“So there we were on the third night blind tasting California Syrahs. On this particular night there were just six wines. We often limit the number of wines we taste in one sitting if A) the varietal is known to make powerful, complex wines and B) the wines are over $50.
When the wines were revealed, the three top Syrahs were all made by the same winery—RADIO-COTEAU. Not only that, but the RADIO-COTEAU Syrahs were ranked way above the others. They were, quite simply, in a class by themselves.
The RADIO-COTEAU “Las Colinas” Syrah 2020 ($48; 95 pts KM) was extremely pure tasting, cooling, and intense. The RADIO-COTEAU “Dusty Lane” Syrah 2019 ($68; 97 pts KM) was primal scream—a wildly gamey, peppery, bloody Syrah that had Côte-Rôtie written all over it. And the RADIO-COTEAU “Harrison Grade” Estate Syrah 2019 ($72; 97 pts KM) had the most stunning arc of complex flavor. Drinking it was like drinking a rainbow of blueberries, espresso, charcuterie, and violets.
All three of these wines were richly alive…”
–Karen MacNeil