2017 Sonoma County Syrah
76% Syrah
24% Mourvèdre
Funny... We didn’t intend on making this wine but it happened anyway. When we were done blending The Integral (our Syrah/Mourvèdre coferment that’s released in the fall), we had a bit of one component leftover that was two-thirds Mourvèdre and one-third Syrah. We also ended up not using one barrel of Syrah in our final blend of James Berry Vineyard Syrah. What to do with these components? They were certainly too good to sell off in bulk. The answer: Blend them together and sacrifice enough of our Papa’s Block Syrah to create a Sonoma County Syrah at a stupidly low price. I’m sure accountants everywhere are rolling their eyes and shaking their heads. My wife certainly is! Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Note:
Dark ruby-purple. Aromas of blackberry, game, tree bark, and violets. Medium-full bodied with flavors of mulberry, white pepper, and charcuterie. There’s an intriguing saline note in the lengthy finish. While the 24% Mourvèdre doesn’t dominate, it certainly makes its presence known, providing plenty of structure for aging. In fact, if opened on the early side, we’d recommend decanting for at least four to five hours. Otherwise, enjoy from 2022 through 2032. (MRO - 01/10/19)