Nose
A complex and has lots of floral, olive, and peppery, meaty notes.
Given an hour of air in the decanter, the Syrah opens with bright violet tones that deftly combine with shades of Hoisin sauce, beef drippings, and aromas of Black Forest Cake, with stony undertones on this beautiful nose. The heady aromatics bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment.
Palate
A medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured style on the palate. It certainly has plenty of Rocks character yet also beautiful purity of fruit, ripe tannins, and a great finish.
The palate reveals a sinfully good texture and downright voluptuous mouthfeel — clearly Todd Alexander’s genius at work. You are immediately greeted with a great range of black fruits (huckleberry, boysenberry, black raspberry) alongside smoldering stones, Umami, Spanish green olive and shades of bacon fat on the palate. The combination of richness, range and acidity here is just gorgeous.
Winemaking
From a great site in the Rocks region of Walla Walla, the 2018 Syrah River Rock Vineyard checks in as 97% Syrah and 3% Viognier that was all destemmed.
Aging
18 months in 35% new, larger format French oak.
Appearance
A deep purple-hue.
Inky and deep once in the glass, the 2018 Pášxa ‘River Rock Vineyard’ Syrah is another gorgeous effort from this exciting inaugural release.