Chateau Ste Michelle, Syrah (Columbia Valley), 2002

From the bottle, the Syrah is harvested from grapes grown in Columbia Valley California and is 13.9% alcohol by volume.

Where did I find it: Fry’s

What did I pair it with: N/A

Appearance: Murky purple with flashes of crimson as I swirl; it appears to already be developing sediment as well.

On the nose: Light pepper and vegetable overtones.

Palate Entry: The entry is almost imperceivable; it isn’t hot, sweet, tart, or anything that one normally picks up – simple beginning
Mid Palate: The tannins finally show up mid palate, bringing with them a hint of berries and cherry.
Finish: The finish hits the back of the mouth, and is actually longer than I would expect it to be, given the simplicity of the entry and mid palate.

Price: $7.99
Quality rating: 85/100
Value rating: 48.76/60

Takeaway: I’m hesitant to bad-mouth the wine because it isn’t bad, just very simple; in a word, it is quaffable. If you’re eating something equally simple, like a meatball sandwich, then this wine will do fine, especially at the price point. There are better wines at this price point, to be sure, but I turn my nose at it just because of the simplicity.