Ledge James Berry Vineyard 2018
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Dunnuck
Jeb
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Blend: 55% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre, 5% Roussanne
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Jeb Dunnuck
Moving to the two Syrahs I was able to taste, the 2018 James Berry Vineyard reveals an opaque ruby/purple color as well as a thrilling bouquet of spiced red and black fruits, cured meats, sandalwood, pepper, and new leather. Full-bodied on the palate, it starts out tight and reserved but blossoms with time in the glass, offering a rounded, expansive texture, ripe yet present tannins, and a gorgeous finish. This nuanced, elegant, seamless beauty will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for a solid decade. The blend is 55% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre, and 5% Roussanne.
The aptly named Ledge Vineyards sits atop a flat panoramic ledge of sandstone, sand and clay amongst the rolling hills of the Willow Creek District in Paso Robles. Winemaker, Mark Adams, grew up on the land he and wife, Ciera, now continue to farm. In 2005 they propagated cuttings and own-root planted the first 5 acres of their vineyard. Now 20 years later, their 20 acre vineyard continues to grow and is planted to Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsaut, Counoise, Grenache Blanc, Clairette Blanche and Roussanne.
Mark's journey in winemaking began in the cellar and vineyards with childhood friend, Justin Smith, at Saxum. This led to sourcing fruit from many esteemed vineyards in the area, such as James Berry Vineyard and Bien Nacido, while the Ledge estate vines continued to mature. By 2009 and 2010 Mark was making wines with Syrah and Grenache from the ledge, laying the foundation for Ledge wines' distinctive character. Together with Ciera they now offer a wine club and lineup of limited-production wines that are described by critics as rare, multi-dimensional, and seamless. Mark's pure winemaking style showcases their site’s unique location and terroir — capturing that remarkable westside Paso Robles magic.
Despite accolades and a growing reputation for their elegant, sought-after wines, Mark and Ciera remain genuinely approachable, crafting niche wines with a humble spirit that mirrors how Ledge began.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Growing on high elevation bedrock slopes, the vineyards of Paso Robles Willow Creek AVA sit at between 960 and 1,900 feet in elevation.