Winemaker Notes
Highly perfumed, multi-dimensional aromatic range: violet and lilac, blue and black berry pastille, white and black pepper, and olive tapenade. Densely packed full of perfectly ripe flavorsome blue and black fruits, sweet herbs and exotic spices. The wine's texture is soft, round, and billowing, and enveloping the wine’s youthful structure. Lingering complexity—dusty cocoa and licorice spice.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Syrah Wild Mountainside was harvested on October 6 and 23 and fermented with around 30% whole clusters. Matured for 15 months in 15% new French oak hogsheads, it has dynamic aromas of blackcurrant, blueberry, green olive, prosciutto and violet. The full-bodied palate is powerful and pleasurably broody. It’s framed by abundant, velvety tannins and mouthwatering acidity and has a long, iron-laced finish.
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Vinous
The 2023 Syrah Wild Mountainside shows just how compelling the vintage is here, for Syrah as well. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol, black pepper and espresso infuse the 2023 with tons of character. This is impeccably done.
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Wine Spectator
Generous and brimming with fruit, this shows a subtle floral twinge amid its raspberry and Santa Rosa plum flavors. There’s also firm, minerally acidity lending some backbone as this finishes with structured tannins. Drink now through 2035.
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.