2002 Forgeron Cellars Columbia Valley Syrah

[dananne]

Deep, dark reddish-purple in color, with dark berry and meaty aromas and flavors, with a bit of dark chocolate, vanilla, and smoke on the finish. Lush texture and polished tannins. Nice wine. 13.8% alc. We paid $28 for it at the winery, which was a nice visit for us. For our tastes, Forgeron makes consistent wines.

[Bucko]

Forgeron makes very nice wines, but they push the oak limit for my palate.

[dananne]

I think so, too, and I find it interesting, because the winemaker's philosophy supposedly is the other way 'round. We didn't get a chance to meet her on our visit, unfortunately, but that was the line from the tasting room manager, and that's what I've read from her interviews. For someone who favors the fruit, she really does use a lavish hand with the wood. Even so, they are still almost always well-made wines.