2020 Syrah

Raspberry, pomegranate, elderberry, charcuterie, white pepper, freshly grated nutmeg, garrigue and bay are just a few of the many vibrant flavors that unfold in waves as the wine evolves in its glass. A rich, voluptuous texture adheres to the tongue with ripe tannins emerging on the balanced graceful finish.

We have a perfect site for growing syrah grapes here at the western tip of our estate, where shy-yielding vines scrape out an existence in the rocky soils of a steep, north-facing slope, bathed in low-angle sunlight and cool afternoon breezes. The longer the hangtime between veraison (when the grapes change color in August) and harvest, the more syrah becomes complex and this is achieved on north-facing blocks that do not ripen too quickly.

 

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Appellation: Sonoma County
Vintage: 2020
Harvest: September 2020
Fermentation: Stainless Steel
Cooperage: 100% Neutral Oak
Blend: 92% Syrah
6% Grenache
2% Viognier
Alcohol: 14.4%
Bottling: February 2022
Production: 1310 cases
Release Date: April 2022
Release Price: $62.00

Reviews

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  • Wine Enthusiast : October 1, 2023 - Rating: 96

    Wild and fascinating aromas of road tar, anise, charred oak and grilled rosemary give way to chunky, chewy beef jus, roast venison and black cherries on the palate. Firm tannins are well integrated with the bold fruity, savory, gamy flavors. Decant and drink now—or better, wait until 2027–2037. — Jim Gordon

  • Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine: October 2022 - Rating: 90

    Fairly precise Syrah aromas focused on concentrated blackberries with notes of spice and judiciously applied creamy oak may seem a bit quiet at first nosing, but, with air, the intensity grows and presages the exacting, if youthfully tannin-bound, flavors that follow. Full on the palate and firm at this writing, a bit fleshy in feel underneath and tightened by late astringency, this solid, well-structured effort asks for some four to seven years of cellaring. 

  • Robert Parker Wine Advocate: May 2023 Week 1, The Wine Advocate - Rating: 91

    The 2020 Syrah also includes small proportions of Grenache (6%) and Viognier (2%), but it's unmistakably Syrah on the nose, boasting distinctive notes of fresh asphalt and black olives, plus fruitier notions of blueberries and maybe even some hints of violets and bay leaves. It's full-bodied, smooth and supple, with boysenberry shadings and hints of barrel char coming through on the surprisingly elegant finish.

  • Decanter: Single Tasting, 19 Jul 2023 - Rating: 91

    What an intriguing Syrah, with an exceptionally long finish marked by a deep intensity of ruby red fruit. It is medium-bodied with a richness in oak spices and blackberry fruit that finds a perfect balance on the palate. Cracked black pepper adds distinct Syrah intrigue, and dark chocolate-covered orange peel brings complexity. A deep mid-palate meatiness emerges, kicking the Syrah notes into high gear with vanilla and candied violets nuances. It takes time for those notes to express themselves, so patient swirling is advised.

    Tasted by: Jonathan Cristaldi

    (at Novato, California, 19 Jul 2023)

    Drinking Window: 2024 - 2028