2016 Brittan Vineyard “Worden Hill” Syrah - Winderlea Vineyard & Winery

Foraged blackberry, briny green olive, young strawberry. Sour blueberry, cured meat, spiced cranberry. A wild and whimsical medley of tart dark cherry, brambly raspberry, and licorice highlights a crunchy and energetic fruit core delightfully complicated by undergrowth, lilac, and fresh thyme. Impressions of sage, rosemary, basil, and mint continue the thread of bright herbal complexity as hints of tea leaf, white mushroom, and green tobacco expose a lively natural edge. Fragrant wafts of blooming lavender, wisteria, and violet provide layers of lifted florals interwoven with notes of coriander and exotic spice. An interesting wave of charcuterie, prosciutto, and capers augments the attack with a savory streak before crushed rock and dusty earth provide a jolt of highly mineral soil tones. Excitingly raw, nervy, and edgy on the palate and still notably primary; exhibiting incredible natural complexity expressed with tremendous purity and not the slightest hint of manipulation or makeup of any kind. Merely medium in body with elevated tannin and radiantly high acidity. This 2016 Brittan Vineyard "Worden Hill" Syrah by Winderlea Vineyard & Winery is a brilliantly unique, authentic, and delicious red from the Willamette Valley. 

While Oregon's Willamette Valley is primarily known as one of the world's greatest growing zones for Pinot Noir, this cool climate region actually happens to be equal in latitude to some of the best vineyards in France's Northern Rhone Valley. This bottling, crafted by Winderlea Vineyard & Winery using Syrah sourced from the Brittan Vineyard in McMinnville, proves that Oregon Syrah absolutely deserves more of the world's attention and respect. This wine contains a wonderful backbone of juicy wild berry fruit married with a cornucopia of fresh herbs, cured meats, earth, and spice. It is exceptionally lean, restrained, and old world in style yet still manages to come across tremendously energetic and expressive. An undoubtedly serious and world-class creation.