My current love affair with Syrah rewarded me again this weekend. More on that in a minute.

Syrah, or Shiraz if you will (and not Petite Sirah!), is the fastest growing (in popularity/planting) grape in our country. Cabernet is still king, but more like a modern day king in his waning years, who has no heir of his own. People are moving on. I attribute this greatly to 2 things; the obvious similarity in taste from one Cab to the next, and the increasingly unaffordability of California (and now Washington) Cabernet. Syrah is being planted EVERYWHERE and can, and does, taste dramatically different from one area to the next, hell even from one slope to the next. The same can be made true of Cabernet, of course, but not for the right price.

Great syrah's are coming from some very inexpensive land areas: Paso Robles, Eastern Washington, Missouri, California's Central Valley (long the home of "bulk wine"), and even San Diego County. Pick a couple up from different areas and taste how amazingly unique they can be. Some of my current favorites are Star Lane (Santa Ynez), its little brother Three Saints (also Santa Ynez) and Foley (Santa Rita Hills).

I broke in my new smoker with some friends this weekend and a batch of mesquite smoked babyback ribs. One friend, who has now acheived "great friend status" brought a bottle of Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz 1998! Everyone knows P-L and they consistently make great shiraz, but Stonewell is kind of rare even in the business. And 1998 is considered the best year for Aussie reds in a generation. He knew neither and just wanted to share a great bottle with friends. Keeper (the friend and the bottle)! After 2 hours in decanter the whole house smelled like plum and raspberry and spice. This wine was still young at 10 years. I have not seen any in years, but if you do, I would love a comment as to where.