“Aging gracefully and reminding me a top Saint Joseph from the likes of Gonon, the 2011 Syrah Sonoma Coast offers a medium-bodied, ripe, layered profile. Blackberries, peppery herbs, graphite, and smoked earth as well as an almost granite-like minerality all emerge from the glass, and it can safely be consumed anytime over the coming decade as well. 94 pts“

– Jeb Dunnuck, June 2018

Our fifth vintage of this appellation Syrah, it’s a blend of 55% Rodgers Creek Vineyard and 45% Cole Creek Vineyard.  This is a departure for us, as all of the Rodgers Creek was blended into the Sonoma Coast, so there is no Rodgers Creek Vineyard bottling for 2011.

This was the coolest vintage in many years, one which was chased into the winery by a series of rainstorms.  We harvested both the Syrah & Viognier from Rodgers Creek Vineyard on October 16, at 22.3 degrees Brix, and from Cole Creek Vineyard on October 18 at 23.9 degrees Brix.

Co-fermented with 5% Viognier and including 25% whole Syrah clusters, the wine went through native yeast and malolactic fermentations, rested sur lies for 19 months in 36% new François barrels and was bottled without filtration in August, 2013.  Due to the cooler vintage, we left this wine in barrel less than our normal 24 to 26 months.

Our Syrahs are grown in the cool climate of the Sonoma Coast which offers a style reminiscent of the Northern Rhone regions of Hermitage and Cornas:  aromas and flavors of smoked meat, white pepper, green olive and grapefruit, coupled with a silky texture and savory flavor.  Pair with long, slow-roasted pork shoulder, braised lamb shanks with garlicky white beans, seared duck breast, or cassoulet.