2020 Ashfield Cellars Columbia Valley Syrah

Such has been the case for Syrah in Washington state. There presently are around 3,100 acres in Washington planted to Syrah — still miniscule compared to California’s 19,000.

But as more and more growers and wineries found success with the variety, plantings and production increased. In fact, Washington’s Columbia Valley has become one of America’s go-to locales for world-class Syrah. There, the long, hot summer days experience massive temperature shifts at night, which keeps the vines healthy. And the mix of volcanic pumice and dense loamy soil make for complex flavors and well-maintained fruit acidity.

Since acidity is one of the keys to making a wine age worthy, you can depend on the 2020 Ashfield Cellars Syrah to evolve gracefully for four to five years. But as delicious as the wine is now, the question is: Will you be able to wait?