Halcon Vineyard Syrah 2014

Vintage 2014 Bottle Sizes 750ml Country United States Region California Appellation Yorkville Highlands Wine Type Red - Still Varietals Syrah Vineyard Halcon vineyard is planted high atop the mountainous Yorkville Highlands, in thin, rocky chaparral soils rich with mica-schist, fractured quartz and shale. The vineyard is densely planted with rows planted NNW to provide even sunlight exposure and shade. The northerly location, ocean exposure and altitude all combine to offer ideal conditions to grow cool climate Syrah. While harvest yields from Halcon are often small, given the small clusters and berries and extreme growing conditions, we could not be happier to be receiving fruit form this jewel of a vineyard. Soil Franciscan Loam Viticulture VSP trellising. Sustainably farmed. Vinification Harvested 9/26/14 @ 21.6 Brix. 100% whole cluster. 100% Syrah (Estella River & Chave clones). Ambient yeasts. Neutral oak French barrique. Not fined or filtered. Racked once prior to bottling. Finished at 12.6% abv. a TA of 5.8 g/l and a 3.50 PH. Aging Aged for 12-months in neutral oak. Production 185 cases Notes Dark & Serious, highlighted with loads of vibrant red fruit, but dominated by tiny black fruits, tree bark, cracked pepper and dark soil tones with some real muscular power behind it, darker and more firm than the Cardiac Hill.
Publication Vinous Rating 93
The 2014 Syrah Halcón Vineyard takes things to another level. Dark cherry, mint, game, herbs, black pepper, iron and a host of ferrous notes are all front and center. Dense and expressive, yet not at all heavy, the Halcón is super-expressive today. Give it another year or two to fully open up. The persistent, striking finish points to a bright future.
– Antonio Galloni