Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2008 Syrah Skyline Vineyard, which I tasted from barrel last year, has turned out well. This dark ruby-colored, tightly knit, delicately styled Syrah possesses pure black cherry and black currant fruit intermixed with hints of underbrush and tapenade, sweet tannin, and an impressive attack and mid-palate. The tannins will need to be watched, but everything appears to be in balance. The wine was made from 100% stems and aged in 25% new French oak.
This relatively new estate in the Santa Cruz Mountains has five vineyards planted at various elevations ranging from a low of 400 feet to 2,200 feet. There are different terroirs and different vineyard spacing (from 6 x 6 to 2 x 3) as well as different soils (alluvial clay/loam for the Family Farm, to fractured shale for the Bearwallow, sandstone and mudstone for the Skyline, shale and volcanic ash for the Horseshoe Ranch, and sandstone and shale for the Alpine Vineyard). The wines are all handcrafted in the truest sense of the word. Of the six 2009 Pinot Noirs, I thought the Family Farm, Horseshoe Ranch and Alpine were the finest. I have some reservations about the tannin levels and potential for drying out in the Swan Terrace and Skyline, but they deserve the benefit of the doubt because there are a lot of good things going on.
Rating: 90+
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 rugged and topographically diverse cool-climate appellation with a rich history, the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA stretches from Half Moon Bay, just south of San Francisco, to the northern border of Monterey County. Elevations range from 800 feet to upwards of 3,000 and microclimates vary substantially depending on which side of the mountains the vineyards lie; cool ocean winds and fog play an important role here. This can be a challenging region in which to grow grapes, but it is well worth the effort. Santa Cruz Mountains wines are noted for balanced acidity levels, often showing great aging potential. Wine has been made here since the 1800s, most notably from the legendary Ridge Vineyards, whose Monte Bello vineyard garners international admiration.
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are the stars of this region, while Merlot and Zinfandel also perform quite well. Organic and sustainable vineyard practices are becoming increasingly common.