2021 Syrah Grenache Mataro

Nose of freshly cracked black peppercorn, mint chocolate, raspberry, licorice, and floral notes. Full-bodied with plum, blackberry, black cherry, mocha, and vanilla bean on the palate with well-coated tannins and pleasant acidity and mid-palate weight. SR (2/23)

Drought conditions created water stress in the vines, reducing yields and resulting in outstanding fruit concentration. Syrah is the dominant varietal in this Rhône-style blend and is beloved for its color, richness, and depth. The grenache brings floral aspects to the wine, and the mataro adds subtle spice. Delicious now, this complex wine will continue to evolve over the next six to eight years. SR (3/23)

This wine comes from two hillside parcels at Lytton West. One is planted entirely to syrah while the other is planted to half grenache and half mataro. Mataro, a late-ripening variety synonymous with mourvedre, does not always mature before the onset of fall rains.

Rainfall: 14 inches (below normal)
Bloom: Early May
Weather: A dry winter and spring stressed the vines, limiting yields and concentrating flavors.

Harvest Dates: 1 – 16 September
Grapes: Average Brix 24.4˚
TA: 6.83 g/L
pH: 3.86
Fermentation: Natural primary and secondary; daily pump-overs.
Barrels: 100% air-dried American oak barrels (16% new and 84% five-plus years old).
Aging: Sixteen months in barrel

Hand-harvested, organically grown, organically grown grapes; destemmed and crushed; fermented on the native yeasts, followed by a full malolactic on the naturally occurring malolactic bacteria; oak from barrel aging; minimum effective sulfur for this wine (35 ppm at crush and 83 ppm over the course of aging); pad filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

JebDunnuck.com: 93 Points “Coming from the Lytton Estate Vineyard in Sonoma County, the 2021 Syrah Grenache Mataro is mostly Syrah yet includes 17% Grenache and 9% Mataro. It’s a ruby/plum-hued effort offering a perfumed, more red and black-fruited style in its peppery herb, loamy earth, violet, and leather-driven aromas and flavors. It’s beautifully balanced, medium-bodied, and elegant, with a solid 10-12 years of prime drinking ahead of it.” -Jeb Dunnuck (August 2024)

The Wine Advocate: 93 Points “The 2021 Syrah Grenache Mataro is composed of 74% Syrah, 17% Grenache and 9% Mataro. It’s incredibly pure and perfumed: blackcurrant and blueberry pie scents waft from the glass, and as it opens, it reveals nuances of cast iron, aniseed and chargrill. The full-bodied palate is concentrated and broody with powdery tannins and rounded acidity, and it has a long, iron-laced finish. It will benefit from 3–5 years in the cellar.” -Erin Brooks (September 2024)

Vinous Media: 92 Points “A blend of 74% Syrah, 17% Grenache and 9% Mataro from Ridge’s Lytton Estate in the Dry Creek Valley, the 2021 Syrah Grenache Mataro is a bright, citrusy red with tons of structure to support its saturated red and blue berry fruit. Smoky, meaty nuances emerge soon after the first pour, giving way to a taut, honed wine with abundant concentration and lifted floral accents. Charming and approachable but also built to age, the 2021 is another solid blend in the Ridge portfolio.” -Billy Norris (October 2024)

Wine Enthusiast: 91 Points “This powerful blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mataro (Mourvedre) is powerful, potent and spicy. The nose gives blackberry, blueberry and black pepper aromas, while the palate brings candied raspberry and black cherry flavors with a wealth of rich tannin and juicy lime acidity. Give this a few years in the cellar to soften and enjoy with grilled steaks or chops.” -Tom Capo (November 2024)

Average Rating: 88.9

No. of Tasting Notes: 12

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