2009 PharaohMoans Westside Syrah

PharaohMoans is a winemaking venture undertaken by John Schwartz, owner of Amuse Bouche Winery in Napa Valley, and Bryan Ogden, a chef who in 2003 won the James Beard Award for the best restaurant of the year. Schwartz and Ogden brought Guillaume Fabre in as winemaker. A native of the south of France whose family has been making wine for two generations, Fabre has been a winemaker in France as well as at notable Paso Robles wineries. PharaohMoans focuses on Rhone-style Syrahs made from Paso Robles grapes. The wines earn ratings in the mid-90s from reviewers. Wine Advocate called the 2011 PharaohMoans Syrah “full-bodied, decadent and dense…with big classy structure and a great mid-palate.”

Paso Robles AVA is midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, and it is considered one of the West Coast’s most exciting winemaking regions. With its hot, sometimes searingly dry and sunny weather, it is especially good country for growing warm climate grapes such as Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre. Because many Paso Robles wineries have been successful with blending these grapes into Rhone Valley-style wines, it is known as the Rhone zone of California. The AVA was created in 1983 and there are 32,000 vineyard acres. In late 2014 the AVA was divided into 11 smaller sub-appellations, so starting with 2015 vintages labeling will become more specific on Paso Robles wines, which will now also list sub-appellations. Located in San Luis Obispo County, Paso Robles, the town and its surrounding area, was traditionally a farming and ranching region. But from a few dozen wineries in the early 1990s to more than 200 today, the area is quickly becoming known for wine and risk-taking winemakers.

This grape is grown in milder climates and produces a medium-to full-bodied wine. It is also known as Shiraz, but should not be confused with Petit Sirah, which was developed by crossing Syrah with Peloursin.