Many of you may not know that from time to time we make Syrah. We actually created a new label for it; this is the original Worden Hill. For a time I thought that we might start a second label for Rhône varietals but it turns out we were too busy for that. Instead, in special years when the Brittan Vineyard has enough fruit, we buy enough to make one barrel – 25 cases. Brittan Vineyard is a beautiful site in the McMinnville AVA. A bit windswept, cool, with thinner soils, and less water than our Dundee Hills sites, it produces wines of intense concentration, high acidity, and low alcohol. The grapes from this vineyard are standouts and the Syrah is lay-it-down-for-your-grandchildren-age-worthy with aromas of white pepper, game meats, boysenberry, and cedar. In the mouth it is juicy black fruit with freshness and structure and a touch of white pepper.  The vineyard doesn’t always produce enough fruit for us to make a barrel, but when it does it’s special and worthy of celebration. More later…