2019 Halcón Vineyards Alturas Syrah Yorkville Highlands Mendocino County

WSI94+ The 2019 Halcón Syrah fruit was picked October 16th, just three days ahead of the previous year. As in 2018, the moderate high temperatures and very cool nights preserved acids and slowed sugar development. Like the Mourvèdre, the crop was significantly below historical averages. The Syrah fruit came from various parcels of the Halcón vineyard, predominately the Chave selection, co-fermented with a slightly higher 5% Viognier. We again utilized 50% whole-cluster and aged the wine in neutral French oak puncheons. The low crop level led to a concentrated but still superbly balanced wine with the long hang-time giving fine tannin. The fruit is a little more upfront but still very fresh with lots of savory characteristics. It is a more open, slightly more intense version of the 2016 vintage and likely the best Alturas to date. 190 cases unfined and unfiltered. 13.7%. $35.00

The 2019 Halcon Vineyards Syrah Alturas  is showing beautifully, unfurling in the glass with aromas of blackberries, tapenade, cracked black pepper, cassis and dried herbs. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it’s a layered, serious wine built around powdery, youthfully chalky tannins and lively acids. This is a fabulous young wine that would be indistinguishable in a line-up of classical Northern Rhône Syrah—something to which I can personally testify. William Kelley