Vertical 'Z' Block Syrah, "The Original Hillside" Collection

The Z Block of Syrah at Bien Nacido is arguably the best cool climate site in California for the Syrah grape.  Planted originally in 1992 to the Estrella River clone, which supposedly came from Chapoutier in Hermitage, via UC Davis.  It is the first “hillside” block that was planted at Bien Nacido, which I’ve dubbed “The Original Hillside”.  I’ve been making Syrah from this special site since the first crop in 1994.

This three vintage vertical: 2020; 2021 and 2022, is a fascinating chance to taste the qualities that the vintage provides.  All three wines were made basically the same way, small open top fermenters with between 33% and 50% whole clusters, manual punch downs twice a day, and aging in Francois Freres Burgundy French oak barrels for about 20 months, of which between 50% and 67% were new oak.

2020 and 2022 were warmer than normal vintages, though they arrived at ripeness in a different way…2020 was generally warm throughout the vintage, and 2022 was influenced by a 9 day heatwave that began on Labor Day weekend, followed by cool weather in the last part of the Harvest.  2021 was a cooler than normal vintage, which I tend to prefer for age ability.  The 2020 is the ripest and most powerful and forward wine in this set.  The 2021 is the most elegant and restrained.  And the 2022 combines forward fruit with a fresh, spicy backbone.

All three of these wines will benefit from further aging…I’d say 5-10 years would be optimal for the 2020, 15-20 years for the 2021, and 10-15 years for the 2022. 

Cheers, Bob