2019 Desire Lines Belle Mount Syrah, Bennett Valley

The name of this cuvée is a deep cut – Belle Mount was the name given to the first vineyard and winery established in Bennett Valley, by Isaac DeTurk in 1862. The name is thought to refer to the striking peak of Bennett Mountain that juts above Bennett Valley. This wine comes from a block that I’d long had my eye on, and I was thrilled in 2019 to finally get access to the fruit. Sensing that we had something special in the grapes from this vineyard, we made a particularly rigorous wine – 100% whole cluster with extended maceration and élevage in a single neutral 500L barrel without racking. This wine rivals our Syrahs from Griffin’s Lair for its intensity and concentration, though a touch more reserved at this stage. It’s a thoroughly classical wine inspired by the old-school Côte-Rôtie that I love (Levet, anyone?), with aromatics of boysenberry, raspberry, violets, and bacon that are just beginning to unlock and soar from the glass. We’d recommend a long decant and a side of fatty steak, or more time sideways in bottle. This will be our last wine released from the 2019 vintage – we held this wine back in bottle for longer than usual, and I’m really excited about where this wine is headed.
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