Product Overview
Varietal Composition: 100% Syrah
Appellation: Walla Walla Valley AVA
Vineyard: Hors Categorie Vineyard
Farming Practices: Practicing biodynamic
Winemaker (and founder): Christophe Baron
100 Points - Wine Advocate
"Powerful and robust with a complex nose, the 2019 Syrah opens to aromas of spiced blackberry and black raspberry before primary and secondary expressions blossom in the glass with elegance and precision; it then articulates layers of truffle, hints of tar and roses, turned earth and succulent red flowers with dusty, ripe red fruit essences. Medium to full-bodied, this Syrah is a masterclass in capturing a sense of place as it somersaults across the mid-palate with elegance, finesse and power. At the same time, flaunting its well-deserved triple-digit score, this devastatingly gorgeous Syrah glides effortlessly to a complex, ever-evolving and lingering tannic finish. This is world-class juice that shines with stunning purity. Run, don’t walk to grab any of the 1,800 bottles made." -AM, 10/31/22
100 Points, #12 on "Top 100 Wines of the USA 2022" - James Suckling
98 Points - Vinous
"Mesmerizing is the word, as mentholated freshness introduces the 2019 Syrah Hors Catégorie Vineyard, complementing citrus-tinged blackberries, rhubarb and white pepper. This is like liquid velvet, dense and textural, yet with stimulating acidity to balance, as savory herbs and mineral-tinged black fruits drench the palate in youthful concentration balanced by a contrasting twang of spiced lemon peels. The 2019 finishes incredibly long and potent with silky tannins that saturate, as hints of salted licorice slowly taper off. There’s simply so much going on here, yet also so much more below the surface, which makes the Syrah Hors Catégorie one of the most deeply characterful domestic Syrahs I’ve ever tasted. In 2019, Elizabeth Bourcier dialed back the whole-cluster fruit to 90% (typically 100%) due to the cooler characteristic of the vintage. Frankly stated, the 2019 Syrah Hors Catégorie Vineyard is flirting with perfection." -EG, Oct/2022
98 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
96 Points, "Cellar Selection" - Wine Enthusiast
"This wine comes from a new area of the valley, the Nork Fork, that this producer pioneered. Planted on steeply angled slopes, the aromas explode from the glass, with notes of crushed rock, stargazer lily, black pepper, charcuterie plate, black olive, firepit and medicine. The hyper-flavorful palate delivers on all that promise and more, with outrageous intensity and balance to the black olive brine flavors. There's sneaking tannic structure behind it all. The finish goes on for literally minutes. It's stunning—the wine of the vintage. Best after 2025." -SS, 10/1/22
94 Points - Wine Spectator
"Sleek and exotic, with bold aromatic notes of bacon fat, blueberry, crushed stone and grilled anise that glide along the finish toward wild game accents. Drink now through 2030. 316 cases made." -TF, 10/15/23
