Winemaker Notes
Blend: 92% Syrah, 8% Viognier
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Syrah Rodgers Creek Vineyard has classic Rhône-inspired markers of savory cured meats, black pepper, lavender, and black plum. It displays richness without weight and has fine structure throughout. Drink 2022-2035.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Syrah Rodger's Creek Vineyard incorporates 8% Viognier and was matured for two years in barrel. Medium ruby-purple in color, it has generous aromas of red and black cherries and blueberries with accents of milk chocolate, allspice and garrigue. The palate is full-bodied, fresh and chalky with a concentrated core of ripe fruit and a long, spicy finish.
Rating: 94+ -
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2016 Ramey Rodgers Creek Vineyard Syrah is powerful yet shows attractive elegance from start to finish. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers aromas and flavors of rustic spices, dried herbs, brown leaves, and black fruits. Enjoy with a good, old-fashioned beef stew. (Tasted: May 11, 2023, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Enthusiast
This iconoclastic wine will excite fans of cool-climate Syrah. Earthy, peaty aromas and meaty, smoky flavors give a dramatic edge to this medium-bodied and moderately tannic wine. Fruits are quite subdued as black pepper and grilled herb flavors dominate.
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Wine Spectator
Sleek and polished, this Syrah has multilayered raspberry and plum flavors highlighted by baking spices, savory meat and pepper. Concludes with refined tannins. Drink now through 2030. 434 cases made.
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 vast appellation covering Sonoma County’s Pacific coastline, the Sonoma Coast AVA runs all the way from the Mendocino County border, south to the San Pablo Bay. The region can actually be divided into two sections—the actual coastal vineyards, marked by marine soils, cool temperatures and saline ocean breezes—and the warmer, drier vineyards further inland, which are still heavily influenced by the Pacific but not quite with same intensity.
Contained within the appellation are the much smaller Fort Ross-Seaview and Petaluma Gap AVAs.
The Sonoma Coast is highly regarded for elegant Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and, increasingly, cool-climate Syrah. The wines have high acidity, moderate alcohol, firm tannin, and balanced ripeness.