Sunday night dinner and wine

[Roy Hersh]

Last night was the 2nd of 3 great meals during our Memorial Day weekend. I BBQ'd some Baby Back Pork Ribs and my family chowed down in earnest. I wanted to try something different from anything in my cellar, so I popped up to the local QFC (Glenn lives right near it) and told the young gal in charge of their wine department what I was having for dinner. Not that I couldn't have made a wise selection, but told her, "I am putting our dinner wine in your hands, pick me a winner of a Syrah." I own Syrah from No. Rhone, CA, Australia and OR but wanted something new and hopefully a great pairing. She did us solid. Her choice was a 2007 Owen Roe, "Lady Rosa" Syrah from Yakima Valley, WA. Actually, Owen Roe is a producer in OR, but often times uses WA fruit as well and in this case, 2/3 of the blend was from the exalted Red Willow Vineyard, the first in WA to plant Syrah back in the days of Columbia Winery's David Lake. Only 360 cases were produced. It was labeled at $45.95 but the Somm gave me a $10 reduction in price which was very kind of her and we got an add'l 10% off for buying a total of 6 bottles, so the price was very reasonable. The wine was so berry infused, spicy but more primary and ripe. A beautifully symmetrical wine, already delicious in this very young stage and with zippy acidity which cut through the BBQ sauce. This bottle was gone in an hour. Need I say more. 92 pts.

[Glenn E.]

She did us solid.

I think Miranda does a great job - I've asked her for wine recommendations many times, and she's always come through with a good one.