North Coast meets Northern Rhone
2011 Bedrock North Coast Syrah
Lowest Price in the Nation
"Morgan Twain-Peterson is one of the most impressive young winemakers I have ever met" -Antonio Galloni
It will come as no surprise that we heartily concur with Mr. Galloni. I've spent much time tasting and working harvest at Bedrock and can testify first-hand Morgan's level of dedication and insight.
There may be no better example of his skill and sincerity than his North Coast Syrah.
A sizable chunk (25%) comes from the impeccably farmed Hudson vineyard in Carneros, which was made famous by John Kongsgaard, whose Hudson Syrah goes for $150-200+. Another 25% is made up of the famed Alder Springs, a gorgeous vineyard planted 2000+ ft elevation in chilly Mendocino. The remainder is from Chanel, the high elevation Sonoma coast vineyard which, prior to its sale, used to be a vineyard designated by David Ramey.
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Saying that Bedrock's 2011 North Coast Syrah drinks well above its price point is a huge understatement.
What's equally important is that Morgan focused not only on heavy-hitting sites, but also on cool ones. For him, the great traditional wines of the Northern Rhone possess a Burgundian elegance and this is what he's striving for.
Fans of Windgap, Arnot-Roberts, and even Northern Rhone producers, like Gonon and Graillot, will find much to like.
Bedrock's 2011 Syrah is a stunning combination of bright and floral red fruits, meaty notes, pepper and other spices backed by vivid acids and fine, sturdy tannins. It's easier to compare to the St. Joseph or Cornas than most New World Syrahs.
Following the traditionalists of the Northern Rhone, the 2011 North Coast Syrah is 50% whole cluster and both alcohol and new oak are low.
The 2011 vintage was a vintage perfectly suited to making Northern Rhone inspired wines in California. The wines of the 2011 vintage are blessed with a serious spine of acidity. For many growers 2011 in the North Coast was a headache but Morgan may have made his best wines to date.
Making California Syrah is a labor of love: for mainstream grapes, there's likely no harder category to sell. But Morgan is trying to prove a point; trying to exploit the potential of California to make elegant, complex and food friendly Syrah.
And we're believers. As the temperatures begin to really dip, Bedrock's 2011 North Coast Syrah is perfect.
Roast a leg of lamb, open a bottle and prepare to be amazed at not only the complexity and balance on display, but also the crazy value.
To order, please email us at offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Chris Cottrell
Specialist, Fine & Rare Wine
Crush Wine & Spirits