2006 Dusted Valley Vintners Syrah Stained Tooth

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  2/18/2008, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (STAINED TOOTH Dusted Valley) Stained Tooth Dear Friends, If you want to get underground, really underground, this is your Syrah.... These guys are friends of a friend (like Adelina in Australia) and, to put it mildly, they are unconventional. Their wines have been around Seattle and the NW for the past few years but they haven’t been in a hurry to push them elsewhere. This is quasi-cult Washington State Syrah that never intended to be anything of the sort. If Syrah that is “dense and concentrated but not dominated by wood” sounds intriguing, along with the support of a determined partnership that ran a circuitous route from one end of the US to the other before settling on Washington State’s long summer days and cool nights (including their home in Wisconsin and the eventual use of Wisconsin oak barrels in the wine), I'll leave the rest up to you... Here is the TN from the Dusted Valley gang (warning - they are not playing with a full deck): Stained Tooth Syrah Columbia Valley 2006 (999 cases/$24): “Purple is our favorite color. You know you’re drinking the good stuff when your teeth develop that unmistaken hue. Don’t worry, Dr. Dan Johnson D.D.S. says “Life is too short to stain your teeth on cheap wine.” This is a blend of some of Washington States top vineyards incorporating a co-ferment of Syrah and Viognier. The bouquet floats out of the glass and draws you into all the extraordinary fruit while the ripe tannins provide a silky finish. Be sure to enjoy this bottle with a grilled rack of lamb encrusted with rosemary and thyme over a hickory fire. Beware, may make a meal memorable. 85% Syrah, 5% Viognier , 5% Mouvedre and 5% Garnacha Co-fermented.” Whether you think it’s Creek Block jr masquerading as domestic Syrah or domestic Syrah masquerading as 1998 Burge Family, it is a wine made with the consumer in mind and the price is downright cheap in comparison to the competition. With an organic philosophy (not the norm in US winemaking) and hands-off methodology this wine will surprise with its slathered, Shiraz style in a natural package. While the 2005 version of this wine was too big for most, the 2006 will be a major favorite among a wide variety of our customer base. They really went out on a limb with the 2006 and it shows. I liken this to a Washington State version of Alban (before the scores) and it is another opportunity to acquire a wine that has not made its way across the US (and is still priced like a home-school project). If you like to be on the ground floor, here you go... ONE SHIPMENT ONLY at this price - directly from the winery cellar: 2006 Dusted Valley Vintners “Stained Tooth Syrah” Please give us your maximum number up to 6/person and we will allocate accordingly Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA WA7700