Originals Syrah 2021

Oldest Syrah Vines in Ballard Canyon AVA
The Originals Syrah vines are not only our “Original” planting, but they are the oldest vines in Ballard Canyon AVA.  The wine made from these vines in the mid 1990’s generated the Syrah-planting fervor which eventually led to the publication of Ballard Canyon AVA.  Because we withhold irrigation for months on end during our arid growing season, these vines have rooted deeply into our limestone in search of moisture.  They yield small crops of tiny, concentrated grapes.

2021 goes down as a textbook Ballard Canyon vintage.  Low winter rainfall allowed for most bud-break to occur by mid-March, and with the help of moderate weather, the vines grew and ripened evenly straight through to the end of harvest.  We harvested the mature, low-yielding Original vines right on schedule in mid-October, taking our time, picking each micro-block at optimal ripeness. 
A spectrum of red, blue, and black fruit pack into an opaque, luxuriously sleek mid-palate before crunchy, youthful tannin.  The big, rich, coating body beckons for the savory, dry finish.  One of the densest Originals vintage in the fourteen year history of the cuvee.  The hedonistic waves begin to envelope the pronounced tannin within minutes of breathing, giving a glimmer forward to maybe 2026 when this wine will hit its next level and fall into a beautiful 10 year stride thereafter.