Meyer Family Cellars Syrah 2019, Yorkville Highlands, Summerwind Vineyard, Mendocino County, California

Meyer Family Cellars is a small, family-owned winery situated in the picturesque Yorkville Highlands of Mendocino County. At once a leading artisanal winery in one of California’s emerging viticultural areas, Meyer Family Cellars blends establishing this new Appellation with the legacy of Silver Oak Cellars. Today Meyer Family Cellars is in the capable hands of co-winemakers Matt and Karen Meyer. Their approach to winemaking mirrors the unique position of their product. While their wine incorporates ‘old world’ balanced acidity and minerality with ‘new world’ ripeness and forward fruit, similarly, Matt and Karen apply the wisdom gleaned from family history while welcoming new ideas into the process. 2019 was an exceptionally long and late vintage and that is immediately evident in the ripe, bold character of this Syrah. Although this wine does have the violets, white pepper, and leather typical of our Syrahs, the fruit is decidedly darker, giving way to ripe blackberries, and fig. The tannins are gripping at first but lengthen as they melt on the palate. Two years in barrel have added aromas of vanilla, cedar, and clove to the palate. The grapes were harvested early in the morning, then brought to the winery and hand sorted. They were destemmed into half ton inventors and allowed to cold soak for a week, punched down twice a day during that period. Once inoculated, punch downs continued until the wine was pressed a few days before fermentation completed. Once primary fermentation ended, it was transferred to barrel and stirred once a month until malolactic fermentation was complete. 98% Syrah, 2% Petite Sirah. Aged 20 months, 76% neutral oak, 13% new French oak, 11% new American oak.