Shaw Ridge Vineyard Syrah
⏳ Drinking Window
2019 - 2026
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled lamb chops, roasted duck, smoked beef brisket
✨ Technical Specifications
JM Cellars' Shaw Ridge Vineyard Syrah is a powerful testament to the dramatic terroir of Washington's Red Mountain AVA. Sourced from the steep, sun-drenched slopes of the Shaw Ridge Vineyard, the vines here endure intense desert heat during the day and rapid cooling at night, a diurnal shift that preserves vital acidity while developing rich, concentrated flavors. The soils, composed of wind-blown loess over gravelly caliche, force the vines to struggle, resulting in small, thick-skinned berries. Winemaker John Bigelow utilizes traditional small-lot fermentation and aging in French oak barrels to craft a Syrah of immense depth. This wine beautifully captures the wild, savory character of the region, balancing opulent dark fruit with signature notes of smoked meats, cracked black pepper, and crushed stone.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1998 by John and Peggy Bigelow, JM Cellars is a benchmark family-owned artisanal winery centered at Bramble Bump, a wooded sanctuary in Woodinville, Washington. Initially mentored by prominent Washington vintners Mike Januik and Charlie Hoppes, the Bigelows evolved from basement garagistes into leading producers of small-lot, site-expressive Pacific Northwest wines. While production operations are based in Woodinville and Maltby, estate fruit originates from Margaret's Vineyard—a certified sustainable and Salmon-Safe site perched within Walla Walla's acclaimed SeVein development. Complementing their estate plantings, JM Cellars selectively sources from venerated Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley, and Red Mountain vineyards, including Boushey, Stillwater Creek, and Quintessence. Winemaking under John and his son Tommy emphasizes precision and texture, utilizing small-batch fermentations in stainless steel, concrete eggs, and French oak barrels. Benchmark cuvées include their signature Tre Fanciulli red blend, Margaret's Vineyard Bordeaux varietals, and vineyard-designated Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay, consistently distinguished by vibrant fruit purity and structured finesse.
🍇 Grapes
Syrah