2020 Lindquist Family "Z" Block Syrah

This wine is 100% Syrah from the Z Block, the Original Hillside block of Syrah at Bien Nacido, planted in 1992. The block was originally planted for us, using budwood from the X Block, which is the Estrella River Clone. The 'Z' Block is a perfect hanging valley with a southwest exposure, at about 850 feet elevation.

From the top of the block, you can look due west across the Santa Maria Valley and see the Pacific ocean. I’ve been making Syrah from this block every vintage since the first crop in 1994.

2020 was a warmer than normal vintage, with a crazy heat wave over Labor Day weekend. Luckily these grapes were hard and still developing, so the effect was minimal. The crop level was small, about 2 tons/acre, and the grapes were harvested earlier than normal on October 2nd. They were picked a little riper than I normally pick at 25.1° brix, but with balanced acidity at 7.5 and 3.53 pH.

33% whole clusters were used in the small open top fermenters. We used the traditional technique of manual punch downs twice daily. The grapes were pressed at dryness after 15 days. Only 3.5 barrels were made. Using 2 new barrels and 1.5 once used Francois Freres French oak Burgundy barrels.

The wine was aged on the lees in these barrels before racking during the 2021 harvest. It was returned to neutral barrels, and that same half barrel, for an additional 8 months, so about 20 months total time in barrel. It was bottled without fining or filtration in August 2022.

Of the three single vineyard Syrahs that I made in 2020 ( X Block and Sonnie’s being the others), this is the ripest and most forward…so is being released first. It is textbook Z Block -  spicey, black pepper, with dark berry character. In spite of the riper character, the wine has great balance, so should age nicely for at least 10-15 years!

Bob Lindquist January 2023

*95 points Jeb Dunnuck

*94 points Antonio Galloni Vinous

*92 points The Wine Enthusiast 'Cellar Selection'