2018 Estate Moon Mountain Syrah - Theorem Vineyards

Blackberry purée, star anise, juicy dark plum. Tart boysenberry, broken graphite, muddled black cherry. A firmly extracted yet vibrant assemblage of wild blueberry, cranberry, and licorice highlights a delightfully fresh and brambly attack laden with ruggedly complex notes of iron, thyme, cracked pepper, and bittersweet chocolate. Hints of rosemary, marjoram, mint, and fennel stoutly emerge in a howling herbal edge that works in conjunction with pine tar, cedar, and briar to achieve thought-provoking natural depth. Soft floral tones of lavender, rose petal, and violet impart wafts of delicate lift before impressions of charcoal, coffee grounds, pencil shavings, and grilled meat reassert smoky and savory dominance. Exceptionally profound and concentrated on the palate while remaining surprisingly lively and energetic; exhibiting an expressive and balanced presentation that matches enviable power with outstanding nuance and finesse. Medium plus in body with intense yet agreeable tannin fleshed out by elevated acidity. This 2018 Estate Moon Mountain Syrah by Theorem Vineyards is an impressively compelling, unique, and muscular red from Sonoma County. 

Although Syrah is world-famous for its ability to create wines of unmatched savory depth and herbal complexity, the unique character traits of this noble French grape have long been underappreciated in many regions throughout California. This bottling, crafted by Theorem Vineyards using 100% Syrah grown on their Moon Mountain estate, magnificently showcases the deliciously rugged qualities Syrah can achieve when grown in some of California's most wild terroir. Coming from a vineyard planted at 1600 feet above sea level yet not far from the San Pablo Bay, this wine possesses a dense and hearty yet fresh-fruited core framed by a never-ending parade of herbal, meaty, and smoky nuances. While extremely primary and structured at this stage this wine is already drinking spectacularly with a bit of air and promises a long life of interesting development. This is an exceptionally well crafted and terroir expressive take on an always exciting grape.