Winemaker Notes
From a beautiful, cool, perfectly-tended block in Hudson Vineyards which is situated next to an old Hangman’s tree (in use until the early 1900s) hails a distinct Syrah with a dark (and luckily not so lurid) personality. This block sits up against the southern foot of the Mayacamus range, resulting in soils which are a combination of volcanic and old maritime soils – meaning naturally shallow, stoney, well-drained, and ideally limiting, keeping this Hermitage clone of Syrah in low production. We love working with Lee Hudson and Kelly MacLeod, who custom farm this block. Every pass is discussed, and carried out to the detail, evident in the pristine nature of the fruit and purity of the wine. The Syrah was co-fermented with 7% whole cluster Viognier in one small lot. After 29 days on the skins, the free run was drained to a combination of 500L and 228L French Oak barrels (65% new) for 18 months of elevage before being bottled without fining or filtration. This is the most pensive and backward of our Syrahs, and perhaps the most reminiscent of the Northern Rhone, exhibiting a very savory nose of black cherry, cigar wrapper, cedar, forest floor, tiger balm, and powdered white flowers. The insanely silky entry opens to a wine of great concentration with fine, plush tannins and terrific freshness and length.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
A blend of 93% and 7% Viognier from the cooler Hudson Vineyard in the Carneros appellation, the 2015 Syrah Hangman’s offers a Cote Rotie La Mouline-like bouquet of bacon fat, crushed flowers, pepper, and peach pit that’s ground by a sensational core of pure Syrah fruit. Full-bodied, unctuous, and undeniably sexy, with a pure, seamless texture and no hard edges, this tour de force in Syrah needs to be tasted to be believed. It flirts with perfection and is up with the finest Syrahs from California.
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James Suckling
This is so classy and refined with incredible balance and finesse, as well as richness and opulence. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a seamless-textured finish. Drink now or hold.
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Wine Spectator
Potent and brooding, with an expressive core of black raspberry, wild game and smoky cracked pepper flavors that power toward broad-shouldered tannins. Syrah and Viognier. Best from 2020 through 2025.
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.