Starting off the reds and coming all from the Red Willow Vineyard in Yakima Valley, the 2010 Syrah Lost Soul was harvested in mid-October and spent 20 months in 33% new Burgundy barrels. Inky colored, it offers up an elegant, yet meaty profile with notions of black raspberry extract, wood smoke, pepper, lavender and dark chocolate all emerging from the glass. Gaining additional freshness over the evening, with a sappy, spring flower-like quality adding lift, this full-bodied, serious Syrah has a stacked mid-palate, a layered, seamless texture and serious minerality that comes through on the finish. More than a little impressive, it should be given 2-3 years of bottle age and then followed over the coming decade. Drink 2015-2022.
An estate that’s getting up into the creme de la creme of Washington State producers, Mark Ryan Winery was founded by Mark Ryan McNeilly in 1999. Mark now gets assistance in the winemaking from the talented Mike MacMorran (of Manu Propria and Force Majeure), and the wines have overall classical profiles, with bright acidity and tannin, that never lack for fruit or depth. If you haven’t tried these wines, now is great time to check them out.
www.markryanwinery.com