Sawtooth Estate Winery in Nampa, Idaho recently helped make history for the sole American viticultural area in Idaho, the Snake River Valley. Its 2011 Riesling, noted last year by Wine & Spirits as among the best in the US, earned a 90-point score in the May 2013 issue of Wine Enthusiast. Winemakers Bill Murray and his associate winemaker, Meredith Smith, have long believed in Idaho’s potential for outstanding Riesling and Rhone varieties, due to the area’s unique timing in delivery of heat units and its high elevation vineyards.
This week, the winery received its second outstanding acclaim, this time on the Sawtooth 2011 Syrah, whose score will appear in the August 2013 issue of Wine & Spirits: 91 Points. A first for the state of Idaho, the appellation, and the winery, this is the highest score to date. Says Murray, “Meredith and I thought the 2011 Syrah was a solid wine, and we’ve always loved the Rhones coming off this estate, but a 91 is a fantastic outcome–it’s very affirming that critical palates agree.”
Cheers to Idaho! Find the wine at www.sawtoothwinery.com for $14.