2018 River Rock Vineyard Syrah
This is a classic “Rocks” Syrah with great depth. It needs some time to open up, decant prior to enjoying. This will benefit from another two years of cellaring, if you have the patience. Should age nicely at least ten years from release.
This wine exudes the sense of place that is the cobblestones of Milton-Freewater. Plowed earth and forest floor with hints of lavender and nutmeg on the nose. Wet stone drenched minerality. Gaminess and bacon fat canvass the mid-palate then give way to green olive, blueberry, and dried figs. Lush and velvety with a long juicy finish. Drinking well now but should age well up to ten years from release.
The fruit was harvested and sorted by hand on September 15, 2018. A three-day cold soak was employed prior to primary fermentation. Approximately 25% whole cluster fermentation. During fermentation only yeast hulls and oxygen were used to aid fermentation - no commercial yeast or chemicals. Primary fermentation lasted approximately eleven days, while the wine stayed on skins for a total of twenty-seven days including an extended maceration. During fermentation, manual punch downs were performed three times per day with a rack-and-return performed as necessary to aid fermentation. Secondary fermentation was also feral, the lees were stirred every few days. The wine was aged for seventeen months in French oak, about 25% of it new, and bottled unfined and unfiltered in February 2020. No chemicals, enzymes, adjuncts or other nonsense has been added to this wine.
| Download Wine Notes |
| Appellation | Walla Walla Valley |
| Vineyard | River Rock |
| Acid | 5.3 g/L |
| PH | 3.9 |
| Alcohol | 13.50% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Cases Produced | 291 |
Owned and farmed by Dana Dibble, River Rock Vineyard sits in the heart of the Rocks of Milton-Freewater. The cobbly Freewater loam that comprises the soil is the essence of “the Rocks.” The cobblestones that cover the area are a beautiful sight to behold. This area produces wines with a unique sense of place unlike any other in the world.
