What: Two Vintners Syrah Columbia Valley 2012 $21

Where:  McCarthy and Schiering, Wine World and Spirits, Delaurenti, Seattle Wine Co., QFC Bellevue, Metropolitan Market, The Grape Choice, winery

Why: Consider the 2012 Two Vintners Columbia Valley Syrah ($21) a gesture of goodwill from Woodinville winemaker Morgan Lee. Lee sells ninety percent of this wine to restaurants and deliberately sets the price where it’s both bottle price friendly and able to be used for glass pours. However, doing so means that he must keep the price low.

“I don’t make a damn thing on it!” Lee said. “I know if I nudge the price up a dollar I’ll lose glass pours.” Still, Lee said that he’s happy to do it. “I just want to get Syrah into people’s hands,” he said. “And it’s my ‘gateway drug’ to the winery.”

What a gateway it is. The wine is a five vineyard blend from top sites Discovery, Klipsun, Stoney Vine, StoneTree, and Olsen. It’s aromatic with notes of smoke, olive, mineral, and herbs that lead to rich, layered flavors and an outrageous mouthfeel, drinking like a considerably more expensive wine.

In addition to the retailers above, you can buy it by the glass at Trellis Restaurant, Local 360, Purple Café and Wine Bar, and Village Wines in Woodinville. Drink up!