Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Que Syrah Vineyard was planted in 1993 6.5lm off the Pacific near Occidental, and is now owned by Nathan Roberts. It was 25% destemmed, basket-pressed and aged in neutral French oak for 11 months. Compared to the Clary Ranch bottling, this is a deeper, broader Syrah but sacrifices none of that same grace, nuance or detail. A knockout nose of charcoal embers, blackberry compote, conifer and hibiscus and the palate continuously bounces between juicy, succulent, floral and roasted notes. A truly remarkable Syrah! Drinking Window 2020 - 2040
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
A vast appellation covering Sonoma County’s Pacific coastline, the Sonoma Coast AVA runs all the way from the Mendocino County border, south to the San Pablo Bay. The region can actually be divided into two sections—the actual coastal vineyards, marked by marine soils, cool temperatures and saline ocean breezes—and the warmer, drier vineyards further inland, which are still heavily influenced by the Pacific but not quite with same intensity.
Contained within the appellation are the much smaller Fort Ross-Seaview and Petaluma Gap AVAs.
The Sonoma Coast is highly regarded for elegant Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and, increasingly, cool-climate Syrah. The wines have high acidity, moderate alcohol, firm tannin, and balanced ripeness.