Wine Review: Smoking Loon Syrah

Posted by Wine Welfare | Filed under $6-$8, California, Red, Syrah, USA

smoking-loon-syrah

Such an obvious review. Smoking Loon is fairly well-known these days for producing pretty good quality wines at very, very reasonable prices. Smoking Loon wines come from California and are produced by Don Sebastiani & Sons. These make great party wines because they are much higher than the Two-Buck Chuck level, but still remain less than $10 at all times.

Bad News First: No length and no finish. These are the traits that stood out to us upon tasting the Smoking Loon Syrah. As cheaper wines go, some will leave a bitter, sour taste in your mouth, while others simply….stop. You can taste the flavors and then POOF!, they’re gone.

Now The Good: Great color. The official tasting notes call it “inky” and we would have to agree. Rich, blackberry colors. The wine smells of cranberry juice poured over milk chocolate, or, to some extent, a chocolate covered cherry. We guessed that the wine had to have been oaked before tasting it (it did not say so on the label). Once we tasted, we knew we had been right. Not overdone, but just hints of oak throughout, really adding to the structure.

What really struck us, though, was the herbs. We swear to whatever wine gods exist that this wine smelled like herbs (particularly thyme and rosemary). Now, this is not exactly rare in Syrahs, or any red wine at times, but in an $8 wine? That is unheard of. That sealed it. We were hooked.

With Food: Despite the short length, the flavors are still very pronounced and fairly balanced, meaning the Smoking Loon Syrah can stand up to most red meats, game or red sauces. We would not try it with shellfish; in fact, no white fish either. Ahi Tuna was made for this style, particularly if you order it seared with a sesame seed or black pepper crust.

$7.99 at MarketViewLiquor.com

You should also be able to find it for around the same price or slightly more in pretty much every grocery store, Costco and possibly even some convenience stores that carry wine. If you can’t find it, ask for it.

Visit the Smoking Loon website here.

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