2016 Shifflet Vineyard Syrah - Hunter Glenn Estate
Raspberry cobbler, graham cracker, dried dark cherry. Ripe blackberry, damp hay, strawberry cheesecake. Firewood and mustard seed, sticky clay and red earth. Pomegranate reduction and young rose meet crème brûlée, chocolate truffle, and hazelnut in a display of decadence and depth. Barnyard and butterscotch clash elegantly in this full bodied yet well balanced offering. This 2016 Shifflet Vineyard Syrah by Hunter Glenn is rich and subtly ripe beauty from Napa Valley's Oak Knoll.
Napa Valley is Cab country, but that doesn't mean other grape varieties can't thrive here. This bottling, crafted by Hunter Glenn using fruit sourced from the Shifflett Vineyard at the base of the Mayacamas Range, is a tremendously interesting example of what Syrah can do on this fabled ground. It expresses textbook Napa texture and fruit-forwardness in a full bodied profile complimented by medium tannin and medium plus acidity. It is primarily red fruit driven with subtle black fruit notes peeking through as volcanic and alluvial soil tones complement below. Slightly confectionary but far from jammy this stuff boast bright California fruit and toasty well-integrated oak. While not a Cab Sauv this wine screams Napa in a unique and delicious way.