High Canyon Syrah

Aged 18 months in 25% new French oak and 50% 500L puncheon, the 2021 High Canyon Series Syrah from Liminal is my favorite of the lineup. Mostly Syrah with just a touch of Viognier, which gives this near-perfect wine a subtle lift of floral aromatics on the nose. A bouquet of boysenberries, crushed black peppercorn, black olive tapenade, and dried wildflowers burst from the glass. It’s meaty with lovely blue fruit flavors that pop up the mid-palate. Full-bodied with gracious concentration, it has high-grained tannins that sit perfectly on the finish. This one should cellar nicely for the next 15 years. 97 cases made. Highly recommended and editor’s choice.

- Jeremy Young, International Wine Report

There’s an earthy aroma here that combines loam and porcini mushrooms. The earthiness is complemented by the sweet aromas of blackberries and figs. The palate is the heart of darkness, with black-cherry, black-coffee and dark-chocolate flavors and a smooth texture. Lemony acidity and silky tannins are nicely matched. Editors’ Choice. #24 on The Enthusiast 100: The Best Wines of 2023.

- Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast

The 2021 Liminal Syrah is an incredible new bottling by winemaker Chris Peterson. Inky in the glass, this is coming from the WeatherEye Vineyard High Canyon and has a small portion of Viognier blended in. Stored in mostly neutral oak puncheons, this offers creosote and blackberry compote flavors that mingle well with Turkish coffee, Middle Eastern spices, and suggestions of creme de violette. Deep and concentrated, with a great acid backbone, this is glorious stuff to savor in its heady youth. Drink 2023-2038.

- Owen Bargreen

The aromatic complexity here is off the charts. The 2021 Syrah WeatherEye Vineyard High Canyon Series blossoms with an array of black licorice, olives, sage, wet asphalt, dusty currants and split pine. Silky and enveloping, this impresses further with its depths of dark red and black fruit accelerated by juicy acidity and underscored by a nearly salty core of minerality. A web of fine tannins descends upon the palate through the long and structured finale as exotic spices and sour citrus echo throughout. The 2021 performs like a well-muscled dancer.

- Eric Guido, Vinous

Co-fermented with a splash of Viognier (as well as some whole clusters), the 2021 Syrah High Canyon offers a brilliant perfume of black and blue fruits interwoven with notions of ground pepper, exotic flowers, and white peach. It’s medium to full-bodied, concentrated, has ultra-fine tannins, and incredible purity of fruit. Yes, please.

- Jeb Dunnuck

A study in depth and power, this Syrah from the High Canyon block in the WeatherEye Vineyard shows ample ripeness balanced by a brooding complexity. Rich aromas of kirsch, cacao nibs, cinder and burnt ends are brightened by a note of wild sage and a kiss of blood orange. The palate is ripe, a touch phenolic. Grilled sea salt, black olives in brine, and stewed black plums are marked with smoke, mushroom, and soy notes. Inky, dark and brooding.

- Clive Pursehouse, Decanter

There's an abundance of energy encapsulated in Liminal's 2021s. Winemaker Chris Peterson (also of Avennia) focuses entirely on single vineyard wines from the new WeatherEye vineyard on Red Mountain. His cool-toned and polished style, with low reliance on new oak, shines bright when integrated with WeatherEye's diverse selection of terroir. Any lover of Rhône-varieties wines, both Old World and New, owes it to themselves to check these out. WeatherEye is still a relatively new vineyard. I can only imagine what the future holds.

- Eric Guido, Vinous