2018 "The Psychedelic" Syrah Etched 3L
One Vineyard. Twelve puncheons. 600 cases. Pure "Rocks" Syrah ecstasy from Stoney Vine Estate Vineyard. Ancient riverbed. Softball sized cobbles. Foot crushed. Native fermentation. Stems. 23% new French oak. 16 months in barrel. Racked once. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. Roasted meats. Spice. Tobacco. Green herbs. Bacon fat. Earth. Black pepper. Plums. Freshly picked blueberries. Mouth-coating tannins. Share with friends.
96 Points Jeb Dunnuck
95 Points Ownen Bargreen
95 Points Vinuous
94 Points Wine Advocate
92 Points Wine Enthusiast
Download Wine Notes |
Vintage | 2018 |
Varietal | Syrah |
Varietal Composition | 100% Syrah |
Appellation | Walla Walla Valley |
Vineyard | Stoney Vine Vineyard |
Harvest Date | 09/21/2018 |
Sugar | 23.8-24.1 brix |
Aging | 11 months in 10% new French |
Fermentation | Native with 60% Stems |
Residual Sugar | <.02 |
Alcohol | 13.70% |
Volume | 3 liter |
Bottling Date | 03/20/2020 |
Jeb Dunnuck:
All Syrah brought up with plenty of stems (60%) and aged in 23$ new French oak puncheons, the 2018 Syrah Psychedelic is more transparent than the denser, rich 2019 yet offers a similar, gorgeously complex style in its red and blue fruits, iron, tapenade, and gamey aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, it's balanced and has a seamless texture, good overall concentration, and an already up-front, approachable style. Nevertheless, it has tannins and balance to keep for 15 years. It's another head turner fom this estate. 96 Points
Wine Advocate:
Made from 50% whole cluster, the 2018 Syrah The Psychedelic displays a dark ruby core with purple highlights on the rim. Aromas of savory blackberry, black pepper tones, cured meat and smoked cherries waft out of the glass with dried herbs, olives and warmed stones. Full-bodied, the palate is savory with bright, energetic acidity, vibrant and lifted black raspberry flavors, cracked pepper and crushed rock. The wine continues to unpack and unfold while it evolves over the long, winding, mineral-laced and spicy finish. It’s delicious. 94 Points
Owen Bargreen:
The thrilling 2018 ‘The Psychedelic’ Syrah is another impressive wine made by the superstar winemaking team of Trey Busch, Keith Johnson and Jerry Solomon. Sourced from the ‘Stoney Vine Vineyard’ in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA, the stem included wine spent 16 months in 23% new French oak prior to bottling. Once on the nose this takes on layers of green olive tapenade and bacon fat that combine with iron, bulls blood and high-toned red fruits, providing a wonderful range of complexity. The soft and silky mouthfeel offers an err of elegance here as the wine effortlessly glides across the mid-palate. Charcuterie and green olives are woven together with wild blackberry, Umami and satsuma orange on the palate. Fresh and vibrant, yet beautifully textured, with great length, this is one of the great bottling of ‘The Psychedelic’ that has been made. While glorious in its youth, this has another decade of life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2028- 95 Points