2019 Syrah
The lift of orange peel and marmalade (courtesy of the Malvasia Bianca) is beautifully present on the nose. Every year a bit more or a bit less makes it into the field blend depending on what the vines produce. This is a big Syrah for us, with allspice and notes of chocolate and mole. Dark plum, hazelnut, earthy, rich, and intense.
Pair with dessert, coq-au-vin, mushroom pappardelle, or a rainy day.
Wine Specifications
ABV
14.9%
Vintage
2019
Region
Santa Barbara County
Varietal
95% Syrah, 5% Malvasia Bianca
Vineyard notes
Our Block 4 Syrah is interplanted with 5% Malvasia Bianca, which is harvested with the Syrah every year. 2019 was our 3rd harvest from this beautiful, balanced, own-rooted Alban and Estrella clone planted in Positas fine sandy soil. The slower ripening vintage resulted in the fruit being harvested weeks later than the previous years.
Production notes
The Syrah and Malvasia were hand harvested over two days, allowing for different levels of ripeness. We experimented with whole cluster and destemmed fermentations, keeping them separate to form their own personalities. After one month on the skins, each lot was pressed and aged in 10% new French oak. After 20 months in barrel, the unique lots were blended together for bottling in the summer of 2021.
CASES: 201
