Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Syrah Papa's Block comes from the Russian River Valley and saw 22% whole clusters and 23% new French oak. Inky saturated purple-colored, with sensational notes of blackberries, ground pepper, crushed rocks, and smoked earth, it hits the palate with a massive, full-bodied, layered, seamless style that has to be tasted to be believed. This sensational, blockbuster-styled Syrah stays light and elegant on the palate, with no sense of heaviness or coarseness. It has good acidity, notable tannin, and should benefit from short-term cellaring.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Made up of 100% Syrah, the deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Syrah Papa's Block comes bounding out of the glass with gregarious crushed blackcurrants and black plums with touches of dried herbs, black pepper, aniseed and tilled soil plus a waft of underbrush. Full-bodied with a firm backbone of grainy tannins and a lively line supporting the generous fruit, it has a very long, savory finish.
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Wine Spectator
Broad-shouldered and potent, with a complex core supported by bold blackberry and currant flavors, accented by smoky beef, licorice, pepper and tar notes. Finishes with big but resolved tannins. Best from 2020 through 2026.
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 standout region for its decidedly Californian take on Burgundian varieties, the Russian River Valley is named for the eponymous river that flows through it. While there are warm pockets of the AVA, it is mostly a cool-climate growing region thanks to breezes and fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme in Russian River, with the best examples demonstrating a unique combination of richness and restraint. The cool weather makes Russian River an ideal AVA for sparkling wine production, utilizing the aforementioned varieties. Zinfandel also performs exceptionally well here. Within the Russian River Valley lie the smaller appellations of Chalk Hill and Green Valley. The former, farther from the ocean, is relatively warm, with a focus on red and white Bordeaux varieties. The latter is the coolest, foggiest parcel of the Russian River Valley and is responsible for outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.