2017 Eisele Vineyard Syrah

The 2017 Eisele Vineyard Syrah is a rare and highly sought-after expression of Napa Valley Syrah from one of the most storied single vineyards in California. Sourced from meticulously farmed plots within the historic Eisele Vineyard near Calistoga, this wine marries Old World structure with New World purity and intensity. Produced in tiny quantities—just 275 cases in 2017—it showcases the singular character of this site, farmed organically since 1998 and biodynamically since 2000, and continues the legacy of a vineyard first planted in the 1880s.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2017 Eisele Vineyard Syrah typically shows a deep, opaque ruby to purple hue, with a vibrant rim that hints at both concentration and freshness. Swirled in the glass, it clings with slow, stained tears, signaling richness and extract. The nose is intense yet refined, offering layered aromas of blackcurrant and dark plum alongside classic Syrah notes of black pepper, smoked meat, and graphite. Cassis, blackberry compote, and blueberry mingle with hints of violets, dried herbs, and subtle baking spices from careful oak aging. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and beautifully structured, with a core of dark, ripe fruit—cassis, black cherry, and mulberry—balanced by lively acidity and finely woven tannins. Savory elements of cured meat, black olive tapenade, cracked pepper, and a touch of cocoa or espresso emerge with air, adding complexity and depth. The finish is long, focused, and persistent, with a mineral thread that reflects the vineyard’s distinctive soils and a lingering echo of spice and dark fruit. With proper cellaring, this Syrah has excellent aging potential. While it can be enjoyed now with adequate decanting, it is built to evolve gracefully over 10–20 years from vintage, gaining further aromatic nuance, silkier tannins, and more pronounced secondary notes of leather, truffle, and tobacco.

Production
Eisele Vineyard sits in the northeastern corner of Napa Valley, just east of Calistoga at the foot of the Palisades mountains, a location that benefits from warm days, cool nights, and protective hillsides. The terroir is defined by well-drained alluvial and cobble soils that encourage deep root systems and naturally low yields, concentrating flavor and structure in the Syrah grapes. Farmed organically since 1998 and according to biodynamic principles since 2000, the vineyard is worked with meticulous attention to balance and biodiversity, with grapes typically picked by hand in small lots at optimal ripeness. In the cellar, the Syrah is vinified with a focus on purity and precision—gentle handling, temperature-controlled fermentations, and careful extraction to capture fine tannins without heaviness. Aging in high-quality French oak barrels (often with a judicious proportion of new wood) helps to polish the wine’s texture and integrate aromatics, while allowing the voice of the vineyard to remain front and center.

Food & Serving
This 2017 Eisele Vineyard Syrah shines alongside rich, deeply flavored dishes. Think grilled or roasted lamb, ribeye or côte de boeuf, venison and other game, slow-braised short ribs, or dishes with a touch of smoke such as charred eggplant or wood-fired mushrooms. It also pairs beautifully with aged hard cheeses like Comté, aged Gouda, or Pecorino, and with earthy preparations featuring black olives, rosemary, or thyme. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) to highlight both the aromatic complexity and the structural finesse. Decant for 1–2 hours before serving—longer if opened in its youth—to allow the wine to unfold fully, soften the tannins, and reveal its layers of fruit, spice, and savory nuance.

Producer
Eisele Vineyard is one of Napa Valley’s great heritage sites, with vines first planted in the 1880s on land that has been continuously cultivated for more than a century. Located just east of Calistoga, the vineyard originally hosted Zinfandel and Riesling before Cabernet Sauvignon was introduced in 1964, helping to establish Eisele’s reputation as a world-class source of Bordeaux varieties. Over the decades, wines from this distinctive patch of land have been celebrated for their precision, depth, and remarkable ability to age, earning some of the highest critical accolades in the region. Today, under owners and winemakers deeply committed to organic and biodynamic farming, Eisele Vineyard stands as a benchmark estate in Napa Valley, known not only for its iconic Cabernet Sauvignon but also for exceptional, site-driven expressions of Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc that reflect the singular geology and microclimate of this historic terroir.

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