Winemaker Notes
This wine shows inky purple hues in the glass, is medium-full bodied, yet light on its feet. Attractive aromas of licorice, smoked meat, and dried violets are supported by pepper and black fruits. The flavors of dark fruit and savory spices go perfectly with the bright acidity and a silky texture to display classic cool-climate Syrah character.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Cracked black and white-pepper aromas meet with charred lamb and fresh elderberry on the nose of this organic bottling, which expertly straddles between ripe fruit and savory spice. Charred beef and more cracked pepper show on the sip, yet there are accessible flavors of blackberry, boysenberry and baking spice as well.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Bay leaf, cracked black peppercorns, bacon fat, and blueberry fruits all emerge from the 2018 Syrah Double L Vineyard, a cool-climate, complex, medium-bodied Syrah from the Santa Lucia Highlands. I love its purity of fruit, and it has ripe, polished tannins and a great finish, all making for an incredibly satisfying Syrah to enjoy over the coming 5-7 years.
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.