tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post1560700238706569708..comments2024-03-18T04:47:16.199-07:00Comments on The Gray Report: Why Syrah doesn't sell: A theory and a suggestionW. Blake Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-61937899104242549962010-08-09T09:31:26.588-07:002010-08-09T09:31:26.588-07:00I think the confusion in Syrah lies in the fact th...I think the confusion in Syrah lies in the fact that it has historically been planted in diverse (and wrong) climactic regions throughout the world. I think herein lies its demise. There is no confusion that Pinot Noir is a cool region varietal. Plant Pinot in a warm climate and the poor results are evident. Syrah is a grape that will lend itself to warmer climates, producing ripe black fruitGreg Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15375184062706034365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-45783532626244976532010-08-05T09:55:29.975-07:002010-08-05T09:55:29.975-07:00Blake,
I have seen the entire history of syrah her...Blake,<br />I have seen the entire history of syrah here in Washington, having produced the wine since 1992. Columbia Winery was the only to preceed us. On my labels, I do differentiate each wine with label color and back label descriptions. There are many reaons why the grape is misunderstood and undoubtedly they do include issues of climate, terroir, winemaking, typicity, etc., and I could Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-66620814691274688502010-08-03T14:38:18.120-07:002010-08-03T14:38:18.120-07:00Wineries have tried this. I used to work with an A...Wineries have tried this. I used to work with an Aussie winery who made a cool climate Shiraz and elected to call it a Syrah to distinguish it from the warm climate bombs...didn't work. People wanted their Australian red to be Shiraz, cool climate or not.<br /><br />California wineries used to label full bodied styles as Shiraz when the variety was growing like crazy...didn't work. PeopleChris Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-21705893930653228992010-07-31T19:07:50.792-07:002010-07-31T19:07:50.792-07:00Bill: I'm glad for you. But the reason people ...Bill: I'm glad for you. But the reason people keep writing that Syrah isn't selling is because other wineries keep telling us that.<br /><br />10,000 cases is great for a winery of your size, but it's also only a drop in the bucket of the US market. <br /><br />Re being picky about different styles of Pinot Noir: Others might not be, but I'm on the record on that topic:<br />http:W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-15341547914850814792010-07-31T17:52:16.205-07:002010-07-31T17:52:16.205-07:00Sorry, didn't realize the previous comments po...Sorry, didn't realize the previous comments posted - so I abbreviated. Web cop said my post was too long.<br />Again apologies for repetition of ideas.<br /><br />Drink more Syrah -<br /><br />Bill EastonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-85076776011426376582010-07-31T17:49:31.609-07:002010-07-31T17:49:31.609-07:00Syrah sells just fine - I sell 10,000 cases + a ye...Syrah sells just fine - I sell 10,000 cases + a year.<br />Enough of the "Syrah et Mort" articles that seem to surface every six months. Bonne, Asimov, Weber, etc.<br />Make good regional Syrah and sell it. Our's range in price from $18 - $85. All six top US wine mags. loved the $85 last year - so did my customers.<br /><br />Come on up to see our vineyards and a visit the winery.<Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-22861866165225845912010-07-31T16:54:41.540-07:002010-07-31T16:54:41.540-07:00Syrah Does Sell!
Here's my proposal in full:
...Syrah Does Sell!<br /><br />Here's my proposal in full:<br />1) A top Syrah/Shiraz producer needs to take the lead in pulling together the industry. Chateau Ste. Michelle has done this for Riesling, and it has made a huge difference for everyone selling it. Volunteers?<br /><br />GALLO did it and I joined in at the Syrah Symposium at Bridlewood wit a host of others.<br /><br />2) Host an Bill Eastonhttp://www.terrerougewines.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-51781991300929673472010-07-30T10:05:44.201-07:002010-07-30T10:05:44.201-07:00If I may, the article to which I link above says:
...If I may, the article to which I link above says:<br /><br />"Called the PinotG Style Spectrum, the label indicates to consumers whether the style of the Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris wine is ‘crisp’ or ‘luscious’ or somewhere on a scale in-between. *This gives consumers greater confidence in choosing a Grigio or Gris wine based on their own style preference.*"<br /><br />So I rephrase theArthurhttp://www.redwinebuzz.com/modxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-31240932242026229982010-07-30T10:01:35.269-07:002010-07-30T10:01:35.269-07:00Serendipitously, on the heels of this discussion c...Serendipitously, on the heels of this discussion comes the Australian Wine Research Institute PinotG Style Spectrum <br />http://www.winebusiness.com/news/?go=getArticle&dataid=76780Arthurhttp://www.redwinebuzz.com/modxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-84741592842338550002010-07-29T23:01:26.157-07:002010-07-29T23:01:26.157-07:00Thanks for the thanks, but please feel free to del...Thanks for the thanks, but please feel free to delete the extra post (my mistake). No one needs to hear that much of me.Christian Millernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-71829308223903980932010-07-29T18:08:52.103-07:002010-07-29T18:08:52.103-07:00Thanks Christian. I am a big fan of your work at W...Thanks Christian. I am a big fan of your work at Wine Opinions. Many of us opine; you guys do research.W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-18070809319462620052010-07-29T16:00:23.198-07:002010-07-29T16:00:23.198-07:00Thanks for the props on the IRF sweetness scale, w...Thanks for the props on the IRF sweetness scale, we at Wine Opinions did the consumer and trade research backing up the scale. <br /><br />While the IRF scale does not measure just sweetness (there are RS AND acidity guidelines), I do agree that devising a scale to “clear up” Syrah confusion is a much more complex issue. There are many molecules that affect the attributes “gamy”, “fruit bomb”, “Christian Millerhttp://www.wineopinions.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-89688431568563420112010-07-29T16:00:03.808-07:002010-07-29T16:00:03.808-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Christian Millerhttp://www.wineopinions.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-7036972805886051382010-07-29T14:20:17.227-07:002010-07-29T14:20:17.227-07:00Anon: Define "go wrong."Anon: Define "go wrong."W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-31436594985824428632010-07-29T12:38:30.619-07:002010-07-29T12:38:30.619-07:00There is no mystery. Syrah is the best all purpos...There is no mystery. Syrah is the best all purpose red around. Just stay away from the jugs and you can almost never go wrong, even under$12. Cheers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-7763623654674047292010-07-29T09:32:08.726-07:002010-07-29T09:32:08.726-07:00Ted,
