Winemaker Notes
Black cherry, boysenberry, lavender, violet and green peppercorn are all present in the aroma. There's lovely clarity of flavor and purity of cool climate fruit: cassis and blackberry offset by thyme, tobacco and cocoa nib. A lushness of texture takes over with lingering black fruits and lilac on the peppery, extended finish. Drink this soon after release or enjoy the reward of 10+ years of aging.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Blueberry, blackberry and meaty garrigue define this deliciously lush and complex wine, the grape a tragic rarity in the appellation. Thick concentration is lifted by a bright underbelly of fresh, persistent acidity that boosts and complements the more brooding, brawny soul.
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Jeb Dunnuck
There are three Syrahs from Smith. His 2017 Syrah Wild Mountainside comes from a handful of sites in the Russian River and spent 15 months in a mix of one-third new French oak, 20% amphora, and the balance in used barrels. This rocking effort offers classic cool-climate notes of blue fruits, violets, ground pepper, and game. With medium to full body, beautiful tannins, and a seamless texture, it’s going to keep for over a decade.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Syrah Wild Mountainside was made with 33% whole cluster and aged for 15 months, 33% in new Ermitage hogsheads and 20% in amphorae. It has a deep ruby-purple color and a nose of roasted coffee, fried thyme and sage, dark chocolate, blackcurrants, chargrilled meats and desiccated violets. Full-bodied, it explodes in the mouth, absolutely jam-packed with ripe black fruit and savory layers, framed by firm, grainy tannins and seamless acidity to lift the very long, very flavorful finish. Wow!
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Wine Spectator
Refined and multilayered, with floral blueberry, violet and black olive notes that open to crushed rock accents along the way, showing fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2028.
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Wine & Spirits
Winemakers Andy Smith and Julie Cooper blend this wine from three mountain vineyards—Hoppe-Kelly, Timbervine and Greywacke—producing a meaty syrah with the salty, savory notes of charcuterie. It’s smooth and rich, with cedar and chocolate notes in the tannins, ready to decant for filet mignon.
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.