Lindquist Family "Z" Block Syrah, The Original Hillside 2021

This wine is classic cool climate Syrah from a cool vintage.  The aromas show hints of white pepper, dried raspberries and fresh herbs.  The flavors are full bodied, fruit forward with modest tannins.  The elegance and balance of this wine will support aging in the cellar for many years.

This wine is 100% Syrah from Z Block at Bien Nacido Vineyard.  Z Block is the first hillside planting at Bien Nacido, first planted in 1992, with the first crop in 1994.

The grapes were fermented in a small open top fermenter with 40% whole clusters, and manual punch downs twice daily.  After pressing, the wine was transferred to Francois Freres Burgundy barrels for aging…50% new oak, 25% one year old, and 25% two-year-old French oak barrels.  I’ve been using these same barrels for the Z Block since that first 1994 vintage.  It was kept in those barrels for the first year, before racking, blending, and returning to neutral French oak barrels for an additional 8 months.