Longboard Vineyards Russian River Syrah 2016

Longboard Vineyards Russian River Syrah 2016 I began to make a cool region of Syrah way back in 1998, driven by a love for Northern Rhone wines. As a wine "newbie", traveling to surf destinations on the Atlantic shores of Europe, I found that these were the wines that could deliver quality on a very consistent level while I was on a surf-bum budget. Later, as a pro with more than 34 harvests under my belt, I still like a good Syrah - regardless of price... I now understand even better why this variety fits my palate then - and continues to do so now. It all has to do with balance and layering; Syrah is less tannic than Cabernet and a bit more layered than Pinot Noir. These traits, and the slight earthy spiciness we get in this region make Syrah a natural companion to a wide range of foods - and thus wins the vote in my heart (and palate). This Syrah is a blend of Dakine, Goosechase, and Ledbetter (old Preston Ranch) vineyard blocks. At release, 2016 shows a lot of blue-fruit nuances a