High Canyon Syrah

96% Syrah is co-fermented with 4% Viognier and then aged for 16 months in 25% new French barrel and 500L puncheon. My favorite of those I tasted from the new releases from winemaker Chris Peterson and absolutely over-delivers. The color is phenomenal - deep purple with a neon ruby rim, that is a joy to swirl in the glass. Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, peppered salami and purple wildflower are all present - this Syrah is absolutely intoxicating. On the palate, flavors of black cherry, blueberry, cured bacon and green olive punch you in the face, in a good way of course. The acidity is perfect, the tannins are already starting to integrate and the finish goes on for miles. Do yourself a favor and find a bottle of this. Wait for 3-4 years and then open it on a special occasion. It’s an incredible bottle of wine. Only 100 cases produced. Highly recommended.

- Jeremy Young, International Wine Report

The 2019 Syrah High Canyon Series is flat-out gorgeous and one of the standouts in the lineup. Beautiful ripe red and blue fruits, peppery herbs, chocolate, and spice all define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a round, layered, seamless profile, no hard edges, perfect balance, and a great finish. This is Red Mountain Syrah at its finest. Bravo! Top 100 Wines of 2022 - #47

- Jeb Dunnuck

The second vintage from a new site, this is a wine that immediately impresses, with aromas of huckleberry, marionberry, herbs and flowers, showing dazzling purity. Soft, achingly pure fruit flavors follow. The balance is spot-on. This one is all about sophistication. It’s only going to get better with additional time in the bottle. Drink after 2024, with a long life ahead of that. Cellar Selection.

- Sean Sullivan, Wine Enthusiast

Aromas of red berries, jasmine tea, ground spice and roses. Full-bodied with soft tannins. Very concentrated and dark on the palate. Gravel, chocolate, burnt herbs and black cherries. Sleek. Cool, minty finish. A well-structured and dynamic wine. 96% Syrah and 4% Viognier. Drink now.

- James Suckling

Savoury aromas carry into the palate with a mix of bacon fat, desert sage and a bit of grapefruit pith. The palate is savoury and full of flavour, with fine-grained tannin well balanced by abundant acidity that keeps the mouth watering and carries through an ultra-long finish. There is plenty of pleasure in drinking it now but the wine will benefit from decanting at this stage. It is focused, generous but not overwrought, flavourful and avoids any sense of overripeness that might be implied by the alcohol level. The wine carries the alcohol very well and is balanced. It is more ready to drink now compared with the Block 16 Syrah though the Block 16 will no doubt reveal more open expressiveness with a little more time in bottle. Delicious.

- Elaine Chukan Brown, JancisRobinson.com