Okay, I admit it.  Sometimes I'm a bit snobby about wine.  I've never been a fan of Syrah, relegating it to the elementary education level of learning to enjoy red wine.  Frankly, I say to myself, it's for sissies... the drinkable posterchild for wineaux who can't handle the serious stuff... like Cab.  But my snooty little attititude got a swift kick in the pants yesterday when I sampled a Syrah (it was the only choice offered at the reception I attended and clearly was a better alternative than no wine at all!) from those lawyers turned wine makers at Barrister.  Now honestly, you have to agree they make some of the best bottles of Cabernet, Merlot and Cab Franc in Spokane.  But I wondered why this top drawer winery would stoop to produce a Syrah, the obvious arm candy of the current wine drinking world.  I should have known they'd up the ante on that "just okay" grape and turn some ordinary juice into a superb and savory glass of wine... but really, this liquid berry jam seriously made me catch my breath and reminded me that I might be denying myself hours of pleasurable sampling due to my preconceived notions about what I do or don't like.  So here's to raising a glass of something you'd normally turn up your nose at.  Who knows... I might even have to give white wine a chance.  Or not.

http://www.barristerwinery.com