2022 Paso Robles Willow Creek District "James Berry Vineyard" Syrah
100% Syrah
Picked September 16th, not since 2014 have we harvested our block of James Berry Vineyard so early. But Mother Nature dictates picking, not us, and in this early vintage that was when the fruit was optimally ripe. With tiny berries and thick skins, extracting too much tannin was a concern. Hence, we opted for no whole cluster and we performed gentle pumpovers much longer than usual, not switching to punchdowns until the wine was dry. Pressed after 26 days on the skins and barreled down to all French oak, 20% new. No fining. No filtration.
Tasting Note:
Medium-dark to dark ruby-purple. Brooding aromas of black cherry, blackberry, and white iris. Smelling this wine makes me envision a tiger crouched in the grass, every muscle flexed and ready to pounce. A full-bodied, glycerin-laden entry leads to deep flavors of black and blue fruits. Acidity and tannin build in the finish but overall, a much rounder, more imminently drinkable James Berry than recent renditions. This can be enjoyed now but should continue to drink well for at least the next 18 years. (MRO - 07/16/25)