The 2017 Syrah from Jeff Runquist offers notes of blueberry currants that only begin to blossom after a few minutes in the glass, at which point it dazzles. A splash of oak vanillin on the nose draws you in and the fruit takes over. Supple and delicious now, this is a pretty Syrah that captivated the judges at the 2019 Critics Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition, where it was awarded Platinum.
Jeff Runquist, Paso Robles (California) Syrah 2017
By Robert Whitley