2019 Cattleya 'The Initiation' Syrah Santa Lucia Highlands

Winemaker Notes:  A mysterious inky purple in the glass, this bold Syrah is slow to reveal itself, but as it does, notes of cassis, orange zest and cranberry create a powerful mélange of aromas. The wine maintains a delicate tension, balancing flavors of blackberry, graphite, and Asian spice with precise tannin and laser focused acidity.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


Jeb Dunnuck - "There are two Syrahs from this estate. The 2019 Syrah The Initiation comes from the Soberanes Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. It has a darker, slightly reserved bouquet of spiced red and black fruits supported by subtle iron, peppery herb, and smoked game-like aromas and flavors. Beautiful on the palate, with medium to full-bodied richness, it shines for its purity of fruit, polished, building tannins, and flawless overall balance. This classic, impeccably made Syrah can be drunk any time over the coming 10-15 years."


Tasting Panel - "Winemaker Bibiana González Rave started her Cattleya winery over a decade ago with one barrel of Syrah—the variety she also worked with in the Rhône Valley—from a single vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. The fruit for this wine hails from the famed Soberanes Vineyard, farmed by the Pisoni and Franscioni families—and what a sumptuous mouthfeel it provides. Lilac and roses are arranged with graphite and red plum for true depth of character. Tinged with acidity, candied grapefruit converges on the mid-palate with blackberry and hints of cured meats and black pepper."