Estate Syrah 2017

The Brittan Estate Vineyard lies just 12 miles southwest of McMinnville, tucked into the foothills of the Coast Range. The original 18 acres were planted in 2001, but due to the challenging nature of this site and limited topsoil, only eight acres survived. Since 2004 when Robert and Ellen purchased the vineyard, it has been an ongoing rehabilitation project, including the replanting of the Pinot Meunier blocks to Syrah in 2005. There are now two and a half acres of Syrah on site.

The aim at Brittan Vineyards is to remove the hand of the winemaker during wine production. With this, minimal fuss and movement are trademarks of Robert’s style, producing wines of varietal complexity and nuance. After whole cluster pressing, the must ferments in barrel. Elevage occurs over 15 months in 18% new French oak.

Akin to the prior three vintages, 2017 provided a consistently warm growing season for the vines at our estate vineyard, resulting in generous (for us) average yields approaching two tons per acre. Springtime flowering and fruit set, while delayed by a cool and wet winter, were even across the blocks and dry conditions at harvest meant little to no pressure from disease. The resulting wines are full bodied yet retain the mineral notes and taut core of acidity that have become the hallmarks of Brittan Vineyards.

Cool climate Syrah is one of Robert’s passions and our 2016 vintage shows why. Ripe blue and black fruits, plum, cherry cordial, and a hint of vanilla mingle with smoked meat, violet petals, mint and clove. Impressively warm and rich on the nose, the palate turns toward Syrah’s cool climate qualities: nervy and taut with grippy tannins well supported by a backbone of bright acid.