2017 Reininger Walla Walla Syrah

Happy Memorial Day!  It's a day to honor those who have served and sacrificed for our nation, and it's also the unofficial start of summer!  In that light, I've decided to grill today and open up a recent wine club selection from Reininger Winery, the 2017 Reininger Walla Walla Syrah.  This wine is a 100% Syrah from the Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep purple in the glass with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of strawberry, blueberry and cherry, with a hint of lavender seeping in.  The taste is chock full of ripe fruit, blackberry, cherry, blueberry and currant that transitions nicely to some notes of dark chocolate and smoke midpalate.  The tannins are fine providing the base for the velvety smooth dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a very pleasant Syrah to sip on a summer evening.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of dishes, from steaks and lamb to Thanksgiving turkey (seriously, the black fruit in this wine would be perfect with turkey, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce).  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with grilled shish-kabobs made with marinaded beef tenderloin and shrimp with peppers, red onions, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes.  Cheers!