USA LOW

96 points Vinous Media
Drinking window: 2028 - 2039
The 2024 Syrah Clary Ranch shows how critical vintage can be. Whereas the 2023 struggled to ripen, the 2024 had no such issues. Soaring savory, peppery and spice overtones are so alluring. Dark red fruit, iron, incense, white pepper and blood orange open with a bit of coaxing. Bright acids and brilliant floral top notes from the 100% stems explode on the sculpted finish. Readers will want to cellar this for a few years. It's a dazzling wine from Duncan Arnot and Nathan Roberts.

Clary Ranch is a stunning hillside planting in the heart of the Petaluma Gap near Tomales Bay. Paul Clary took a big risk in 2000 when he planted Pinot Noir and Syrah in this extremely cold and windy site. The ranch is now owned and tended by Drew Beuchley and the same crew that has worked these vines since they were planted. The Coast Range Mountains in Northern California run parallel to the coastline but take a sudden dip and nearly disappear around Bodega Bay in Sonoma County. It is at this point that cool air over the Pacific Ocean is drawn inland via convective forces through the Petaluma Gap, moderating the climate in this entire section of the Sonoma Coast. Our coldest vineyard for Syrah, Clary has been harvested as late as November 18th at under 12% alcohol. The protracted growing season paired with the sedimentary clay-loam soils slow the ripening and allow us to farm without irrigation resulting in fruit that is deeply pigmented and loaded with flavor. The resulting wines we have made exhibit soaring aromatics, expressive exotic spice notes, and high natural acidity that are hallmarks of this wind scraped vineyard.