Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2015 Syrah comes all from the Hudson Vineyard and was completely destemmed and brought up in 80% French oak. Tiny yields, very old vines, and volcanic ash soils make this a big, masculine, concentrated Syrah that’s reminiscent of a Syrah from John Kongsgaard, which shouldn’t be a surprise as he’s the consulting winemaker here. A saturated purple color and sensational notes of blackcurrants, a peppery, meaty, butcher shop-like character, and hints of background oak all emerge from this gorgeously textured, concentrated, lengthy and Singular Syrah. Drink it over the coming 10-15 years.
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Wine Spectator
Combines power and plushness with fine structure, offering smoky blueberry and licorice aromas and lushly layered boysenberry, bittersweet chocolate and orange zest flavors that glide toward refined tannins.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Syrah Hudson Vineyard displays a wonderfully fragrant nose of violets, crushed cherries and warm blackberries with hints of baking spices and cracked peppercorns. The palate is refreshingly medium-bodied, offering youthful, vibrant black and red fruits textured by soft, rounded tannins, finishing long and peppery.
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.”
Known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse, Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. The cooling winds from the abutting San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit.
This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne as well.