The Language of Yes Syrah, Santa Maria Valley 2020

The Syrah and Viognier grapes come from the single vineyard ‘Rancho Réal’, in the Santa Maria Valley which is one of the coolest sites where vines are successfully grown in California. Here, the vines enjoy a particularly long growing season, thus developing an impressive degree of complexity and articulation. For example, the formation of 'Rotundone', the molecule that imparts the peppery quality to wines, is favoured by cooler climates, lower light conditions and a long hang-time on the vine. The Guyot-trained vines were planted in 2010 at an elevation of 200 to 290 metres, in sandy loam soils. The vines are certified sustainable.

The gentlest techniques were used to coax out complexity, such as ‘en passerillage’; the post-harvest drying of the grapes. They were placed on paper raisin trees in the shade of the vine itself, which allowed for a slight dehydration and concentration of the grapes. Significantly it encouraged the lignification and maturation of the stems, an excellent source of tannin which supports the structure of the wine. Co-fermentation of the Syrah and Viognier grapes took place in stainless steel with 50% whole clusters, which slowly released the grape sugar into the fermenting must, creating a much slower and controlled fermentation. This clean fermentation is called ‘reductive élevage’; it protects the fruit and freshness of a wine as it ages. Minimisation of oxygen ingress was accomplished through substantial lees retention, infrequent (or no) racking, more frequent barrel topping and the utilisation of larger and less porous storage vessels. The wine was aged for 12 months in used barriques and bottled without fining or filtration.