2019 Bedrock Wine Co, Syrah “Calico” California.
The beautifully dark purple/garnet Calico California Syrah from Bedrock is their version of Crozes-Hermitage in the Graillot mold, it is unmistakable, and as they say, distinctly Syrah at its cool climate style best with pretty aromatics, deep fruit concentration, spice and a supple mouth feel. This 2019 delivers plenty of classic details and richly layered with boysenberry, blueberry, wild plum and black cherry fruits, along with hints of crushed violets, minty herbs, cedar, meaty game and anise accents, plus lingering creme de cassis and delicate earthy tones. Everything folds together with compelling seamless transparency and it gets better and better in the glass and goes great with robust cuisine, this is delicious stuff that performed brilliantly when tasted alongside a true Cornas offering. Sourced from multiple vineyards across the state, this Calico is a sleeper in the Bedrock collection and a stylish 100% Syrah effort I thoroughly enjoy and recommend!
The “value” Syrah from winemaker Morgan Twain-Peterson MW is, as always, Bedrock’s blend of the several great Syrah sites around the state that Morgan and his team get to work. There’s some awesome places used here, including ultra-cool climate parcels at Bien Nacido, in the Santa Maria Valley, along with Northern California’s Hudson Vineyard, Griffin’s Lair, Weill and Walker Vine Hill Vineyards and, for the first time, this wine saw some Syrah from Twain-Peterson’s famous Bedrock Vineyard, in Sonoma Valley. The hope Bedrock has is that this wine will show off the potential of this great variety in California, which I believe it does, it makes for a savvy and pure varietal example of Syrah. Bedrock fermented the separate small lots with indigenous yeast with all lots seeing some whole cluster, with the percentage between 20 to 100% in this ripe and expressive vintage. Bedrock usually ages their Syrah close to 18 months or more in a combination of barrel sizes, including large puncheons and used barriques. While famous for their Zinfandel based bottlings, Bedrock does some thrilling Syrahs, and this one is a great way to start exploring them, along with the more rare single vineyard versions.
($42 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive