It shouldn’t come as a surprise that RN74 Seattle‘s lead sommelier-turned-winemaker is producing Washington Syrah that resembles those from the northern Rhône valley in southern France. Named after the tourist highway that rides through France’s Burgundy region, RN74’s French influence seemed the perfect fit for sommelier Jeff Lindsay-Thorsen as he was making some of his first vintages of WT Vintners. Recently released, the 2010 “Gorgeous” Syrah shows Lindsay-Thorsen’s true affection for French wines. With fruit from Destiny Ridge Vineyard in Horse Heaven Hills, the nose of this Syrah is lush with perfumed violets, ripe black currants, prunes, bramble fruit and a meaty, animal quality which might make a blind taster head straight to the Old World sensory chart. The palate is round but restrained with a spike of acid, backed by dried dark berries and prunes, nutmeg and just a kiss of oak.