More good points, but as a domestic producer...Ted,<br /><br />More good points, but as a domestic producer, I don't like the idea of using 'shiraz' at all. This is a term that is really only used over in Australia, and even though a few producers hear starting using the term (and many were part of corporations based in Australia such as Geyser Peak), it is rarely used these days.<br /><br />Consumer education is where it's attercero wineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11718156055439684277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-4336646356251935292010-07-29T09:19:16.917-07:002010-07-29T09:19:16.917-07:00Keep it simple as a starting point. I've noted...Keep it simple as a starting point. I've noted in the past that the fruitier versions were most typically labelled Shiraz and the more savory versions named Syrah. I had been able to claim that as a rule of thumb to those who asked. Obviously winemaker/marketer choice has not continued with that distinction. The mass market can handle that distinction if the industry were to use it, knowing Tedhttp://s241769606.onlinehome.us/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-35863429767916831862010-07-29T09:09:29.438-07:002010-07-29T09:09:29.438-07:00Joel,
But that's like saying that I opened a ...Joel,<br /><br />But that's like saying that I opened a single bottle of CdP, and it was from 2003, and it was 'highly regarded' but from a very ripe year, and I didn't like . . . . and therefore I don't like CdP's . . .<br /><br />Or opening a highly regarded California Pinot, and being a Burgundian fan, finding it to be very unlike what you're used to . . . and Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01479186088712242938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-63311770718280895652010-07-29T09:01:18.728-07:002010-07-29T09:01:18.728-07:00Last night, I opened a California Syrah from a wel...Last night, I opened a California Syrah from a well thought-of producer that someone had brought as a gift, knowing my partiality toward the grape. It boasted palate-numbing 15.6% alcohol (my wife took one sip and said, "Damn, that finishes hot!), a massively over-oaked monolithic flavor profile, and, to this great fan of Cote-Rotie, was nearly undrinkable.<br /><br />'Nuff said about Joel Goldberghttp://www.michwine.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-65148324615362276262010-07-29T08:56:16.894-07:002010-07-29T08:56:16.894-07:00Donn R.,
Good points - and this leads to my misco...Donn R.,<br /><br />Good points - and this leads to my misconception comments before. There are PLENTY of lower alcohol, more restrained syrahs on the market these days - and their alc levels are printed on the bottle for all to see. <br /><br />There are also a plentitude of styles that syrah is made in these days, just as there is with pinot, zin, etc . . . it's the nature of working with Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01479186088712242938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-54908106197962773812010-07-29T08:12:47.811-07:002010-07-29T08:12:47.811-07:00It is also another case of wineries wasting the op...It is also another case of wineries wasting the oppty to say something that is relatively ACCURATE and TRUE on the label, be it the front or the back label. Don't tell me it is earthy if it is really just a high alc. bomb. Don't lie to the consumer in your blurb. My guess, of course I am hihgly religious on this, is that if wineries were to make lower alc. and low VA etc. Syrah, it Donn Rnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-90656504368001192282010-07-28T23:06:58.320-07:002010-07-28T23:06:58.320-07:00John,
Well come on back, I say! The Rhone Rangers...John,<br /><br />Well come on back, I say! The Rhone Rangers is working on many things these days, and I can't wait to share some of these with you shortly.<br /><br />I guess we'll agree to disagree regarding site vs elevage, especially barrel usage. There is no doubt in my mind that, as I said before, you can alter the sense of 'place' in any wine by slathering it in new oak . .tercero wineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11718156055439684277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-63361042537045678152010-07-28T23:00:19.492-07:002010-07-28T23:00:19.492-07:00I was on the BOD of the Rhone Rangers when it was ...I was on the BOD of the Rhone Rangers when it was a new organization... I suggest RR is what it is today because I left ;-). <br /><br />I don't want to hijack Blake's topic here and stray too far afield, but I have tasted fruit from all over California and can say with certainty in my own mind that - absent poor farming or bad harvest decisions - the differences between the character of John M. Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18343670865804216103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-20868551405704303872010-07-28T22:47:33.158-07:002010-07-28T22:47:33.158-07:00Another blog about Syrah - I could not be happier ...Another blog about Syrah - I could not be happier to see this much attention given to a variety that I love to make and love to drink.<br /><br />Lots of good points here, but I do believe that Arthur has hit the nail on the head when talking about climatic and microclimate issues,<br /><br />Can you 'overcome' or 'obliterate' these differences during elevage as John asserts? Yes tercero wineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11718156055439684277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-68500524377027542212010-07-28T21:50:43.091-07:002010-07-28T21:50:43.091-07:00Well, John
I find the differences (inherent to gr...Well, John<br /><br />I find the differences (inherent to grape not winemaking) to be quite dramatic and my earlier example is a very good illustration. <br /><br />I wonder how much the degree of difference is related to the degree of difference in climate of varying sites.<br /><br />I get your point about dessication and arrested seed tannin maturation, but what about the impact of high heat Arthurhttp://www.winesooth.comnoreply@blogger.com