Barry Collier’s wife Sue passed away in 2007 from what’s commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, and the vintner has just released a syrah dedicated to her. It’s the Collier Falls, 2008 Syrah Du Soleil, Sue’s Block, Sonoma Coast, and 100 percent of its proceeds will be donated to research the disease.

In 1996 Sue met Carolyn Coryelle at the Santa Rosa Junior College while taking viticulture classes, and when Carolyn bought her dream vineyard on the Sonoma Coast, Sue helped her plant syrah on what is known today as “Sue’s Block.”

Less than 75 cases of the syrah was produced. To find out more about the wine, contact wine@collierfalls.com

The syrah is complex with firm tannins. It has bold, ripe blueberry and black cherry fruit, with notes of rosemary and black pepper. Great spice.

Sue would have appreciated this burley syrah.

When I met first met Sue more than a decade ago, I was taken by her enthusiasm about Wine Country and her determination to create a new life as a vintner. She would spend countless hours in the vineyard on her property in Dry Creek Valley, which featured a waterfall. Yes, the waterfall that graces their Collier Falls label.

After doing a story on the couple years ago, I was impressed by the Colliers ability to shift gears and create a new career path in their 50s after producing videos in Los Angeles. But I was also impressed with their good taste in real estate. I remember thinking at the time, it’s not every day you meet a couple who owns a waterfall.

Sue would have loved the syrah and sentiment.