2021 Syrah

Estate

When I took over the farming here on the estate in 2012, I gained a new appreciation for the sacrifices that are required. It also gave me a much better appreciation for what I ask from my grape grower partners. There are no set hours, no set rules, and each year brings a different challenge that requires a separate solution; whether it’s drought, frost, rain, or pests. This is the best reason for bottling a wine from a single vineyard; a testament to the perseverance of the grower as much as it is an expression of that site. Not every grower or every vineyard site can offer a complete story to warrant being bottled separately, but it is worth seeking out those that can. 

I’ve found that the ’21 wines were uniformly excellent, perhaps Nature’s payback for the devastation brought by the 2020 fires, and this is no exception. Dense color and great fruit are the hallmarks, and it seems to hide the structure of the wine. This makes it wonderful for drinking now but should allow it to age gracefully in the cellar for up to another 8 or 10 years. The Estate Syrah’s seem to be more enjoyable as younger wines than in the past, and I think that changes in our farming practices are leading to more fruit in the wines to balance the tannins.