Rising talent Joshua West has made Yellow Bird Vineyard a focus of his Syrah program, and the bottling of clone 174 represents a single-block, two-barrel expression from a cooler site within a renowned neighborhood along Mill Creek Road. He co-fermented with Viognier (8%) and did so with 100% whole cluster with a three-day cold soak. It’s undeniably Syrah with the gamy nose that also offers blueberry, tapenade and toast from the 21 months in 50% new French oak. Inside, there are spoonfuls of purple fruit akin to Marionberry and blueberry. A nice grip of tannin and pleasing lick of toast leads out with a savory nibble of Kalamata olive.
Rating: Recommended
Production: 44 cases
Alcohol: 14.8%
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