100 cases produced
"An elegant and expressive Syrah from the wind-swept Petaluma Gap. Well defined flavors of Damson plum, black cherry and cassis are supported by savory notes of olive, black tea, and dried herbs. Brilliant acidity, deep flavor concentration, and fine-grained tannin make for a long, textured finish"
Reviews
94 points. John Gilman, View from the Cellar
“The La Cruz Vineyard was planted back in 1989 by Ted Lemon, of Littorai fame. The vineyard is farmed organically with biodynamic principles. The wine itself came in at 12.5 percent octane in 2021, with the standard Model Farm cellar protocol of native yeasts, including seventy percent whole clusters and elevage in neutral oak puncheons for a year and a half prior to bottling. The older vines give this bottling a bit more depth on both the nose and palate, with the bouquet wafting from the glass in a complex blend of red and black raspberries, smoked meats, bonfire, lovely range of spices, a superb base of soil, sweet stem tones and a floral topnote redolent of peonies. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied, focused and nicely soil-driven, with a superb core of fruit, fine-grained tannins, excellent balance and a long, complex and very refined young finish. This is going to be a dynamite glass of syrah when it is fully mature! 2035-2075+."