Echolands Syrah Les Collines Vineyard Walla Walla Valley 4 Yr 2018 750 ML

Doug Frost is one of four people in the world to hold both a Master of Wine and Master Sommelier title. While still residing in Kansas City, he and fellow Kansas Citian Brad Bergman were so impressed with the wines of the Walla Walla Valley that they bought a 50-acre parcel of pasture and are developing it into a biodynamic and regenerative vineyard. Until those vines come into production they have partnered with the most famous vineyards in Walla Walla, and the Les Collines Vineyard certainly is as famous as they get in that region. Syrah is possibly the most terroir-expressive grape in the world and Walla Walla, with its complex mix of volcanic baserock, glacial gravels and Missoula flood alluvial sediment, has been turning a lot of heads in the last ten years. This one has turned our head as much as any domestic Syrah, even those costing far more! 75% whole clusters of the certified sustainable and salmon-safe grapes were foot-stomped and fermented by the ambient yeasts. 2% Viognier was co-fermented with the Syrah in a practice imported from the Syrah Mecca of Cote Rotie and the wine was aged in used French oak puncheons (about twice the size of regular barrels). This is a wine of meditation. The complex flavors are absorbing all by themselves, but one could do a lot worse than to have this with some lamb chops.