At the time of this writing, we were in the quarantine due to COVID-19. And having a bottle of 2016 The Walls Syrah Gaspard was a proper way to overcome “the social distancing walls” everyone had to put on. We’ll explain why when we share the story of “The Walls” in a bit.
2016 Gaspard by The Walls Winery is a stellar example of Syrah, one of the flagship varietals of Washington State.
A relative newcomer to Washington, the Syrah grape has seen a substantial increase in acreage in the past few years. It’s among one of the Rhone varieties gaining popularity in Washington State. Actually, some winemakers started wineries here just because they saw the similarities between Washington and Rhone and Chateauneuf-du-Pape in particular.
Syrah responds well to the famously warm and sunny climate of Eastern Washington. A spicy, rich, complex varietal, Syrah grapes turn into big, dark, intensely concentrated wines. Now it’s the third most planted red variety after Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot here.
The Walls Winery
The Walls winery located in Walla Walla Valley of Washington. You may wonder where the name comes from. Initially, “The Walls” was meant as a play on the Washington State Penitentiary, the notorious “Concrete Mama.” It was down the street from it where they made their first wines. As time went by, they found a philosophical meaning in “The Walls” as barriers that we build around ourselves figuratively and literally. They thought of people for whom life stopped on inside, while for people on the other side of the wall, it was business as usual. During the 2020 quarantine, many of us had a chance to experience how it feels to be inside looking out.
People of “The Wall” see the wine as a medium that can help us overcome those walls and connect with each other. And that was our intent when we’ve done weekly virtual wine tastings with members of our club.
Philosophy aside, let’s talk about 2016 Gaspard and how it can help us connect with Syrah.
2016 The Walls Syrah Gaspard Tasting Notes
In the Bottle
The name for this label comes from the legend of the time of Crusades in the 13th century. In 1224 wounded Knight named Gaspard was given permission by the Queen of France to build a small refuge to recover in. Through with wars, he remained living there as a hermit. Later others have joined him, and they build the chapel on the granite top in honor of Saint Christopher. Together, they began to tend the area’s vines, and today this place called Hermitage. What’s the significance of that?
Nowadays, Hermitage is the place where the best Syrah and some of the most expensive wines in the world made.
These are big shoes to fill! So how did The Walls do?
The grapes for this wine came from the Red Mountain area in Walla Walla, known for its intense flavors and texture.
In the Glass
True to the varietal, the 2016 Gaspard Syrah has a deep purple color.
Aromas
We sensed both classic Syrah aromas and quintessential Walla Walla. It started with plum and dried cherry and continued with dark chocolate and green herb aromas. Often, wines from this region have such intense dark chocolate that they may overtake the fruit in the wine.
In Gaspard, it was just enough chocolate to add complexity to the wine and let the fruit and other aromas shine.
Flavors
It’s a full-bodied wine with well-incorporated soft tannin and medium acidity. The flavors are a sophisticated concoction of blackberry, black plum, stewed fruit with a touch of coffee.
Finish
We think Gaspard would be proud of this wine. We enjoyed how cohesive this on wine on the nose, and the palate and the sensation of chocolate-dipped plum aftertaste.
It may not be Hermitage, but it’s also 100 times less expensive and in that it’s a great value wine.
What are your thoughts on Washington Syrah? Have you found any favorites?