Newsom Vineyards is widely regarded as one of the top sites in Texas, though, as Ben Calais notes, Syrah can be finicky here and doesn’t always perform consistently. In 2021, at the winery’s request, the vineyard owners replanted the Syrah block with cleaned-up vine material. This bottling represents the final harvest from the original vines. Until the replanted block reaches full production, they are working with Syrah from a neighbouring section. This is a decidedly Texan Syrah, with ripe fruit and deep mineral tension. It shows meaty aromatics, but as Calais explains, it will never taste the same year to year due to the region’s extreme vintage variation. In 2021, conditions were relatively mild with no severe heat spikes. Syrah buds early, and in this vintage was harvested by mid-September—early for a red variety in the region. The wine is bold and rich, showing layered notes of toffee and wild herbs, balanced by vibrant blood orange acidity and a finish marked by baking spice.
