Kerloo Cellars
Walla Walla Valley Syrah 2012
Wine Info
Region: Walla Walla, Washington, USA
Grapes: Syrah 98% Viognier 2%
ABV: 14%
Winemaker: Ryan Crane
Viticulture: Sustainable
Winemaking: Whole cluster fermentation, co-fermenting with 2% Viognier
“It’s all good, boss.”
This was a phrase I heard time and time again working harvest at Kerloo. My friends Ryan, Stephen and Sam guided me into the world of winemaking step by step, and let me help out. We’d show up early at 7 am, sometimes working 12 or 14 hour days, because when you’re making wine and fruit is coming off of the vine, you just gotta get the job done no matter what. “It’s all good, boss” became a mantra of sorts. It means “Don’t worry about it,” or “yes, I’d also like a beer at 9:30 am,” or “you should probably do that better next time, but I still love you.” I learned a lot, had a lot of fun, and Kerloo will always have a soft spot in my heart. I'd been buying the wines for years at Canlis, and it was fun to finally help make them.
I love Kerloo’s wines because they are made in a hands-off, low-intervention style. Natural yeasts. Concrete tanks and minimal oak. Grapes lovingly foot-stomped to gently extract juice. This Syrah is fermented with the grape clusters included, which adds spicy, funky green notes. A tiny percentage of Viognier adds gorgeous floral aromatics.
On the nose this wine is generous, with ripe blackberries and blueberry compote aromas, not to mention a bunch of funktastic savory notes: black pepper, green olive, smoked meat, and curing spices. On the palate, this wine is silky blue fruit and flowers with a hint of smoke, tangy barbecue, and curry. Pair this with anything cooked on the grill or over live fire.
suggested pairings.
in partnership with @NotWithoutSalt
The extremely talented and artistic chef Ashley Rodriguez has worked with us to select some of her recipes to go with each wine in the May box. If you haven’t checked her recipes and cooking out, you’re missing out. If you’re getting a box this month, there’s a recipe booklet from Ashley and at least one recipe for each wine, so check it out!
Fennel-crusted Lamb Chops
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Lamb Burgers
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
“Dreamsicle” - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
We listened to lots of country music at Kerloo during harvest. Like…more country than this city dweller felt comfortable with. And sometimes I secretly loved it. I would play my alt country from Jason Isbell as a nice little compromise. I picked a new Jason Isbell song to capture this wine’s balance between levity and gravitas.
Learn with the Circle
Join us on Youtube as we discuss the nuances of this wine and all the fun things that make it unique.
- Jackson