2021 Sunset in Undertow
Syrah from The Poor Ranch in the mountains east of Hopland. Allowed to ripen to full maturity. Destemmed and macerated for two weeks. Aged in barrel for two years. Pair with a king's feast.
Syrah from The Poor Ranch in the mountains east of Hopland. Allowed to ripen to full maturity. Destemmed and macerated for two weeks. Aged in barrel for two years. Pair with a king's feast.
Syrah from The Poor Ranch in the mountains east of Hopland. Allowed to ripen to full maturity. Destemmed and macerated for two weeks. Aged in barrel for two years. Pair with a king's feast.
For generations the Poors have been farming their property in the mountains east of Hopland whose peaks separate Mendocino County from neighboring Lake County. They don’t drink, and they farm grapes as if they were any other crop. It just so happens that grapes are what they can grow up there without water.
Across many expositions and elevations they work with only red varieties that do well in hot and arid environments. All plantings are done from their own nursery and grafted onto St George rootstock. A very low vigor and drought tolerant selection. Classic California organic farming consisting of cross-discing for weed management and sulfur dusting for powdery mildew control. Nothing else. Very low input. Yields are very low depending on the block. The Syrah for this wine comes from the Upper vineyard which yields between 1-2 tons per acre. You feel like you are on a different planet up there.
The deep-rooted vines bake in the sun without regard for the number on the thermostat, focusing their energy into the few concentrated clusters they can eke out each year. It isn’t a site for making rose or delicate chilled reds. The wines want to be opulent and full. To force them to do something else is hubristic.
2021 was a drought year and the fruit was especially concentrated and powerful. Destemmed to mitigate tannin and vegetal character and preserve some acidity. It sat on the skins with daily pumpovers for about 2 weeks until dry. The fermentation was so aromatic. Mortadella, chocolate, blueberries, spent brewers grains. It aged in barrel for two years before bottling to tame the angry fruit and soften tannins.
I expect it to kill on the holiday dinner table next to wild delicacies and loud conversations full of laughter. I can already see the black stained smiles.
Combined orders of 3, 6, or 12 bottles only please :D Flat-rate $30 for shipping
Orders will begin shipping December 3rd. Combined orders of 3, 6, and 12 bottles only please(unless picking up at the winery on February 18). Must be 21 or older to order. Adult signature required for delivery. Shipping unavailable for ND, NH, UT, MS, AL, VT, KY, SD.