2009 Cristom Syrah 'Estate,' Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley (MAGNUM)

From four clones planted a decade ago very near the winery, Cristom’s 2009 Syrah smells and tastes of ripe, lightly-cooked cherry; is firm but finely tannic; and evokes black pepper and salt that surprisingly, for now at least, don’t translate into a lot of finishing invigoration or savor. Perhaps time in bottle will bring focus and further appeal. Certainly I don’t see a wine like this tiring for at least 6-8 years. Like most of its Pinot stable mates, this was fermented with around half whole clusters and stems, but unlike them underwent several rackings.