Chatter Creek Lonesome Spring Ranch Syrah 2005

Warm your heart and soul with a good bass line and a glass of true artisan made Syrah. This is the sort of wine that could take the chill off a trout fishing trip on Chatter Creek.

Chatter Creek Winery proprietor and Winemaker "Gordy" Rawson was looking for a sense of security when he made the jump from musician and sound engineer to wine delivery driver in his home town of Seattle. One thing led to another and his nose eventually landed him the Cellar master job working for David Lake at Columbia Winery. A self-taught winemaker with a sensational palate, Rawson is content to build his own winery one barrel at a time with an eye on the long haul.

What Gordy lacked in financial backing he made up for in tenacity, intelligence and grass roots networking, and after ten years making wine commercially, he recently opened his small Woodinville winery and tasting room. Finally out of his Seattle garage, his production is now up to about 2,000 cases annually and slowly climbing. So is his reputation for hand crafted wines which capture Washington State terroir from a true local's point of view.

That's a stylized version of a Madrona tree located in Lincoln Park in Seattle that adorns his Chatter Creek labels, designed by friend and product label designer Chris Roberts. Madrona trees are broadleaf evergreens which seem most at home in the islands around Seattle.

The name Chatter Creek goes back to the days when Gordy and his Father fished in the namesake creek that feeds the Icicle and Wenatchee Rivers near Leavenworth, Washington's "Bavarian Village" in the Eastern Cascade Mountains. The Rawsons fished for trout using "eggs and bobber".

Lonesome Spring Syrah 2005 reflects Rawson's artisan style, to work with the highest quality fruit in Washington State, take a light handed approach when it comes to oak and allow the terroir to show, and produce in small batches. The 100% Syrah was sourced from the Yakima Valley appellation, specifically the Benton City "Lonesome Spring Ranch" vineyard owned by Colin and Ann Morrell. The oak is one and two-year-old and neutral French barrels he buys from Quilceda Creek. The 2005 is very current and limited, with 50 cases already released and the remaining 350 cases immediately forthcoming.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Somewhat inky purple cranberry with a nice haze, semi-opaque. Aromas: Black and blue berry plus background notes of nutmeg/spice, bacon fat, earth and faint wafts of roasted cocoa beans. Rich and youthfully firm on the tongue with nice acidity and some spice, the chewy purple-blue fruit and roasted nutty flavors finish warm and dry.

Closure: Real cork. Alcohol content: 13.8%

What's next for Chatter Creek? Rawson has been slowly aging a Nebbiolo (a la Barolo style) for almost 3 years and soon it will be ready. He is working with his wife and a friend on an Orange Muscat, and he will return to making sparkling wine. Bubbly was his first commercial product back in the 1990's, labeled under the "Alexia" name. Rawson stopped making Alexia and changed his label when he lost a court challenge over the use of the Alexia name by the Alexi Vodka brand. Prior to this financially draining experience, Rawson's sparkling wines were considered critically successful.

Paul Gregutt, wine columnist for the Seattle Times is a fan of Chatter Creek wines, and he did a piece on Gordon Rawson in February 2006, including a picture of Gordy by photographer Barry Wong.

Comments

[Win Hunt]

Jerry,

Your blog is a great learning tool for neophytes like me!! I enjoy your comparisons and contrasts of affordable wines. I did find one recently at Costco. A Concho de Toro "Casillero del Diablo" Cabernet. I would recommend you trying it if you can find it. It is a sneaky little red...the first sip is not revealing..in fact it is not all that wonderful. The second (third-fourth-etc.) are great!!

Just thought I'd return the favor for all you do to recommend wines to us!!

Thanks again!

Win

[jerry]

Good call - I'll make it a point to put the "Celler of the Devil" up soon - I've had it in past vintages and enjoyed it - and best yet - it is very affordable.