Winemaker Notes
The Sonoma Coast Syrah bottling hails from the Clary Ranch, Que Syrah, Baker Lane and Solas vineyards. All four of these amazing sites are located in various portions of the Sonoma Coast region and consistently produce fruit that is loaded with intense character, making this one of our hallmark bottlings. The vineyards are harvested and fermented separately without destemming and upon completion of native primary fermentation the wines are basket pressed to a mix of neutral French oak barrels and concrete for ageing. Syrah is well suited for life on the Sonoma Coast as the loose clusters and thick skins manage the cool and often damp growing conditions well. The long slow growing season near the edge of the continent provides complete ripeness at low sugar levels, resulting in a wine of deep color that has generous fruit character with an undercurrent of earth and spice. This is the Syrah to enjoy in its youth while our single vineyard Syrahs mature in the cellar.
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.