Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Rhys
Label Name:
 
Horseshoe Vineyard Syrah
Vintage:
 
2013
Country:
 
United States
Region:
 
Santa Cruz Mountains, California
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
13.5%
Grape(s):
 
Syrah
Acidity:
 
4
Tannins:
 
4
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
4
Length:
 
5
Aroma Intensity:
 
4
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
95 pts — Wine Advocate (Jeb Dunnuck), Oct 2016; 95 pts — Vinous (Antonio Galloni), Jul 2016; 94 pts — John Gilman (View from the Cellar)

Tasting Note
Peppery, gamey and savory with black olive, smoked-meat, lavender and dark-black-fruit notes. Medium–full-bodied with bright minerality, ripe chewy tannins and a long, saline finish reminiscent of cool-climate Northern Rhône styles.

Food Pairing
Western: roast lamb, grilled beef, venison, charcuterie and aged cheeses. Asian: Korean BBQ (bulgogi, galbi), Chinese-style braised beef, Sichuan pepper beef, char siu, grilled lamb skewers.

Production Method
Hand-harvested; 100% whole-cluster fermentation on native yeasts with twice-daily pumpovers; aged ~10 months in neutral barrels then ~12 months in 25 hL casks.

Vineyard Info
Rhys Vineyards (Kevin Harvey), founded 1995. Horseshoe Vineyard planted 2004; high-elevation site on Monterey shale with limestone influence. Small-production, terroir-driven farming (practicing biodynamic/sustainable methods).