Friday Sips

We often refer to Minervois as an outlaw growing region, particularly since it's so vast, has terroirs that change like an obstacle course, and utilizes an abundance of varietals. Domaine Barroubio is quite a staple of the region and one whose wines have both detail and cojones. Located in the far Northeastern corner of the appellation with prominent chalky soils and old vines at 1000 feet, this cuvee from Minervois is a bit unusual because of it being 90% Syrah. The credo at Barroubio and expressed so well on this wine is: elegance, yet concentration; expressive, but subtle; hedonistic, but cerebral.

The 2009 Marie-Thérèse Minervois captivates its audience with black raspberry aromas which lead to a broad, spice, animalistic, ripe red/black raspberry-packed personality. Chewy-textured, lots of palate coverage, expansion and depth. Complex, sultry, crammed with fruit, and possesses a splendid, pure, and long finish that screams of pepper and herbes de provence. A total lamb wine, drink this killer through 2020.

Gilbert is a thrilling operation based in Washington's Wahluke Slope region. Fortunately for all of us, these folks have been based in reality when it comes to their pricing and the results offer fantastic price/quality rapport. All from the Wahluke Slope's Doc Stewart Vineyard, this Syrah cradles the boundaries of new world meeting old world.

Pure, plum-pepper aspects and dusty earth shine from the glass, but there is also plenty of sensuality. The flavors are full, smoky and alluring. Drawn-out and revealing dimension, this promises to shape up to be a fantastic Washington Syrah. Broad, yet never heavy, this wine extends and will age beautifully. Enjoy through the end of the decade with grilled lamb or pork. Lastly, if scores are your thing, this has 91 points from The Wine Spectator

Franck Faugier is a disciple and long-time friend of the King of Crozes, Alain Graillot. The wines here are expressive, full of finesse, layered with fine fruit and above all, display to-the-moon, luxurious aromatics. All of Franck Faugier's 12 hectares of vines are located in the heart of the Crozes-Hermitage single Cru of Haut-Châssis, hence the name of the Domaine. Les Châssis Cuvee is Faugier's top wine made from 50+ year old Syrah vines coming from the warmest portion of the vineyard with coarse sand and stones in the complex soil along with a mix of clay and limestone.

A lavishly spicy nose of violet, mocha, Havana tobacco, cacao, nutmeg, black cherry, blackcurrant, blackberry and game rolls into a youthful firm resounding mouth civilized by tannins made soft and silky in the maturing process. This is very typical of 2009 and is very ageworthy, yet certainly not unapproachable. Enjoy with a hearty, savory stew or roasted venison.

The families of Thorn-Clarke stretch back 6 generations in Australia's Barossa Valley region, but it has been since 1987 that the wines of this estate have been presented in their current forms. Shotfire Ridge is a single site in Barossa that Thorn-Clarke has exploited since early on and is unabashedly and unapologetic Syrah from Barossa.

Aged in both American and French oak (40% new) scents of saturated black fruit and peppermint combine with black licorice and vanilla-laced coffee that lead into a ripe, full, cushiony texture that maintains lovely freshness from vibrant red tones arriving in the mid-palate. Yes, this is a large and in-charge, full throttle red but it retains class and freshness with vivid tones that deliver additional complexity and thrust. Drink through 2017.