2021 Syrah
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Tasting Notes
Our 2021 Airfield Syrah is a rich and full-bodied wine that displays aromas of dark plums and sweet cassis, complemented by hints of orange oil, soy sauce, and smoked barbecue. The palate exhibits a silky texture, with flavors of baker’s chocolate, blackberry dates, and a hint of black olive tapenade. The wine has a flesh-like finish that lingers with beautiful notes of oak and a touch of minerality.
Awards
2022 Vintage
91 Points, International Wine Report
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2021 Vintage
88 pts. James Suckling
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2020 Vintage
90 | Wine Spectator
Vineyard Designation
100% Estate Grown
Vintage Notes
The 2021 vintage will be remembered as one of the warmest in Washington State history. An early bud break and an intense six-week heat wave (with temperatures topping 118°F) led to smaller berries and a 30% reduction in crop size. While yields were down, flavor concentration was exceptional. Harvest began earlier than usual, with record-breaking August tonnage for sparkling and Sauvignon Blanc. By the end of September, all white varietals were in, allowing full focus on reds. October brought ideal ripening conditions before a late-month freeze wrapped up the season. The result? Bold, structured red wines with dark fruit character, finesse, and impressive aging potential. A challenging but remarkable vintage.
Winemaking Notes
Our Airfield Syrah is crafted exclusively from our estate vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA. Meticulous vineyard management and ideal ripening conditions in mid-October laid the foundation for this bold, expressive wine. Grapes were destemmed, optically sorted, and fermented with native yeasts in small fermenters. Early, aggressive extraction methods like délestage were followed by gentler techniques to preserve a soft, lush mouthfeel. After 15 days on skins, the wine was gently pressed and aged 20 months in French oak (40% new), with lees stirring for added roundness and depth. Finished with one month in concrete for enhanced texture, this Syrah delivers complexity, structure, and elegance from vineyard to bottle.
* Produced in a Vegan Manner (No animal byproducts used in the production of this wine)
- Varietal Composition: 100% Syrah
- Appellation: Yakima Valley
- Aging / Barrel Program: 20 months in 100% French oak (40% new, 30% 1–3-year-old, and 30% neutral), plus 1 month in concrete
- Cases Produced: 750
- Alcohol: 14.5%
- pH: 3.9
- Acidity: 5.5 g/L
- Ageability: Enjoy now through 2036, optimal maturity should peak around 2030.