What I Drank With Dinner (WIDWD)

At this time of year, the food we serve at our table becomes hearty fare, and so do the wines that go with it. With winter arriving, there is nothing I like more than to reach for a bottle of Washington cabernet or syrah, especially wines from Walla Walla. And one of my favorite winter meals is a dish Kari crafts by sautéing onions, adding Italian sausage and then her homemade tomato sauce. While this combines in the pan on the stove stop, she starts a pot of soft polenta alongside it.

As soon as I saw all of this cooking on the stove, I knew a Washington syrah would provide a great match with this meal. The syrah I ended up going with on this night was a L'Ecole No. 41 2005 Syrah Columbia Valley, a wine I acquired in a mixed case prize from Northwest Palate magazine. What a wonderful combination this wine and Kari's dish turned out to be.

On the eyes, the L'Ecole syrah was a deep reddish purple color in the glass. On the nose, it offered black fruit notes, especially black cherry, along with hints of earth and herbs. On the palate, this unfined and unfiltered Washington syrah was well balanced and very drinkable with nice fruit and good acidity. At 14.8%, it packed a slight amount of heat on the finish, but not so much to knock you over.

This wine reminded me why I love Washington syrah, specifically those crafted in Walla Walla. The L'Ecole was full yet well balanced, rich yet not over the top. It was a very drinkable wine, meaning that you could enjoy this on its own or with food. Either way, it's delicious. Even still, the high alcohol started to reveal itself more in my head than on my palate.

The L'Ecole 2005 Syrah Columbia Valley has garnered a number of positive reviews, which all seem well deserved. If you can find a bottle out there, I encourage you to buy it and serve it up soon. It offers the perfect match to a hot meal on a cold winter night.

Useful Links
L'Ecole Tasting Notes
L'Ecole Tasting Room Review