Golden Cluster / Dionystic “For Bruce” Syrah 2019

Golden Cluster / Dionystic “For Bruce” Syrah 2019

Grapes: 100% Syrah

ABV: 12%

Region: Willamette Valley, OR

Winemaker: Jeff Vejr

Viniculture: old vine Syrah, Organically farmed 

Winemaking: fermented on skins for 3 days

“this wine evokes the Northern Rhône”

Having worked in nearly every aspect of the wine industry from production to sales to restaurants, Jeff Vejr has a wealth of stories and experience. He’s made wine in Spain, France, and most importantly to this wine, Oregon. It’s where he lives and is the place that’s challenged and captivated him the most. 

Willamette Valley has hung its hat on Pinot Noir, which does very well there. But it’s not the only grape that can reach captivating heights, and this Syrah is a testament to Willamette Valley’s viticultural versatility. We tasted this wine with Jeff over FaceTime, and he walked us through the story of this particular vineyard–it’s one of the oldest plantings of Syrah in the Willamette Valley. 

Our first impression of this wine was quite a shock. Not only did I not expect Syrah this powerful and fragrant to come from a traditional Pinot Noir region, but I was even more surprised to learn it wasn’t made with whole cluster fermentation. Traditionally we expect a lot of those smoky, spicy, green notes to derive directly from grape stems placed into the fermenter. It’s a good reminder that Syrah grapes on their own can produce plenty of snappy savory notes. Curiously, they do add something that’s not Syrah grapes, and this may be responsible for some of the unique aromas of this wine. Used, dried Viognier skins from their orange wine project are dropped into the fermenter during winemaking. This adds some interesting fruit and floral notes, and perhaps boosts the overall spice of the Syrah, almost like a splash of bitters into a cocktail.

Jeff’s tasting notes: “This wine evokes the Northern Rhone, soft supple, fruity, floral, meaty, and a slight spiciness that comes from our use of the orange wine skins.”