Lillian Syrah, California, USA, 2017

This wine is handcrafted by Maggie Harrison who learnt her craft under the watchful eye of the Krankls, owners of the iconic, cult winery Sine Qua Non whose wines fetch prices that can make first growths shiver. Not only that but the fruit for this wine also comes from one of the Sine Qua Non vineyards, White Hawk, which boasts 10 acres of vines planted in a sand dune. Yes, you heard that right. Maggie shares this plot with Manfred Krankl and Lillian Syrah is the result.

100% Syrah. 11% whole cluster. Deep, lush fruit (cassis & very ripe blackberries) with mocha, cocoa and bacon fat. There are also scents of mint, a dash of iodine and a graphite minerality.  Full bodied and rich, but also beautifully poised with fine-grained tannins, elegant acidity and a fine, lithe, mineral finish. Combines  the savouriness and elegance of northern Rhône Syrah with a lushness that is all California.