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.
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.
We ship to the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland only. €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.