2020 SYRAH EN PASSERILLAGE

Vineyard Notes

Composition

87% Syrah, 13% Viognier

Appellation

Santa Maria Valley

Vineyard

Rancho Réal

Alcohol Content

13.9% Cases Produced 600 cases

Winemaking & Élevage

We adopted the non-standard practice of air-drying the grapes post-harvest. The extremely mild climate of the Santa Maria Valley allowed us to dry the grapes al fresco in situ, gently placing the grapes on paper trays in the shade of the vine canopy. The intent was not so much to dehydrate the grapes, but rather to lignify the stems, in other words, turning them from slightly herbaceous ‘green’ to sturdy, puissant, costaud brown. The vitaceous equivalent of lead in the pencil, as it were. We experimented with both punching down and pumping over, and found, more immediate access to the wine through pumping over (possibly through greater exposure to oxygen) but ultimately a more complete and complex extraction with punching down.

Tasting Notes

It is an established tradition, at least in CôteRôtie, to co-ferment Viognier with Syrah. This is said to enhance the aromatic potential, colour stability and structure of the wine. The Viognier has added a unique floral note to the otherwise peppery Syrah. It is important to note that the Santa Maria Valley is one of the climatically coolest sites in California where Syrah can be successfully grown, and enjoys perhaps the longest season. The Language of Yes project is not intended to try to slavishly replicate the wines of Southern France, but rather to seek to find and amplify the unique characteristics of our climats and terroirs in the Central Coast of California. Having said that, there is the most remarkable ‘taste-alike’ correspondence between this wine and the Platonic goût de Provence - a singular ubiquitous balsamique (resinous) quality imparted some say by the local underbrush, the garrigue – lavender, rosemary and sage, notably – but perhaps also by proximal pine forest. In any event, the wine is marked by its lively acidity, vivid pepperiness, with strong suggestion of black olive, violets, licorice and white flowers. On the palate, slightly angular immediately upon opening but softening considerably with time. The wine was not filtered and will greatly benefit from decanting and a healthy exposure to air.