So, the 2005 vintage was rather anxiously awaited by Walla Walla wine fans because of the disaster that was the 2004 vintage. An unexpcted freeze in 2004 damaged a massive number of vines in Walla Walla, forcing many wineries including Amavi to look to the Columbia and Yakima valleys for fruit for their 2004 vintage wines.The major advantage for Walla Walla growers heading into the 2005 vintage was the fact that Walla Walla is a wine region that doesn't have to worry about phylloxera, so their vines are planted on their own rootstock. As a result, the vines that were killed off by the cold in 2004 didn't all have to be replanted, and they were still able to produce fruit for the 2005 vintage.
The growing conditions in 2005 are generally described as ideal, with a cool April budbreak, good temperatures through the growing season, and a slow cool-down through the end of the summer that lead to good hangtime, allowing the grapes to develop flavor complexity and excellent acidity.
The nose on the 05 Amavi opens with tart black cherry, bright blueberry, and smoked meats. As it sat open, it developed darker characters of spice and coffee, with a really charming sweet basil character. The color is clear and beautiful violet. The wine was aged in 100% French oak, 1/3 of it new. The oak opens the palate , but is very well integrated, and leads immediately into juicy blackberry, blueberry and black cherry, with dark coffee, fresh earth, and mineral. The tannins are smooth and works together with the acidity to create an impressively long finish.
This bottle retails for $24. Now, when it came to rating this wine, I had to think about it for a while. I've had better Syrahs, that's true. I've also had cheaper syrahs, but I have never had a better cheaper syrah, so I've gotta give this one...
3 Awesomes!
