Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The inky colored 2013 Syrah Susan's Hill comes from a tiny hill in the Pisoni Vineyard, which is easily one of the top vineyards in the appellation. The 2013 shows more refinement and purity than past vintages, and gives up terrific, granite-like influenced minerality, sweet cassis, plums, and licorice aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, multi-dimensional, elegant, and seamless with sensational purity of fruit, it's a distinctly California-styled Syrah that has both richness and elegance. It will drink well for another decade.
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Wine Spectator
A graphite-accented minerality shines in this brooding red. Densely structured and well-focused, with notes of blackberry, smoky herb and leather. The tannins are big but ripe. Needs time. Best from 2018 through 2023.
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.”
Perhaps the most highly regarded appellation within Monterey County, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA benefits from a combination of warm morning sunshine and brisk afternoon breezes, allowing grapes to ripen slowly and fully. The result is concentrated, flavorful wines that retain their natural acidity. Wineries here do not shy away from innovation, and place a high priority on sustainable viticultural practices.
The climatic conditions here are perfectly suited to the production of ripe, rich Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. These Burgundian varieties dominate an overwhelming percentage of plantings, though growers have also found success with Syrah, Riesling and Pinot Gris.