Baldassari Bennett Valley Syrah 2018
Member Price €38.53
When Matt sent me this wine to sample, I couldn’t believe what I was tasting. Cool climate Syrah in Northern California?
Bennett Valley is the smallest appellation in Sonoma, so it’s no wonder I hadn’t heard of it before.
It’s a hilly, rocky region, with strong winds and dense fog which come in every day and cool the grapes right down.
The vines are quite stressed out, and produce dark, inky flavours in the fruit - when handled correctly.
And you also get a lovely cracked black pepper character which is the signature of good Bennett Valley Syrah.
This is the first wine Matt made in 2003 under the Baldassari label, so he’s been tweaking and making improvements to it ever since.
If you like northern Rhone Syrah with a broad, meaty, savoury edge, this wine is for you.
I just love discovering this kind of wine, so please try it and let me know what you think!
Please note due to increased shipping costs from the US, we've had to temporarily increase the price of this wine.
|
Type |
Red |
|
Grape(s) |
Syrah |
|
Country |
USA |
|
Region of origin |
Sonoma County, CA |
|
Appellation (if applicable) |
Bennett Valley |
|
Vintage |
2018 |
|
Alcohol % |
14.1% |
|
Oak? |
Yes |
|
Months in Oak |
20 |
|
Type of Oak |
100% French Oak; 20% New, balance neutral oak |
|
Allergens (e.g. Milk, Egg, Fish, Nuts) |
None |
|
Average age of vines |
30 years |
|
Average altitude of vines (m) |
300 feet |
|
Soil type(s) |
Volcanic rocky soil |
|
Closure Type |
Natural Cork |
|
Is this wine organic? |
No |
|
Biodynamic? |
No |
|
Sustainably produced? |
Yes |
|
Suitable for vegans? |
Yes |
|
Ageing potential |
12-15 years |
|
Ideal drinking window |
Now-2027 |
Matt Michael is one of Sonoma’s hottest talents. In his day job, he’s the head winemaker for Robert Young Estate in Alexander Valley - one of the most famed growers and wineries in Sonoma.
And on the side, he’s slowly growing his small family business, Baldassari Wines, with his dad Dom.

FOR IRELAND
We know how important it is to get your wine order quickly and efficiently. So we’ve partnered with UPS to offer next-day delivery on our wines.
Here’s what you need to know:
- It’s free - delivery is already included in the members' price
- It’s fast - you’ll get next-day delivery if you order before 12pm Monday-Thursday
- It’s environmentally-friendly - all of our orders are shipped carbon neutral with UPS.
€2 per case is added to all Northern Ireland orders to cover additional shipping costs. The point of sale occurs in the Republic of Ireland.
Our minimum order requirement is 6 bottles and we ship in multiples of 6’s. This can be 6 different bottles!
You may need to show your ID on delivery.
Please read our Terms & Conditions for more information.
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FOR UK
1. Order minimum & case sizes
We ship exclusively in full cases of wine. Your order must be a minimum of 6 bottles and in a multiple of 6 (for example 6, 12, 18 bottles).
2. Where we deliver
We deliver across Great Britain, with a small number of exceptions. Delivery is currently not available to the following locations:
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Channel Islands (GY, JE)
Please also note that some more remote areas take a little longer to reach. For the postcodes listed below, delivery may take 2–5 working days due to their location, and there is an additional £20 charge applied to these areas:
KA27, KA28, AB31–AB56, IV1–IV63, KW1–KW17, PH15–PH150, PA20–PA78, HS1–HS9, PH42–PH44, ZE1–ZE3, FK16–FK21,BT
3. Delivery timeframe
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Place your order by midday (12pm) Monday-Friday for next working-day delivery.
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Saturday delivery is available when you order by midday on Friday.
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If you order after midday, your delivery will fall on the next working day, and in some cases it may arrive sooner - but this is not guaranteed.
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Orders placed after 3pm on a Friday will be delivered on the following Tuesday.
4. Courier & delivery options
We use DPD Local for all deliveries with the default method as delivery to your address - handover required. You’ll receive text and/or an email notification to let you know your case has been shipped and another with your 1 hour delivery window, with both giving you the options to:
• leave in a safe place
• leave with a neighbour
• change the delivery day
• deliver to a different address
• deliver to a DPD Pickup ParcelShop
If you choose a safe place or a neighbour and the parcel is delivered to that place or person, responsibility passes to you from that point onwards.
5. Age verification
This site is for adults only. We operate a Challenge 25 age verification policy. When in doubt DPD will request valid photo ID on delivery to confirm you are 18 or over. Accepted ID includes a passport, driving licence or other recognised photographic ID.
6. Damaged goods in transit
If your case of wine is damaged during transit, we will be notified by DPD and will reorder and dispatch a replacement for you at the earliest opportunity and keep you updated throughout.
7. Returns once delivered
If you decide you need to return your order after it has been delivered, please get in touch with us and we will arrange a collection. Returns are handled on a case-by-case basis once you contact us.
8. General provisions
By placing an order you agree to these delivery terms. We may update or amend these terms from time to time - any changes will apply to orders placed after the update.




