94 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Syrah Wild Mountainside was harvested on October 6 and 23 and fermented with around 30% whole clusters. Matured for 15 months in 15% new French oak hogsheads, it has dynamic aromas of blackcurrant, blueberry, green olive, prosciutto and violet. The full-bodied palate is powerful and pleasurably broody. It’s framed by abundant, velvety tannins and mouthwatering acidity and has a long, iron-laced finish.
93 Points Vinous
The 2023 Syrah Wild Mountainside shows just how compelling the vintage is here, for Syrah as well. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol, black pepper and espresso infuse the 2023 with tons of character. This is impeccably done.
From Winemaker Andy Smith
Some wines we don’t need to over analyze, worry about when to drink them, or what to pair them with—they can be enjoyed for their pure unbridled deliciousness. Our Wild Mountainside Syrah is a classic example of this and hails from the same two vineyards we’ve been blending since 2004. It’s a deep, ebullient wine packed full of creamy ripe fruits, savory complexity, and this unique authentically local Sonoma character we call “where the valley meets the coast” — that is, the succulent fruit of a warmer inland site with the lifted aromatic range of a coastal place; a seamless complementary experience. Undoubtedly one of the best values in our portfolio and a bit of an “insider” wine. If you think you don’t like Syrah, try this.
Highly perfumed, multi-dimensional aromatic range: violet and lilac, blue and black berry pastille, white and black pepper, and olive tapenade. Densely packed full of perfectly ripe flavorsome blue and black fruits, sweet herbs and exotic spices. The wine’s texture is soft, round, and billowing, and enveloping the wine’s youthful structure. Lingering complexity—dusty cocoa and licorice spice. Decant for an hour in its youth. Drink between 2025 and 2035.
