BBQ Rib sandwiches with Stevens Winery “Black Tongue” Yakima Valley Syrah
Linda prepared delicious BBQ Rib Sandwiches from the leftover Ribs from the other evening. I trolled the cellar and found this aged vintage Syrah from Yakima Valley (Washington). I have to admit, I don’t recall ever seeing this label before and had no idea where I had see it or obtained it. Thankfully, I keep good records using the CellarTracker Cellar Management app. I bought this at Total Wine two years ago, so, it was eight years old at the time of purchase. Regrettably, I didn’t detail which Total Wine store and it could’ve been Indy or Pensacola, for the time obtained. I suspect Indy, since I’m certain I didn’t ship or carry it from Florida.
In any event, this was an ideal pairing with our BBQ.
Stevens Winery “Black Tongue” Yakima Valley Syrah 2015.
Stevens strive to “produce wines that show a distinctive character, specifically focused on the Yakima Valley”. They attribute much of their success to their growing partners at Dineen, DuBrul, Klipsun, Meek and Sheridan Vineyards.
It sounds like they are classic ‘garagists’, winemakers acquiring grapes and producing wines out of a garage, or as they say, in a warehouse.
According to their website, “Today”, they produces six reds and two white wines. Starting with only 100 cases of Cabernet Franc produced in their first year, they now are in their tenth year “pushing close to 2900 cases”, which they continue to grow each year.
It appears this may have been their last release, Their website talks about being their tenth release, having started in 2002, would put them at 2012. Their website lists six different labels from the 2012 vintage as the most current release. It also lists thirty different labels going back ten years.
I find no records of any other labels after 2012 other than this one, in 2015 and a mention of 2016.
Total Wine lists it as a Winery Direct product, sourced directly from the producer. They show it being in stock only in the Indy store.
Winemaker’s notes for this wine - Yakima, WA - This medium-bodied wine starts with flavors of blackberry, raspberry and cherry mixed with plum, chocolate and caramel followed by mineral, earthy notes for a smooth finish..
Wine Enthusiast gave it 88 points and called it “Not fully resolved orange-peel, bacon-fat, mineral and herb aromas lead to quite elegantly styled fruit flavors.” They go on to say, “There are some interesting things going on but they don't all come together.”
The only CellarTracker tasting note of the label was from 2018 and was tasted at the winery. The writer, TJRoss notes he was ”shocked at how different it was from previous vintages. Instead of the big fruit forward profile of the past, the 2015 is earthy, bacon-fat, briny...a bit of funk on the nose.”
Our experience was consistent with his … a bit funky with the tasting profile ‘earthy, bacon-fat, briny...’
Dark inky garnet purple colored, full bodied, the dark berry fruits were overtaken by a layer of camphor, almost akin to aromas of whisky, albeit not nearly as strong. TJR called it ‘unsettled’ which is not off the mark.
TJRoss gave it 91 points. I would give it the same as Wine Enthusisat, 88 points.
