2010 Cowhorn Syrah 58

2010 Cowhorn Syrah 58If Oregon Syrah isn’t at the top of your list when deciding which cork to pop, one taste of the 2010 Cowhorn Syrah 58 may change that! Bill and Barbara Steele produce top-rate Rhone varietal on the only certified organic and biodynamic winery in Southern Oregon.

After purchasing an abandoned farm in 2002 and having experts analyze the soils, Rhone varietals were found to be the best fit. Bill, who has a degree in Conservation and Resource Studies, and Barbara, with years of experience working with organic farms in California, gravitated to a more natural and  holistic approach to wine production – in fact, the name Cowhorn is a nod to this way of life. The practice of a stuffing a cow’s horn with manure and burying it, later to be unearthed and used for fertilizer is an ancient biodynamic one. And if that part of the name isn’t interesting enough, add to it that the numbers for all of their wines reflect the number of days of frost in that particular parcel.

But more interesting than their story is what they put in the bottle as I can tell you from my experience on a recent weeknight when friends were stopping by. This Syrah was the perfect match for the rich, salty cheeses, cured meats and marinated vegetables we munched on while getting caught up with the events of each other’s lives. The flavors are complex yet graceful – the dark berry flavors were nicely enhanced with pepper and exotic spice notes. It was definitely well suited to the bolder flavors of the foods we were enjoying. I think it will be equally well suited to the lamb I plan on serving for Easter, a nice counterpoint to the gaminess of that meat.

At $39.99 a bottle and 94 points from eRobertparker.com, this is an affordable bottle and one that same website calls a “rare value”. It is reminiscent of a good Northern Rhone and one that you can share proudly with family and friends. We have it in stock and ready for your table but I wouldn’t wait too long – the Los Angeles Times says “This is a winery to watch.” You may not be the only one looking for it!