2020 Reserve Syrah
Tasting Notes
A co-ferment of 98% Syrah and 2% Viognier, this rich, full-bodied wine displays a dark ink-like color and concentrated notes of black currant and dark plums interwoven with layers of black olive tapenade, white pepper and savory notes of grilled meat and dried herbs. The finish is long and impeccably smooth underscored by lingering notes of sweet, toasted oak and a touch of minerality.
Vineyard Designation
100% Estate Grown
Vintage Notes
The 2020 vintage will go down as a very memorable year. The growing season was exceptional with a mild winter, warm spring, and moderate summer. Bud break occurred 2 weeks earlier than normal and veraison was well ahead of schedule too. Just as we were preparing for an early start to harvest, wildfires in the Northwest created a thick cloud of smoke over Washington State. Concerns arose about exposure to smoke. Taking a cautious approach, we delayed harvest until the smoke cleared and conducted trials to determine the effect of smoke on our grapes. Fortunately, results showed no sign of smoke taint as our vineyard was a long distance away from the fires. Futunately, we have not seen any impact of smoke on the 2020 vintage. Another major event in 2020 was an early frost that occurred the second week of October. Our winemaking team worked tirelessly long hours leading up to the frost. By the time our vineyard was impacted from the cold spell, harvest was 95% complete. All remaining grapes were then hand-harvested and sorted with an optical sorter to remove any excessive M.O.G. or bad grapes. Overall, we were very pleased with the results of the 2020 vintage. The wines showcase an abundance of ripe fruit aromatics, low tannin profiles, and exceptionally balanced finishes.
Winemaking Notes
This Syrah was sourced from specially designated reserve tier blocks on our estate vineyard situated in the Yakima Valley AVA. Creating a wine of this caliber truly starts in the vineyard where we meticulously manage the size of the crop and then late in the season make sure the vines have proper sun exposure to achieve optimal ripeness. Harvested in early October at ideal maturity, the grapes were then sorted using our optical sorter and sent to concrete fermenters. About 35% of the grapes were left on the stems as whole clusters to provide structure and complexity. Fermenting in concrete adds another dimension of minerality and complexity. To increase complexity and intensity of aromatics, we also incorporated 2% Viognier to the fermentation, a process known as co-fermenting. Although a small addition, the 2% Viognier creates an abundance of fruit aromas in the wine. After a 4-day cold soak, the grapes were warmed up, given natural sources of food, and underwent a native yeast fermentation. Native yeast on the grapes creates complexity and varietal characteristics in the wine. Fermentation temperatures were approximately 88-90 degrees with aggressive extraction methods used early on such as a delastage, then we tapered off to a more gentle approach as to not over extract the wine and maintain a soft and lush mouthfeel. The wine was fermented dry in concrete before being drained pressed, and sent to a mixture of exclusive 500L puncheon French oak barrels (85% new French oak, 15% 2-year-old French oak). The wine was then inoculated for malolactic fermentation. During the next three months, the lees were stirred in each barrel twice a month. This process helps naturally fine the wine creating roundness and seamless edges. Overall, the wine was aged for approximately 21 months in barrels, then sent back to a concrete tank for an additional four weeks of concrete aging before being prepared for bottling.
Food Pairing
Korean Short Ribs
Moroccan Lamb Barbecue
Rib-Eye Steaks with Tomato-Basil Relish
Sharp Cheddar or Aged Gouda
- Varietal Composition: 98% Syrah, 2% Viognier
- Appellation: Yakima Valley
- Aging / Barrel Program: 21 months in 500L puncheon French oak barrels (85% new, 15% 2-year-old barrels), 1 month in concrete tank
- Cases Produced: 358
- Alcohol: 14.6%
- pH: 4.02
- Acidity: 5.3 g/L
- Ageability: Enjoy now through 2040 with optimal maturity in 2035.