Winemaker Notes
The 2017 MJM will be one of the more long lived MJMs, as it has concentration and large scaled, yet ripe tannins. Indeed, it reminds Dragonette Cellars of the 2015, another hot dry vintage. The wine should age well for 15 years and hold for another 10. Drink 2023-2035+.
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
Not yet bottled, the 2017 Syrah MJM might be a candidate for the Syrah of the vintage, and it’s certainly up with the finest wines I’ve tasted from this team. Beautifully pure crème de cassis, licorice, crushed stone, graphite, and ground pepper notes all emerge from the glass. It’s full-bodied, powerful and concentrated, yet as with all the wines from this team, it’s perfectly balanced, has awesome tannins, and a great finish.
Barrel Sample: 96-98
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.”
Ranging from cool and foggy in the west to warm and dry in the east, the Santa Ynez Valley is a climatically diverse growing area. The most expansive AVA within the larger Santa Barbara County region, Santa Ynez is also home to a wide variety of soil types and geographical features. The appellation is further divided into four distinct sub-AVAs—Sta. Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Los Olivos District and Happy Canyon—each with its own defining characteristics.
A wide selection of grapes is planted here—more than sixty different varieties, and counting. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir dominate in the chilly west, while Zinfandel, Rhône blends, and Bordeaux blends rule the arid east. Syrah is successful at both ends of the valley, with a lean and peppery, Old-World sensibility closer to the coast and lush berry fruit further inland.