2018 Dehlinger Syrah, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California (750ml)   

Ageworthy and expressive, Dehlinger Syrahs remain a favorite of the Dehlinger family and winemaking team nearly three decades after they grafted a small portion of the vineyard to the variety in 1990. They are among our favorite Syrahs as well.

Dehlinger's three acres of Syrah thrive on their hillside location. The lush growth and pendulous clusters of these vines attest to how well the grape adapts to growing in the Russian River Valley: the region’s cooling fog helps the variety retain a spicy, complex character, while the morning sun allows the grape to achieve ripeness and flavor. In the cellar, Dehlinger Syrah is fermented in open-top tanks and “punched down” to extract the maximum character of the grape. Thereafter, the wine develops slowly over two years and is aged in large 132-gallon French oak puncheons. Twice the volume of a standard barrel, the puncheons permit a longer, slower maturation. They also create a more delicate oak profile which showcases the varietal power of fine Syrah.