DuMOL 2021 Eddie’s Patch Syrah – Russian River Valley 96 Points

Robert Parker 96 Points: “The 2021 Syrah Eddie’s Patch was vinified with about 30% whole bunches and matured in about 25% new 300- and 500-liter barrels. Deep ruby in color, it has classic aromas of blackcurrant and blackberry, mint chocolate, juniper, grilled meats, and graphite. The full-bodied palate is concentrated yet light on its feet with its energetic acidity and rounded tannins, and all that freshness draws out its floral perfume on the long finish. I love this elegant style that offers generosity with restrained ripeness.”

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points: “Saturated purple with a ruby tinge, the 2021 Syrah Eddie’s Patch is lifted with cracked black pepper, fresh violets, blackberry, and a hint of wet asphalt. This full-bodied red has ripe, fleshy, mouth-coating fruit, with black raspberry preserve, ripe tannins, and a velvety texture. It’s long on the palate and has a rounded feel, with an underlying structure and earthy notes of tea leaves. Drink 2025-2040.”

Winemaker Notes: “In our cool coastal climate, Syrah ripens and is harvested almost a full month later than Pinot Noir. That extra month on the vine can allow the fruit to steadily accumulate an incredible kaleidoscopic range of aromas and flavors so long as we can avoid damaging heat spikes that dampen terroir expression and diminish the wine’s vibrancy. Fortunately, in 2021 we luxuriated in relaxed warm days and cool nights, and so we have a wine that combines everything we love about mountain-grown Syrah – wonderfully complex swirling aromatics, deep layered fruit intensity, and broad mouth-filling structure. Our new vintage of Eddie’s Patch is one of our finest, certainly in an elite group alongside 2016 and 2019 in recent memory. True to the vintage, it’s a wine that will drink well young but can be aged for fifteen years to allow subtle maturity to temper the wine’s youthful power.  Aromatically nuanced and diverse – fresh lavender, black olive, intense floral violet, and deep blueberry and cassis fruits. Despite the wine’s obvious intensity and concentration, it remains discreet and elegant – its core of blackberry pastille is wrapped up by savory characters and mineral accents. Juniper and black pepper notes emerge. There’s a lilting feeling to the wine’s center – it’s deep and concentrated but always restrained. Tannins are sleek and polished and present an energetic finish“