Minus Tide, Valenti Vineyard Syrah, Mendocino Ridge, Mendocino County, California, USA 2021

Compelling and highly perfumed aromas of black olives, violets, liquorice, and supple blackberry fruits nuanced by charcuterie notes lead with lifted mineral overtones. Offering classic Syrah notes leading with a serious meatiness that builds in intensity, matched by sweet cassis, brandied cherries, olive tapenade, and smoky minerals. Firm, fine-grained tannins underscore a long finish of black pepper, cardamom, earth, and crushed dried violets. Co-owners and co-winemakers Kyle Jeffrey and Brad Jonas source grapes from Valenti Vineyard, a south-facing site at elevations of 296 to 487 metres in the Mendocino Ridge AVA.