2019 Syrah Grenache Mataro

Opulent blackberry and black cherry on the nose, with subtle hints of leather and bergamot tea. Deep garnet in color with a medium to full body. Dark bramble fruit and hints of dried herb on the palate, finishing with well-coated tannins. MB (12/21)

A series of winter storms gave the vines much-needed moisture to start the growing season. Subsequent rain in May during bloom limited yields in the grenache and mataro. Syrah therefore plays a larger role than usual. After destemming, the grapes were fermented over eleven days with twice-daily pumpovers. The resulting wine, structured and deep in color, should be most enjoyable over the next seven or eight years. JO (3/21)

This wine comes from two hillside parcels at Lytton West. One is planted entirely to syrah while the other is planted to half grenache and half mataro. Mataro, a late ripening variety synonymous with mourvedre, does not always mature before the onset of fall rains.

Rainfall: 61 inches (above normal)
Bloom: May
Weather: Total rainfall for the season was over 61 inches, almost double our usual amounts. The vines responded with bountiful yields of great quality.

Harvest Dates: 17 September – 7 October
Grapes: Average Brix 24.5˚
TA: 5.72 g/L
pH: 3.91
Fermentation: Fermented on the native yeasts, followed by a full malolactic on the naturally-occurring bacteria.
Barrels: 100% air-dried American oak barrels (15% new, 20% one year-old, 15% two years-old, and 50% three to six years-old).
Aging: Fifteen months in barrel

Hand-harvested, sustainably grown, estate grapes; destemmed and crushed; fermented on the native yeasts, followed by a full malolactic on the naturally occurring malolactic bacteria; oak from barrel aging; minimum effective sulfur for this wine (35 ppm at crush and 108 ppm over the course of aging); pad filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

Wine Enthusiast: 94 Points + Cellar Selection “This deep, dark and impressive wine offers a potent core of blackberry, black cherry and dark chocolate that is firmly laced with fine-grained tannins that need time to mellow. Made with 86% Syrah grapes, it will drink best 2027–2037.” -Jim Gordon

OwenBargreen.com: 94 Points “This wine combines nearly all Syrah (86%) with small parts Grenache and Mataro that all come from the Lytton Estate Vineyard in the Dry Creek Valley. The nose is almost pure Sonoma Syrah with bacon fat, violets and a dusting of white pepper, with Earl Grey accents. The palate shows incredible poise and texture with medium-bodied red and dark fruits that combine with black licorice, tar and shades of creme de violette. The levels of mouth-watering acidity make this really difficult to put down. Complex and highly novel, if enjoying in its youth be sure to give this at least an hour in the decanter. Drink 2023-2035.” -Owen Bargreen (March 2022)

OwenBargreen.com: 93+ Points “The 2019 Syrah Grenache Mataro Lytton Estate is shockingly closed, especially for the year. Maybe I caught it in an awkward moment. There is terrific energy and plenty of drive, but overall the 2019 feel quite inward today. Dark cherry, lavender, spice and chocolate emerge, but with great reluctance. This need a ton of aeration and/or a healthy decant.” -Antonio Galloni (May 2022)

Wine & Spirits: 91 Points “This floral wine, scented with rose petals, tobacco and green herb, grows on benchlands in the Lytton West vineyard. It needs cellar time for the green notes to integrate with the wine’s meaty savor and begins to head in that direction with a day of air.” -J.G. (June 2022)

Average Rating: 89.4

No. of Tasting Notes: 19

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