2016 Domaine de Pierres

With our long history of making single-site syrah's in Washington, it made sense for us to venture into the Rocks District of Milton Freewater in the Walla Walla Valley to bring you our newest syrah, "Domaine de Pierres."

The Rocks AVA produces a syrah that shows a distinct character, separating it from any other site in Washington State. One thing in particular that has drawn people here is the gallet stones present throughout the valley. They are very similar to the pudding stones that are found in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and can be anywhere from golf ball size, to softball size or larger. Since we purchased the vineyard in 2014 we have been tilling the earth multiple times every season to expose these rocks. The gallet stones act as a heat sink, giving a little extra push to help ripen syrah in an area with marginal heat accumulation. 

In the glass, Domaine de Pierres stands out from our other syrahs because of its incredibly savory profile. Notes of roasted meat, fresh herbs, olive tapenade, tobacco, and graphite are supported by dark fruit, espresso, and lavender. The wine has lower acidity and higher PH than our other wines, which contributes to a velvety, full-bodied mouthfeel. Even in the cellar, we immediately noticed a difference in the color, aromatics, and flavor that these syrah grapes were able to express. 

The other big reason that we are so excited about the wine from this particular AVA, is that the history of the Rocks is happening right now! Our vineyard, “Ancient Stones,” has only been planted there since 2007, and the beginning of the Rocks as a wine-growing region only really started in the 1990s. There is a lot of energy and exploration going on, and it has been a fun experience for our team to be a part of it.  We still have so much to learn about this region, and it is inspiring to feel like we are on the upward swing!

93-96 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck 

94-95 pts. - James Suckling

94 pts - Robert Parkers Wine Advocate