2024 Syrah

We can grow Syrah here in Amador County and it is well suited to our climate and decomposed granitic soils.  Yet we go all the way to Paso Robles (275 miles door to door almost five hours in a Penske rental truck) to purchase the Syrah from the Three Way Vineyard.  Why?  Relationships.  When folks hear for the first time that we purchase 95% of the grapes we use to produce our wines many believe I am out in the market each vintage and looking for and buying only the best grapes.  Not so.  The quality, style, and consistency of a wine from year to year has a lot to do with the grapes coming from the same vineyard.  We have established partnerships with growers that have demonstrated a passion for growing grapes that equals our passion for making wine.  Sourcing fruit from the same growers tending the same vineyard is the key to quality and consistency.  I have known Steve Carter, our Syrah grower in Paso Robles, since 1990 when I joined the J. Lohr winemaking team and Steve was the vineyard manager for Jerry Lohr in Paso Robles.  When I launched my own label in 1995, I purchased Syrah grapes from Jerry Lohr for two years.  We did well with the wines.  Some might say we did too well because Jerry soon asked me to find another source for Syrah.  By that time Steve had purchased ground and was growing Syrah on Adobe Road just south of the J. Lohr winery and offered to sell me a couple of tons.  Our relationship has flourished since then, and we now purchase not just Syrah from Steve but also Graciano, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Three-Way vineyard is located on the ‘Westside’ of Highway 101 about five miles outside of Paso Robles on Adelaide Road.   The vineyard’s location is stunning.  It sits on a knoll at 1,600 feet of elevation.  Looking to the East one can see the ribbon of Highway 46 as it stretches towards Shandon.  To the West, up and over the lush coastal hills, the Pacific Ocean is just 23 miles away.  Steve purchased the property in 2012 and planted it in 2013.  The fruit is spectacular, but unfortunately Steve’s production is limited, and we rarely see more than six tons of Syrah, just enough to make 360 cases.