Review and Rating: ***+ Chez Ray Syrah, 2002, Yakima, WA, from 1999 vintage grapes

Posted by Ben in 2002, General, Other, syrahSep 7th, 2009 | No Comments Original Review, May, 2008: This is the 2002 vintage of Chez Ray Yakima Syrah, vinted from Yakima, Washington, grapes grown during the 1999 season. The grapes were harvested in 1999, frozen and provided by Brehm Vineyards in 2002. (Freezing red grapes seems to create little problem in winemaking - in fact, some folks say it softens tannins, similar to what cold maceration does.)

In the glass, the wine is medium magenta in color, showing both purple and brick highlights - seemingly poised between youth and age. Aromas are yummy - yeasty and lightly-oaked deep fruit. Touch of shoe leather. Inviting.

On the palate, a top-note of toasty oak first hits the roof of your mouth, cascading to mild fruit in the middle. Light acids move to a modest finish. Nice tone overall. Age has done it well - but a couple more years wouldn't hurt it either. Three stars out of five.

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Updated Review, September, 2009: Wow. Age has done this well. Color has taken on a bit more brick. Aromas still of shoe-leather, less yeast. Palate even more rounded and velvet. Smooth, sweet acids swirl to a lingering finish. Now adding a plus to the three stars for voluptuousness.

Tough job…

Posted by Ben in 2008, General, Other, syrahApr 5th, 2009 | No Comments ...but somebody's got to do it!

I'm checking out the progress of the 2008 vintage Chez Ray, currently resting with oak slats in 3- and 5-gallon carboys. What that means is thieving a bit of wine from each carboy, and sipping!



The Alexandar Valley Syrah (Brehm code 534) is yummy indeed, especially with VQ-15 yeast.

**** Chez Ray Stage Gulch Syrah – Review and Rating

Posted by Ben in 2005, General, Other, syrahFeb 17th, 2009 | 1 Comment Make from Brehm frozen grapes. In the glass, this is rich deep, velvet burgundy in color. It pumps out rich, ripe, lightly-oaked dark fruit.

Up front, you detect leather and roast beef. The palate is fat with a lengthy middle. Finish is clean and hints of vanilla fruit. Four stars out of five.

Fourth Pressing for the 2008 Chez Ray Vintage

Posted by Ben in 2008, General, Other, malbec, pressing, syrah, yeasts, zinfandelFeb 16th, 2009 | No Comments There were a few more buckets of red grapes still left to press from the 2008 vintage. We had done two earlier pressings last fall of the fresh grapes (one batch pressed dry, and a second under extended maceration); and a pressing two weeks ago of the first batch of frozen grapes. Brian joined me for these festivities (ie, work!).


A late arriving bucket of malbec was put to AMH and VQ15 yeast, and is dry after two full weeks of fermentation. Meanwhile, two buckets of Alexander West Side Syrah are approaching dryness after four weeks of fermentation (one with AMH, the other with VQ15 yeast).

And, finally, the crazy Limerick Lane Zinfandel from Sonoma, which started life at an incrediblly sweet 38 degrees brix, was being pressed today too. I may put half of this under brandy as port, leaving the other half with natural residual sugar. We'll see. Here's Brian checking out the zin:


Yum!