Adding Another Sandhill Syrah

Looks like I'll get off with a bit of an easy entry this time around. Sandhill wines have a tendency to show up on The List a fair bit. In fact, I wouldn't be too surprised if Sandhill shows up more often than any other winery. It'd be close in any event - but that's just because we like their wines so darned much!

I've actually added the '06 vintage of both the Small Lots (#327) and the regular Sandhill Syrah (#193) to The List. So, I won't repeat myself too much about the winery or the Small Lots Program, but this will be another of Howard Soon's stellar Syrah's to tickle our taste buds.

463. 2002 Sandhill - Phantom Creek Small Lots Syrah (VQA Okanagan Valley)

The Small Lots Syrah has been one of the standout wines for Sandhill since the start of the winery. Sandhill's first wines were produced in 1999 and the Small Lots Syrah commenced in 2000. By this 2002 vintage, the wine was already being touted as a winner. At the 2004 Canadian Wine Awards, the '02 Small Lots Syrah won Gold and Best of Class for Syrah and was one of three wines in a tie for Canada's Red Wine of the Year.

Similar accolades have continued to follow suit. Indeed, one local scribe has more-or-less referred to it as a definitive Pacific North-West Syrah - rich, round and sporting soft tannins.

There were only 195 cases of the wine produced in '02 and, despite the demand for more, the amount remains almost as miniscule today (hence the "Small Lots" moniker). We do our best, however, to try and snag at least a bottle or two of each vintage. This is the last of our 2002's. Too bad because, the wine was still holding its own and 2002 has been called a great vintage year for BC and the Okanagan.

There'll be more of Sandhill bottles to grace The List. I'll be looking forward to those moments.