Syrah

The Terroir:

Tightly demarcated by virtue of a single soil series (Freewater Series) and a single land form (alluvial fan), the Rocks District exists entirely within Oregon, just outside of the town of Milton-Freewater. The soils are composed of cobblestone-size gravels (of volcanic origin) deposited by the Walla Walla River as it exits the nearby Blue Mountains. The extremely well-drained soils encourage vine roots to grow very deep in search of water, allowing interaction with an abundance of mineral-derived nutrients. The cobblestones also absorb solar energy and radiate that heat to both the root and fruit zones, leading to earlier phenological ripening and wines with refined structure. The inland continental climate and northern latitude (46 degrees N) translate to strong diurnal shifts of day/night temperatures, giving the Syrah a wonderful balance of fruit and freshness. We believe this to be one of the few locales in the world where the delightfully sensual floral/savory attributes of Syrah can be captured with distinction, making for complexely-perfumed and textured wines that remind us of the very best from the Northern Rhone.

Reviews:

94+ - Jeb Dunnuck: "Coming from Oregon, the 2022 Syrah The Rocks is an expressive and fantastic mix of savory and fruity. Notes of gravelly earth, pepper, pure black raspberry, fresh plum, and wildflowers are followed by a medium-bodied red with well-defined, fine tannins, a fresh feel, and an elegant, savory finish. This one needs more time to see how far it can go, as it’s very young in its feel now. Drink 2025-2035.

94 - Vinous: "The 2022 Syrah The Rocks is a spice box on the nose, cascading with a gorgeous blend of violets, lavender, ground cloves, allspice and orange zest. It possesses creamy textures, nearly weighty in feel but not quite, with citrus-tinged acidity that propels ripe red and black fruits across the palate as sweet inner herbal tones amass toward the close. It’s gently tannic, leaving a flowery concentration and blue and purple inner florals that resonate as hints of licorice fade. The 2022 is wonderfully expressive and immaculately balanced."