Earthy blackberry, potting soil, juicy dark plum. Crushed blueberry, caraway seed, dried fig. A tremendously unique and unmanipulated procession of cherry pit, black currant, and licorice booms with fabulously funky vibrance as waves of undergrowth, wet leaves, and pinecone playfully expose incredible organic complexity. Pronounced bursts of rosemary, tarragon, black pepper, and thyme impart intriguing herbal and spiced charms that intersect with umami-laden savory notions of foraged mushrooms and smoked meat. Wafts of wild violet, crushed iris, and lavender oil contribute an abundance of fragrant floral perfume while hints of limestone, charcoal, and clay simultaneously reveal intense earthy underpinnings. Impressively bright and juicy yet still quite tense on the palate with heaps of savory nuances and non-fruit flavor components; exhibiting a stimulating, seductive, and wonderfully weird presentation that prioritizes elegance, restraint, and complexity over sheer power or weight. Medium bodied with elevated tannin backed by fresh acidity. This 2019 "1ngredient" Syrah by Beckmen Vineyards is an intriguing and characterful natural red from Ballard Canyon.

Although it is capable of producing dense and fruit-driven wines when grown in warm California wine regions, Syrah inherently possesses delightfully feral and meaty qualities that can be unleashed with the right level of careful intentionality. This bottling, crafted by Beckmen Vineyards using Syrah plus a dash of Viognier sourced from their biodynamic Purisima Mountain Estate Vineyard in Santa Barbara's Ballard Canyon, is an incredible example of California Syrah in its most classic, authentic, and wild form. This extremely unique wine was fermented and aged in clay amphora for a total of 20 months before being bottled by hand with no added sulphur, and it beautifully reflects the old world-esque charm of this extremely ancient production style. Its dark-fruited profile is beautifully coursing with raw earthiness, wild herbs, peppery spices, and lifted florals, and its atypical style will certainly be adored by any true wine nerd who gets to try it. Stellar.