The 2004 Syrah Boushey Vineyard, a wine which is 100% varietal aged in 20% new oak for 16-18 months. Purple-colored, it offers a nose of earth notes, smoked meat, game, and blueberry. Ripe, balanced, and smooth-textured, on the mid-palate layers of spicy, succulent blue fruits emerge. Give it 2-3 years of additional cellaring and drink it through 2020. Doug McCrea is one of Washington’s leading proponents of Rhone Ranger style wines. He gets considerable credit for getting Syrah underway in the State. He currently produces 3500 cases from his new winery from some of Washington’s finest terroirs.www.mccreacellars.com

This wine is jam-packed with flavors and scents of smoked meat, cured ham, black truffle, charcoal, pencil lead, toasted nuts. It’s a powerhouse that fascinates and resonates, sailing into a lingering finish that keeps all the various components in play. A perfect mix of fruit and barrel, not to be missed.——P.G.(5/1/2007)—— 94