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Marietta Cellars

Gibson Block Syrah 2021

McDowell Valley, California

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Made from the oldest Syrah vines in California, in the heart of the McDowell Valley AVA, this wine reflects the hidden property where it is grown – quiet, obscure and profound. This ancient, dry farmed, mixed block next to the original Gibson Homestead has been producing grapes for over a hundred years. Limited in production due to the unique grape source, this wine is built to enjoy with food.

The estate series from Marietta is made with terroir in mind above all else. For many years these sites were included in blends, though they routinely stood out as extraordinary. These wines are true expressions of unique sites, crafted with freshness, tension and longevity in mind.

Vineyard

The fruit for this wine comes from Marietta’s McDowell Valley estate, which is renowned for Rhône varietals and home to some of the oldest Syrah and Grenache Gris in California. These unique vines are six feet tall, head-trained, and dry farmed. This vineyard, in a valley surrounded by mountains, benefits from cold gathering on the valley floor, which ensures cools nights and preserves acidity and freshness.

Winemaking

Fermented in stainless steel tanks and barrel aged in neutral French oak barrels for 18 months before bottling.

Vintage

2021’s extremely cold and dry winter coupled with a windy spring made for a lighter yielding crop and small berries. These tiny clusters and berries went through the mild growing season with accelerated ripeness and made for a darker more intense wine. Harvest happened a week early across all varietals. Flavors were riper, denser, and showcased more red fruit then other vintages. This was a stellar growing season and the resultant wines are fresh and bright now but are built to age gracefully.

Tasting Note

“Like an old cabin dripping rain in the forest and heated by Cherrywood in a stone hearth, this field blend made from ancient vines is full of umami, depth, and patina. White flowers, dried orange peel, and a windswept garrigue of black tea, fig cake and Luxardo cherry floods the nose. A long wall of amaro-like texture fills the mouth, yet the feel is light and lively, and the finish is clean.” – Scot Bilbro, Winemaker

Food Pairing

Pair with cured meats and ripe cheeses, or duck breast with sage and cherries

Color

Red

Grape Varieties

Syrah

Appellation

McDowell Valley, California

Farming

The Gibson Block Syrah 2021 is made from 100% estate fruit, all of which is organically farmed

Alcohol

13.8%

Suggested Retail Price

$50

Trade Materials

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Marietta Cellars Gibson Block Syrah Bottle Shot

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