Melville Estate Verna's Syrah (75cl, 14%)

A 100% estate-grown Syrah from Sta. Rita Hills, California, from Melville Winery. The Verna Vineyard is planted at more than three times the standard density for premium California vineyards, restricting yield and concentrating flavour in each cluster. The wine undergoes 20% whole-cluster fermentation with the rest destemmed, then ages for 11 months in neutral oak barrels. The nose shows raspberry and kirsch-like red fruits, tobacco leaf, dried herbs, earthy underbrush, smoked meat, saddle leather and hints of iron. The palate is juicy and fruit-forward with blackberry, olallieberry, cassis, cherry, white pepper and warm spice, with a savoury smoked-meat and umami backbone. The finish is medium-long with dried herbs, black pepper and an iron-mineral undertone.