By Canvasback Wine
2021 Canvasback Red Mountain Syrah

Terroir
With a dry, desert-like climate, ideal southwest-facing slopes, and significant day and nighttime temperature swings, Red Mountain produces wines of unparalleled depth and structure. Crafted with grapes from Red Mountain's most exceptional vineyards, this robust and alluring Syrah offers luxurious layers of blackberry, blueberry, and anise, underscored by sophisticated notes of granite minerality and savory layers of grilled meat and dried herbs.

Vintage Notes
The 2021 vintage will be famous for its warm growing season and its drought conditions, which combined to produce historically low yields. While budbreak was two weeks ahead of normal thanks to a warm, dry spring, blustery weather during flowering caused some shatter, leading to very low yields. A late-June heatwave led to incredible phenolic development, while a second heatwave during veraison spurred the vines towards early ripening. Harvest started early, with ideal weather throughout September and October, and concluded two weeks ahead of schedule without any pressure from frost or rain. With average Cabernet Sauvignon yields in the Walla Walla Valley of just 1.4 tons per acre, our 2021 wines display incredible power, ripeness, and intensity.

Production Details
Appellation: Red Mountain
Varietal Composition: 100% Syrah
Fermentation: 30% whole clusters in open-top tanks, macerated 17 days total on skins
Aging: 15 months in 100% French oak; 25% new and 75% neutral
Alcohol: 14.50%
Acid: 0.59 g/100 ml
pH: 4.10

Winemaker Notes
While this robust Syrah reveals alluring aromas of red and black berries and candied fruit, it is the layers of scorched earth, black tea, crushed rose petals, and minerality that make it so mesmerizing. On the palate, it is intense and juicy, with robust tannins and savory underpinnings of beef tartare and charcuterie adding depth and complexity to flavors of black raspberry, ripe strawberry, and violets.
[Information provided by The Duckhorn Portfolio]

Wine: Canvasback 2021 Syrah (Red Mountain)
Score/Rating: 93 - Editors' Choice
Review Date: 07/01/2024
Reviewed By: Michael Alberty
Tasting Notes: [...] a Syrah that is licensed to thrill. Blackberry pastilles and violets create a perfume, while white-pepper and orange-peel aromas add some kick. Candied raspberry and ginger flavors complement a touch of bacon fat. Serve with a bowl of cassoulet and a James Bond film.