2017 Syrah
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Soul Patch Vineyard

This Syrah is harvested from 2 1/2 acres planted on our Estate Vineyard located on a southeast facing slope on Laguna Ridge. The Davis Family planted this Syrah in 1996, and organically farm the vineyard. 3% Viognier grapes were added to co-ferment with the Syrah, in the tradition of Côte-Rôtie. This Syrah is the perfect combination of richness and depth, with a complex, balanced elegance.

2019 San Francisco International Wine Competition - GOLD MEDAL, 90pts.
2020 Houston International WIne Competition - GOLD MEDAL & REGIONAL CLASS CHAMPION

Guy and Judy Davis purchased the property on which Soul Patch vineyard is planted in 1996. Guy planted the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah and he and his son Cole have farmed the vineyard since its purchase, in addition to the existing block of Old Vine Zinfandel. Only organic, earth friendly farming practices are used on their estate vineyard. The reasoning for this is simple; not only is this better for the planet and the consumer, but ultimately creates a more layered and complex wine.

The Soul Patch vineyard is on an eastern facing hillside in the heart of the Russian River Valley, with vineyard rows running north to south. This positioning is important because it allows the vineyard to benefit from the gentle heat of the morning sun, while being shielded form the harsh afternoon sun. All of the vineyard rows running north to south ensures that all of the fruit gets equal exposure to the sun. The soil is Goldridge series, with very high amounts of volcanic ash. This adds a beautiful minerality to each vintage, one of the highlights of the amazing complexity from our estate vineyard.



Our Syrah is co-fermented with 3% estate Viognier, a winemaking practice that has been widely used in the northern Rhone Vally of France for centuries. We age our Syrah in 100% French oak for 10 months, using mainly neutral barrels. The wine is aged only in Puncheons (which are roughly equivalent to the size of a double barrel). Puncheons allow for more micro-oxygenation and allow for increased volumes of wine to have less exposure to surface area within the barrel. There is a beautiful fullness to the wine as a result of this aging process.