2016 Dead Heat Syrah, Columbia Valley
Now SOLD OUT. Three vineyard blend of 100% Syrah from Ciel du Cheval, Clifton Hill and Elephant Mountain vineyards. Ripe style fruit driven.
Outstanding!, Great Northwest Wine: Comes out of the chute with an inkiness that's beautiful to look at in the glass. The high color saturation suggests a big full-bodied wine and it does not disappoint. Black cherry, elderberry and blueberry compote and a hint of vanilla comprise the aromas and that also carry to the flavors, where they are joined with blackberry jam to make a full rich midpalate with soft tannins and a lengthy bold finish. The weight on the palate is equal to the weight of the bottle, and it's run to acclaim began with a gold medal in last year's Cascadia. -Eric Degerman (May 2020)
Outstanding!, Owen Bargreen: Dead Heat Syrah opens with tobacco, sagebrush and toasty oak alongside shades of black currants and chocolate on the nose. The palate is forward and downright delicious, with layers of toasty oak connecting with copious dark fruits, tobacco leaf, chocolate and sagebrush tones. Enjoy this excellent new Syrah over the next seven years. -Owen Bargreen (May 2020)
Jeb Dunnuck: The 2016 Dead Heat Syrah is a well-made, attractive effort that offers plenty of red and black fruits to go with background leafy herbs, cedar, and earthy nuances. This medium-bodied, nicely balanced, elegant effort is ideal for drinking over the coming 4-6 years. -Jeb Dunnuck (April 2020)
91 Points, Owen Bargreen (May 2020)
Double Gold Medal, Seattle Wine Awards (May 2019)
Gold Medal, 2019 Cascadia Wine Competition (April 2019)
Accolades from previous release:
Outstanding!, Great Northwest Wine (March 2018)
91 Points, Wine Enthusiast (December 2017)
Great Northwest Wine says ... Woodinville vintner Terry Wells draws some great positioning at the starting gate for this round yet full Syrah with bloodlines of Milbrandts’ Clifton Hill Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope and Olsen Brothers Vineyard in the Yakima Valley near Prosser. All four of the oak barrels were French, with one of them brand new, and the wood treatment shows balance, allowing for aromas of dark blue fruit, toast and white pepper. Inside, it’s plummy, cherry and chocolaty as blueberry skin tannins merely provide some context for a long ride to the finish. These wines are available for tasting on weekends in the Warehouse District, and they can be enjoyed with Tacos Carnitas at nearby Village Wines.
Wine Enthusiast says ... the aromas are generous, with notes of dark plum, smoke and baking spice. The palate is weighty and full, with palate-coating purple-fruit flavors that show pleasing depth, density and length.
Washington Wine Blog says ... deep and inky colored, this shows really nice clove, spicebox and black cherry compote aromatics. The palate is downright delicious, exuding deep black fruits with a touch of milk chocolate.
Made with Love and harvested by hand in Washington State. Fermented both whole cluster and whole berry fruit.
Jeb Dunnuck: The 2016 Dead Heat Syrah is a well-made, attractive effort that offers plenty of red and black fruits to go with background leafy herbs, cedar, and earthy nuances. This medium-bodied, nicely balanced, elegant effort is ideal for drinking over the coming 4-6 years. (April 2020)
Double Gold Medal, Seattle Wine Awards (May 2019)
Silver Medal, Sunset Magazine International Wine (May 2019)
90 Points, Washington Wine Blog (June 2018)
Washington Wine Blog: Deep and inky colored, this shows really nice clove, spicebox and black cherry compote aromatics. The palate is downright delicious, exuding deep black fruits with a touch of milk chocolate. Drink 2018-2026
Outstanding!, Great Northwest Wine (March 2018)
Great Northwest Wine: Woodinville vintner Terry Wells draws some great positioning at the starting gate for this round yet full Syrah with bloodlines of Milbrandts’ Clifton Hill Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope and Olsen Brothers Vineyard in the Yakima Valley near Prosser. All four of the oak barrels were French, with one of them brand new, and the wood treatment shows balance, allowing for aromas of dark blue fruit, toast and white pepper. Inside, it’s plummy, cherry and chocolaty as blueberry skin tannins merely provide some context for a long ride to the finish. These wines are available for tasting on weekends in the Warehouse District, and they can be enjoyed with Tacos Carnitas at nearby Village Wines.
91 Points, Wine Enthusiast (December 2017)
Wine Enthusiast: A blend of Olsen Vineyard in the Yakima Valley and Clifton Hill on the Wahluke Slope, the aromas are generous, with notes of dark plum, smoke and baking spice. The palate is weighty and full, with palate-coating purple-fruit flavors that show pleasing depth, density and length.
