Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
My favorite of the 2013s he offered was the 2013 Syrah Castelli-Knight Ranch, which smelled of pen ink, graphite, blackberries, forest floor and pepper, was quite full-bodied and had beautiful acidity.
Range: 94-96 -
Wine & Spirits
Pax Mahle starting farming this site in 2001, a hillside facing north and northeast where vines grow in rocky orange-clay soils. He ferments this wine as whole bunches, aging it in neutral oak, encouraging syrah’s wild aromas to rise out of the glass in scents of crushed green peppercorns, juniper and lavender. The flavors are meaty and full, weighty with tannins, finishing savory and rustic. Pour it with a thick-cut lamb chop and the density of the wine will become an asset while the aroma will sing.
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.