The dynamic duo of married wine reviewers Nathan and Courtney Marton of Winery Reflections have been enthusiastic supporters and reviewers our wines for many years (they even paid us a visit back in 2019). Yet we still hold our breath every time we send them samples!
We actually tried to send them the 2019 Firebird Summit View Vineyard Syrah last fall, but as luck would have it, the bottle they received was corked! (UGH!) So we replaced it in our spring shipment to them this year, and asked them to sample it first — because we were worried that history might repeat itself! Fortunately, however, this bottle showed well… AND they enjoyed it! (PHEW.)
Courtney and Nathan Marton of Winery Reflections in the Bells Up estate vineyard.
Here’s what they wrote:
Crunchy boysenberry, Kalamata olive, perfectly-ripe dark cherry. Black currant, blooming rose, sweet strawberry. An astoundingly elegant and expressive presentation bursting with black raspberry, blueberry preserves, and dark plum radiates layers of plump and highly perfumed fruit that are bolstered in aromatics by lifted floral tones of violet and wild lavender.
Notes of sage, pine, and rosemary playfully emerge to reveal great depths of pretty herbal character that plays alongside hints of nutmeg, cinnamon, and understated baking spices. Impressions of prosciutto and cured meat gently expose incredibly compelling savory leanings that do not detract from the high-toned and delicate yet still powerful fruit.
Notably soft and silky yet juicy on the palate while remaining terrifically complex and engaging; exhibiting a surprisingly restrained and even Burgundian presentation that prioritizes freshness and balance over extraction and weight. Medium-plus bodied with moderate tannin cut by bright acidity. This 2019 “Firebird” Summit View Vineyard Syrah by Bells Up Winery is a scintillating and irresistible red from the Walla Walla Valley.
Although it can produce some of the world’s most dense and deeply colored red wine, Syrah also has a lighter and fresher side that can be coaxed out with the right combination of farming, winemaking, and terroir. This bottling, crafted by Bells Up Winery using Syrah sourced from the Summit View Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley, showcases this unquestionably noble grape in its most elegant and expressive form.
This effortlessly spills oodles of supple dark and red berry fruits pleasantly complicated by fresh herbs, savory meatiness, pretty florals, and just a touch of oak influence. This is truly a Pinot-lovers Syrah if there ever was one, and should only get more delicious with additional cellaring. Wow.
