Growers
Winemakers from all over the world have chosen to establish themselves in Washington, where they can create wines reflecting this region's unique characteristics. Their hand-crafted wines are receiving wide acclaim from critics regionally, nationally and internationally for their consistently high quality. Many of them have received scores of 90 and above from the major wine media. Overall this is a higher percentage than other leading wine regions.
Regions
As the state's fourth largest fruit crop, the Washington wine industry is an important contributor to the long-term preservation of Washington agriculture. The industry is committed to sustainable agricultural practices and conservation of water resources.
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Varieties
Washington produces more than 20 wine grape varieties - a ratio of 56 percent white to 44 percent red. As the industry matures and experiments, it finds many grape varieties that thrive throughout Washington's microclimates. There are more than 16,000 vineyard acres of red wine varieties statewide.
History & Vintages
Washington's wine future is limitless. As consumers discover the quality of Washington wines, demand continues to grow nationally and internationally. New acreage and wine varietals are being planted and new wineries are opening at a remarkable pace. Washington State is recognized as a premium viticultural region around the world.
State Facts
Washington's wine industry generates more than $3 billion to the state economy. It employs more than 14,000 people, directly and indirectly, with projections to add nearly 2,000 more jobs by 2006. In terms of tax revenues accrued to the state and federal government, wine grapes are among the highest tax generators of any agricultural crops. Furthermore, Washington wine tourism attracts nearly two million visitors annually contributing to the positive growth of local and regional economies.
Washington State - the perfect climate for wine = ideal growing conditions, quality wines, business innovation, lifestyle, and social responsibility. All are key elements of this world-class wine industry.
Vintages
"2008 and even more so 2010 and 2011 were cool, even cold vintages (think: 2002 in the Barossa) without the extreme ripeness, extract and higher alcohol that had become the norm in the state’s post 1995 world. 2008 was manageable but the duo of 2010/2011 nearly caused a “great depression” in Washington State." - Jon RimmermanColumbia Valley Columbia Cascade Winery Association
The Columbia Valley AVA lies mostly in Washington state, with a small section in Oregon. The Cascade Range forms its western boundary with the Palouse regions bordering the area to the east. To the north, the Okanogan National Forest forms a border with the AVA and Canada. It encompasses the valleys formed by the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Walla Walla River, the Snake River, and the Yakima River. The Columbia valley stretches between the 46th parallel and 47th parallel which puts it in line with the well known French wine growing regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy. The northern latitude gives the areas two more hours of additional daylight during the summer growing season than wine regions of California receive. The volcanic and sandy loam soil of the valley offers good drainage and is poor in nutrients, ideal in forcing the vine to concentrate its resources into the grape clusters.Columbia Valley Columbia Valley Winery Association |
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