Gold Medal – 2011 Portland Seafood & Wine Competition
Silver Medal - 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Statesman Journal review, March 10, 2011
"Silky and smooth, this Syrah interweaves flavors of plum, rose petal, white pepper and maple syrup. Dense, inky tannins make for a lengthy finish."
Chuck Hill's Wines of the Week - March 2011
"As Scrooge McDuck used to say, “Well pluck my tail feathers, and call me baldy!” Here is a Syrah that won a silver medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, offers lip-smacking, juicy berry aromas and flavors, and costs less than a rack of ribs from Costco! Sooooo…buy the wine, buy the ribs, get a loaf of artisan bread and enjoy."
2007 Syrah
Outstanding / 4 out of 5 stars - Bev X Magazine
"Deep
purple color. The nose is rich and fruity with the scents of freshly
crushed black and red berries with complimenting notes of brown spices,
earth, and a clever dose of oak. The palate echoes the nose being rich
with blackberry jam with a nice balancing note of acid and accents of
spice and earth. This is a whole lot of Syrah for the money showing the
balance, complexity, and style of Syrah costing twice as much and more."
Bronze Medal - 2009 San Francisco International Wine Competition
Bronze Medal – 2010 US Professional Wine Buyers Competition
86 points/Silver Medal – 2009 World Value Wine Challenge
2006 Syrah
87 Points / Highly Recommended - 2009 World Wine Championships
“Deep violet color. Interesting aromas of fresh nougat, cocoa, beeswax and peach blossoms follow through on a smooth, zesty entry to a dryish medium-to-full body with sandalwood, olive, and graphite notes. Finishes with tangy sour cherry and dusty spice fade.”
Chuck Hill's Wine of the Week - March 19, 2009
"An Oregon winery making Washington Syrah? Of course! The Fries family are the proprietors of Duck Pond Cellars and the Desert Wind Vineyard on Washington's Wahluke slope (and the new Desert Wind winery in Prosser). Rich aromas of cassis, smoky herb and cocoa lead to a full-bodied palate with flavors of black cherry, vanilla and smoky earth. Good value."
Recommended - Northwest Palate - May/June 2009
"Cedar scents combine with black fruit aromas to create a sharp but inviting aroma. Plum and berry fruit is rich and broad, nicely accented with notes of sage, white pepper, and cedar. The tannins are noticeable and drying, but also add value to the fruit by seeming to shove the flavors forward. The finish has plenty of fruit, but is drying—a different style of Syrah that is intriguing. Serve with spicy salami, like hot sopressata."
2005 Syrah
Bronze Medal - 2008 World Value Wine Challenge
2004 Syrah
Outstanding Washington Wine/Grand Award of Excellence - 2008 Seattle Wine Awards
86 points/Highly Recommended/Best Buy - 2007 World Wine Championships
2003 Syrah
100 Best Values of the Year/87 points/Exceptional Value - Wine & Spirits, 2006
"This wine has a beguiling scent that suggest s a lot of blending, a wine that mixes scents of mulled berries and violets, with a healthy dose of compost and rich, loamy earth. It's more composed and integrated on the palate, with dark berry flavors and plush textures, and exhibits some pleasing fruit on the finish. A bargain wine for a steak sandwich."
86 points - Wine Spectator, July 31, 2006
"Ripe and juicy, with root beer note that adds interest to the blackberry and gentle spice flavors, finishing with mildly chewy tannins. Drink now through 2010."
2002 Syrah
Top 100 Wines of 2004/88 points/Best Buy - Wine Enthusiast, November 15, 2004
"Great color, dense purple/garnet, and thick scents of blackberries tell you this is a heckuva good $12 wine. hits the palate with a solid grip, the dense blackberry fruit perked up with white pepper and toast, and finishes big and smoky, with tarry tannins."
86 points/Highly Recommended - Beverage Testing Institute
Editor's Pick - San Francisco Chronicle, September 16, 2004
"Rich, dark and brooding with boysenberry, ripe blackberry, and nutmeg aromas with some smoky, meaty notes; ripe, juicy flavors with black pepper notes..."
Silver Medal - 2005 San Diego Wine Competition
Good Value/Recommended - Northwest Palate, November/December 2004
"Nose of black pepper, violet, and game. WArm and spicy palate, with notes of blueberry, pepper and toast. Full-bodied, balanced, and ripe; serve with roast venison.
83 points - Wine Spectator, December 1, 2004
"Good; a solid, well-made wine."