Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Dense and massive, rich and concentrated, this full-blown red has a mouthcoating core of spicy dried berry, currant, spice, pepper, beef carpaccio and tannins that grip and hold on. Needs plenty of air.
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Connoisseurs' Guide
The spotlight is on Syrah's somewhat gamy side, and, while not wildly fruity, the wine seems a little held back by its youth and shows a good center of intense, still tightly wound, blackberry fruit. It is enriched with an ideal complement of the creme brulee sweetness that comes of plentiful oak, and its combination of varietal substance and winemaking polish moves it to the head of the pack. While it does not quite open up in the present, its exceptionally long finish is still one more marker of a wine that is guaranteed to get better with age, and we expect it will grow into great beauty over time.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The dense, elegant 2007 Syrah Eddies Patch offers up aromas of pepper, tapenade, bouquet garni, and blackberries. This structured, tannic Syrah requires 1-2 years of cellaring for its tannins to melt away.
Respect for the land
DuMOL is a “vineyard up” winery with a fully integrated approach to winegrowing and winemaking. DuMOL planted its high-density estate vineyards and has farmed many of California’s most renowned vineyards for more than two decades.
Commitment to craft
DuMOL sticks to what works and is focused on the fundamentals, finding inspiration in master, visionary producers around the world as DuMOL continually hones its craft—never imitating, ever refining.
Connected on a personal level
This is a project that comes from who the DuMOL team is and what they love. A deep connection is paramount: to the land, the wines, and the customers.
Heritage and experience
Founded in 1996, DuMOL is a latter-day pioneer in the Russian River Valley. Winemaker, Viticulturist and Partner, Andy Smith, farmed the region for nearly a decade before joining in 1999, and Associate Winemakers Julie Cooper and Jenna Davis, and Cellar Master Jaime Eufracio, have over 40 years combined experience at DuMOL.
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.