2021 Colgin Cellars - Syrah Napa IX Estate (750ml)

Colgin Cellars was built on Ann Colgin's cult following for richly styled Cabernet Sauvignon, but the winery took a notable turn in 2000 when Colgin and her husband Joe Wender, longtime devotees of Northern Rhone wine, decided to plant Syrah on the steep slopes of their IX Estate atop Pritchard Hill outside St. Helena. It was considered a risk at the time, even by Colgin's own vineyard manager, but four acres planted to Cote-Rotie and Hermitage clones went on to produce one of California's most distinctive and sought after Syrahs, priced and regarded among the state's true Syrah benchmarks alongside bottlings from producers like Sine Qua Non.

IX Estate's rocky, volcanic hillside soils and steep exposure give the wine its singular character, a far cry from the richer, more fruit driven style typical of many California Syrahs. The vineyard's site was chosen specifically to echo the terroir of the Northern Rhone, and the resulting fruit carries real minerality and savory depth rather than pure ripeness. The 2021 vintage was aged around twenty two months in French oak, a portion new, a regimen built to add structure and complexity while letting the estate's distinctive volcanic character remain at the forefront of the wine.

The 2021 opens with blackberry, dark cherry, lavender, and cedar, giving way to layers of ripe plum, cassis, and dark chocolate. The palate is full bodied and refined, with fine grained tannins and exceptional length. It pairs beautifully with grilled lamb, venison, or a peppercorn crusted steak.