2020 Syrah Catherine

XOBC Cellars is a wine brand built to donate proceeds to charitable causes. Its four founders Brandi and Catherine Carlile (yes, singer and songwriter Brandi Carlile) and Jeri and Amy Andrews created XOBC Cellars to combine their love for Washington State, and its wines with the momentum of Carlile’s success to fund the Looking Out Foundation, a non-profits supporting organization established by Carlisle and fellow bandmates in 2008. It’s a truly noble cause. However, the best part is that the wines themselves are far better than what anyone would expect. Much of this has to do with their winemaker, Sean Boyd of Rotie Cellars, who has been on board since the beginning. The fruit for their lineup is sourced from throughout Washington State, with the Rhône varieties coming from the Rock District (labeled Walla Walla) and the Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from a combination of the Wallula and Champoux Vineyards in Horse Heaven Hills. This portfolio is still expanding, based primarily on direct sales through their mailing list. Being able to donate to a charitable cause while drinking a fantastic bottle of wine that easily communicates its value sounds like a no-brainer to me.