This is an early stage offering from a new entry to the wine game in Woodinville, Washington – SAMĀ CELLARS – and founder/wine character Chaz Bangur. While Chaz is new to the wine biz, Red Willow Vineyard, one of the oldest in Washington State, was planted in 1971 and exists as a legacy reference point and foundational vineyard for many Syrah plantings.
I get creamy hints of vanilla on the nose. On the palate, it’s a light to medium-bodied wine with nice acidity, and red to blue fruited with a medium-long finish. There’s a pleasant vegetative quality, herbaceousness that lingers on the palate, likely due to the 35% inclusion of whole clusters.
During production, the Syrah is co-fermented with 4% Viognier, a classic Rhone-style Syrah blend. The Viognier provides lift and aromatics to the base. This wine is an excellent well made, well-balanced Washington Syrah. Reading the tech notes, “SAMĀ” means equilibrium in Sanskrit, and evidently, balance in wine.
Chaz’s interview responses were some of the most on-point and thoughtful of my first year publishing Wine Character interviews. I urge you to take a sip of anything – preferably a SAMĀ CELLARS Syrah, and read his profile here.