Hop Barn Hill Syrah 2018

Hop Barn Hill was purchased by Uncle Tony Bondi in the late 1950s. It was one of the last remaining hop ranches. Uncle Tony purchased it with the intention of paving it over to put a trailer park on it. These were very fashionable and profitable ventures in the 1950s. He had the plans drawn, yet unfortunately he died in a freak tractor accident before he could implement his vision. Thankfully for us, Lee Sr. inherited the property and kept farming the apple orchards and vineyards currently on it. Later Lee Sr. created his own vision for the property and renovated the old Hop Kiln as our winery and the old Hop Barn as our tasting room in the 1980s, which we still use today.

The 2018 season was much calmer than 2017, due to the absence of extra rain and heat spikes we experienced in 2017. The moderate temperatures in the spring and summer allowed for a longer growing season and full flavor development. There was plenty of water in the soil to carry the clusters through the long growing season with minimal dehydration. Our first day of harvest in 2018 was September 10, compared with an August 26^th start in 2017. It was nice that the production crew could enjoy the Labor Day holiday right before the long hours and hard work of harvest began.

APPELLATION

Russian River Valley

VARIETALS PLANTED

Syrah

SOIL INFORMATION

Huichicha

SOIL CHARACTERISTICS

Clay

ROOTSTOCK

420

YEAR ACQUIRED

1961

YEAR PLANTED

1996

Rich aromas of coffee, black cherry and violets awaken in the glass upon pouring the 2018 Hop Barn Hill Syrah. The plush and lasting tannins found on the palate complement the supple flavors of earth and berry liqueur.