2020 The Language of Yes (Randall Graham) Syrah 'En Passerillage' Rancho Real Santa Maria Valley

Winemaker's Notes: The simultaneous release adopted the extremely non-standard practice of air-drying the grapes post-harvest. Our first vintage from the Rancho Réal vineyard is an experiment in phenolic extraction and a realization of our intent to not slavishly replicate the wines of Southern France, but rather to seek to find and amplify the unique characteristics of our climats and terroirs in the Central Coast of California.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - "Grapes for the 2020 Syrah En Passerillage were air-dried for three days, co-fermented with 20% Viognier and made with 50% whole clusters. It has a deep ruby-purple color and alluring perfume of blackcurrant, blueberries, mint chocolate, lilac, white pepper and garrigue. The medium-bodied palate is concentrated but light on its feet, with dusty-textured tannins and bursts of juicy acidity highlighting its floral perfume on the long finish."


Wine Enthusiast - "This latest project by Randall Grahm involves picking grapes a bit early and then drying them a tad before fermentation. In this wine, that leads to aromas of charred meat, tar, violet and purple fruits on the nose. Similar elements emerge on the sip, with açai and black pepper proving most prominent as the wine spreads its wings. "


James Suckling - "White pepper, blue-fruit and violet aromas. Medium body with fine tannins. Lovely fruit. Bright acidity. Linear and very fine. Drink now."