Palencia Wine Co. 2012 Syrah, Yakima Valley, $30
The buzz surrounding Victor Palencia began while he was a teen at Prosser High School working for Dave Minick, then the winemaker/grower for Willow Crest. A decade later, Palencia is buying grapes from his mentor, an arrangement that allows him access to Precept’s Canyon Ranch Vineyard and Minick’s own Willow Crest Estate Vineyard for his Rhône program. There’s nice density to the nose of Marionberry, plum and cola, along with NECCO wafer and cured meat. It’s a brightly styled Syrah with flavors of boysenberry, blueberry and pomegranate. Low tannin and juicy acidity allows it to finish with a flourish of red currant, coffee, allspice and minerality. His other wines are available in the Tri-Cities at Yoke’s Fresh Markets, Mid Columbia Wine and Spirits, Bonnie’s Vine & Gifts and Rancho Alegre Restaurant in his hometown of Prosser, his tasting room at the Walla Walla airport and at Remington’s inside the Ramada at Spokane International Airport.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 100 cases
Alcohol: 14%
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