Winemaker Notes
Blend: 78% Syrah, 12% Petite Sirah
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
From Butler Ranch Vineyard, the 2021 The Butler is a Rhone-style red blend of 78% Syrah and 22% Petite Sirah grown at high altitude from clones that retain acidity. The Petite helps to soften the tannins, the blend fermented in stainless steel and treated more like a Pinot Noir in terms of winemaking, not overly extracting, and aged 14-16 months in 12% new oak. There’s meaty garrigue, black olive, and dried herb here, dusting the full-bodied core of wildness and complexity.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
A large and diverse appellation within California’s North Coast AVA, Mendocino is home to several smaller sub-regions—most notably the Anderson Valley. This scenic region, with rolling hills covered in redwood forests as well as vineyards, is one of the world’s top producers of certified organically-grown grapes. Due to wide geographical and climatic variation, a vast array of wine styles can be found here.