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Rob's "Wine of the Week" Archives

Here is my wine review for the week of March 20, 2005...

Turnbull Syrah 2002

Description: Syrah is, for now, the new Merlot. Merlot was the "it" wine of the late 90's and as a result, it became mass produced with watered-down quality. It's now hard to find true "5 vine" merlots. In the last 5 years, syrah has exploded like that and is starting to get watered down as well. The good news is that with the success of the movie "Sideways," our lemming society is now obsessed with Pinot Noir (a total waste of a red wine) and that may allow wineries to refocus on making good merlots and syrahs.

How to Get it: I found this bottle at Sam's Club in March, 2005. You can get it at the winery in Napa, some wine specialty shops and most Beverages & More.

How Much: At Sam's, I paid $22 per bottle. It is generally a $30 bottle in stores, $50 in restaurants.

My Thoughts: This was a surprise, as this does not taste like a traditional Syrah. Syrah's are generally fruity and light. This syrah drinks much more like a full-bodied merlot or even a cabernet.

This wine is smooth, chocolately and full with a medium
finish that lingers with faint vanilla flavors. It has some
dry tones to it, but not the kind that make you pucker.

I generally recommend syrah for new red wine drinkers due do its' usual simplicity. Not this one. This is a bold, complex syrah that stands with good merlots and cabs.

Overall Score: If it was a merlot, it would be a very good one. Since it's a syrah it doesn't deliver what you'd expect and that has to be taken in to account. It is a very good wine, however. On my 5 vine scale, I give this wine 3 ½

Turnbull Syrah 2002 =