2022 Sonoma County Syrah
57% Bennett Valley Syrah, Radiant Ridge Vineyard
43% Russian River Valley Syrah, Papa’s Block
Our Radiant Ridge Syrah in 2022 was good. In fact, it was very good. But was it worthy of a vineyard designation? In the end, we just didn’t feel confident that it would meet expectations. What to do with it then? After numerous blending trials, we decided to sacrifice a whopping seven barrels of our Papa’s Block Syrah to blend with it, creating a Sonoma County Syrah that punches so far above its weight class that it’s downright silly. Eighteen percent new French oak. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Note:
Very dark ruby-purple. Aromatically, quite dark and complex with a nose of blackberry, smoked game, and white pepper. Less floral than Papa’s Block but on the backend, you can catch an ethereal whiff of the whole cluster used in fermentation. The wine enters medium-full to full bodied with flavors of blackberry, huckleberry, and smoked meat. Tannins are polished but there is plenty of structure for this wine to age and develop for many years. In fact, this is one of the most age-worthy 2022s we produced. Drink from 2027 through 2040. (MRO - 07/18/24)