Montana native Richard Funk marked his 10th commercial vintage with the harvest for his large-production Syrah, and it’s among the best made in Walla Walla — regardless of the price. The screwcap helps get at this delicious production from Lewis Vineyard and Elephant Mountain (Yakima Valley), Stillwater Creek in the Frenchman Hills and Clifton Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope. There’s a big pop of blueberry jam in the nose, followed by blackberry, caramel and chocolate, black pepper, a trail of smoke and Granny Smith apple peel. Silky fruit flavors of blackberry and Marionberry keep working through the finish of smoky chocolate. Food-friendly acidity from the Grenache (10%) and Mourvèdre (10%) gives it balance.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 978 cases
Alcohol: 14.1%
Leave a Reply