Madson Wines Kessler-Haak Syrah 2023
The vibe: This Syrah elicits freshly ground black pepper, marinated olives, and umami spice. Balanced velvety tannins with black cherry on the palate. A fabulously food-friendly wine, bon appetit!
The vineyard: Only 12 miles from the Pacific Ocean and just north of Point Conception, Kessler-Haak Vineyard is a very temperate site for Syrah. The vineyard lies at 367 ft elevation. Northwest ocean winds chill the vines, helping prolong their ripening time. Sandy loam soils provide excellent drainage and limit nutrient availability for the vines. The soils naturally limit yields and produce fruit with concentrated and intense flavor. Farmed organically and responsibly by Dan Kessler.
The winemaker: Winemaker and founder Cole Thomas worked as an organic vegetable farmer, edible landscaper, and manager of the Demeter Seed Library prior to his career in wine. He discovered natural winemaking techniques while working in New Zealand for Prophet’s Rock and Amisfield Winery in 2017. He returned to the Santa Cruz Mountains to launch Madison Wines in Spring 2018 and continues to follow natural winemaking techniques to make California wines that express terroir with poise and concentration.
The geeky details: We fermented this cuvée 60% whole clusters layered with the destemmed fruit in small open-topped fermenters. With the primary fermentation complete, we pressed the juice and transferred it into neutral French oak barrels where the wine remained for 11 months. This wine is unfined and unfiltered, please expect some solids in the bottle. We made this wine thoughtfully to show itself best with age. Enjoy now or cellar 8 - 15 years for savoring at its peak.