2022 Lindquist Family "Z" Block Syrah, The Original Hillside
This wine is 100% Syrah from the famed Z Block at Bien Nacido Vineyard. Z Block is the first and original hillside planting at Bien Nacido, with a perfect southwest exposure. The block was first planted in 1992 with the Estrella River clone of Syrah. I made a wine from the first crop in 1994, and have made it every year since…BTW, that 1994 is still aging beautifully!
2022 was a warmer than normal vintage, and most of the wines we made from it reflect the vintage…slightly softer acidity, forward fruit, and early drinkability. For recent historical reference, it reminds me of the 2014 and 2015 vintages.
The grapes were harvested on October 6th, about 2-3 weeks earlier than normal, at 23.7° brix, 3.41 pH and 6.9 acidity, great numbers for a warm vintage. 50% whole clusters were used in the fermentation, which was done in small open top fermenters with twice a day manual punch downs. The wine was aged in Francois Freres French oak Burgundy barrels for the first year, then racked and returned to neutral French oak barrels for an additional 8 months, so 20 months total time in barrel. It was bottled without fining or filtration.
It's kind of hard to believe, but this is my 29th consecutive bottling of Syrah from this iconic block! The wines from this block have proven to be very age worthy…though being a warmer vintage, this one is approachable already. It is heady, spicy and full of dark berry fruit character. If you do like to put wines like this in the cellar, this one will age gracefully for at least 10 – 15 years.
Cheers, Bob Lindquist
August 2025
*94 Antonio Galloni Vinous
