Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Dense black currant, lanolin, leather and vanilla aromas are lifted by sagebrush and dried mint on the nose of this single-vineyard expression from the famous vineyard. The palate is jam-packed with herbs, from oregano and thyme to juniper, with blackberry rising in the midpalate and spearmint and more vanilla carrying through the finish.
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Wine Spectator
Shows excellent structure and focus, paired with a distinctively savory personality, offering blackberry, black olive and smoky herb flavors that build toward refined, minerally tannins. Needs time to fully bloom. Best from 2019 through 2028. 207 cases made.
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.”
Perhaps the most highly regarded appellation within Monterey County, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA benefits from a combination of warm morning sunshine and brisk afternoon breezes, allowing grapes to ripen slowly and fully. The result is concentrated, flavorful wines that retain their natural acidity. Wineries here do not shy away from innovation, and place a high priority on sustainable viticultural practices.
The climatic conditions here are perfectly suited to the production of ripe, rich Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. These Burgundian varieties dominate an overwhelming percentage of plantings, though growers have also found success with Syrah, Riesling and Pinot Gris.