Tasting Notes: The intensity and focus of this mouthwatering, savory Syrah are matched by its refined elegance. A mineral-driven Syrah, with classic notes of pepper and spice, it also displays compelling blue fruits, hints of dried herbs, and fresh rain. With plush, chalky tannins adding to its dynamic structure, the wine’s energy, purity, and deliciousness make it a standout Syrah that just begs another sip.
Vineyard: Valenti Vineyard - Mendocino Ridge AVA, Mendocino
The south-facing Valenti Vineyard lies at elevations of 1,300-1,600 ft., six miles from the Pacific Ocean. Planted in 1998, this vineyard made us fall in love with cool-climate California Syrah. The perfect site for Syrah, Valenti’s cooling coastal winds enable the grapes to ripen slowly and at lower Brix, producing wines of complexity, vibrancy, and balance. The classic pepperiness that is such a signature of this site’s Syrah can sometimes even be tasted in the grapes themselves.
Winemaking: Native yeast. 50% whole-cluster fermentation in small, open-top fermenters. Aged in neutral French oak barrels for 11 months.
Vintage: Following a wet winter, the late budbreak of 2023 led to a long, cool, and dry growing season with good yields and extended hangtime, allowing us to pick precisely when we wanted. Leading to wines of balance and full flavors at lower sugars and restrained alcohol, 2023 is marked as a superior vintage of excellent quality.
Technical Details:
Composition: 100% Syrah
Vineyard: Valenti
Appellation: Mendocino Ridge
Clones: Durell, Chave
pH: 3.75
TA: 5.9 g/L
Brix at harvest: 22
Alcohol: 13%
185 cases produced
Decanter
Gavin Schmidt, chef-partner at The Morris in San Francisco: "Some of our favourite pairings at The Morris for the duck are Northern Rhône Syrah or Loire Cab Franc. The Aurélien Chatagnier 'Zélée' Saint Joseph is a great one, but also never a bad excuse to crack that bottle of Thierry Allemand Reynard Cornas," says Schmidt. "If you want a domestic option, the great folks at Minus Tide make a magical Syrah."
Food & Wine
"These producers are a perfect way to start exploring all that Syrah has to offer: Minus Tide"
Vinography
Valenti Vineyard: "One of the best Syrah vineyards in California"
Wine & Spirits
"This young partnership explores Mendocino's cooler climates through elegant, site-specific syrahs"
