The 2005 Syrah Reserve contains 9% Grenache and 2% Viognier. It was aged for 20 months in new oak, half American, half French. Opaque purple-colored, the nose offers up pain grille, minerals, blueberry, smoke and sausage. The flavors are classy but the finish is a bit compressed. Columbia Crest, owned by Ste-Michelle Wine Estates, has long been known for the quality of its value priced wines.Tel. (509) 875-2061; www.columbia-crest.com

Along with the winery’s best Syrah, this includes 9% Grenache and 2% Viognier, both co-fermented. The wine opens up immediately with broad flavors of chocolate-covered blueberries. It adds chocolate-covered orange peels to the midpalate, and finishes with still more baking spices, cocoa and coffee grounds. The fruit keeps enough acid to put an astringent underpinning beneath all the new wood.——P.G.(7/1/2008)—— 88