2021 brick & mortar Syrah, West Block, Petaluma Gap
Tasting Notes
Black plum and juicy blackberries intertwine with beautiful, earthy crushed stone and black pepper. Notes of fresh Bay leaf and graphite create depth and highlight aromas of fennel seeds, thyme, and currant. With a refreshing and lush mouth feel, this wine is delicious with a light chill. Fine tannins and a plush mid-palate create an alluring wine that is youthful upon release and will age gracefully for the next 8-10 years.
Vineyard
West Block is located in a cool, wind-blown area of Petaluma in the Sonoma Coast AVA. Planted in the early 90s to the Joseph Phelps clone of Syrah, this vineyard block is oriented east-west, allowing even ripening during the long, extended growing season. The close proximity to the San Pablo Bay creates a maritime climate that further accentuates the cool climate of Petaluma. The soils are derived from decomposed sandstone and shale, adding intense structure and complexity to our West Block Syrah.
Vintage
The 2021 vintage was a classic Northern California vintage. Scarce rains in the spring prompted an earlier start to the vintage, while mild temperatures throughout the growing season allowed for prolonged flavor development and created ideal ripening conditions. 2021 was an excellent vintage that made wines with beautiful intensity and great structure.
Winemaking
We strive to allow the site to shine in every wine we produce. West Block Syrah undergoes an extended cold soak until native yeast begins a spontaneous fermentation in open-top fermenters, where the grapes are punched down by hand once to twice per day. Our small lot fermentations, with 100% whole cluster, take upwards of a month before a light pressing to barrel for their extended aging. Our Syrah remains in 100% used French oak 500-liter puncheons for 6 months and then is racked once prior to bottling.
Specs
Vineyard Designation: West Block
AVA: Petaluma Gap
Production: 150 cases
Alcohol: 12.5%
Release Date: October 1st, 2024
What’s Included
3-bottles:
3x 2021 brick & mortar Syrah, West Block, Petaluma Gap Case:
12x 2021 brick & mortar Syrah, West Block, Petaluma Gap
brick & mortar creates bright, fresh, food-friendly wines inspired by Europe yet rooted in California. Matt Iaconis founded brick & mortar in 2011 and now co-runs the winery with his wife and sommelier, Alexis Iaconis. Our name serves as a metaphor for our foundational philosophy, the brick and mortar of our platform, so to speak: highlighting the vineyard with minimal intervention. It also visually represents the winery. Down to earth yet sophisticated. Accessible yet refined. Unpretentious. Authentic.
Long-time relationships with select coastal vineyards above the fog line in Napa Valley, Sonoma Coast, and Mendocino County play a key role in the creation of our wines. Dynamic, challenging climates and a slower ripening process foster grapes with more maturity, character, and texture but less sugar. The result? More moderate, balanced wines that let the vineyard shine. And pair superbly with food.
brick & mortar’s values—transparency, relationships, sustainability, community—dictate our every decision. This holistic, intentional approach applies as much to what we make as much as how we make it, whether it’s seeking organic vineyards or more sustainable materials, working with local independent businesses, or giving to environmental causes. How we live, how we work, what we make; it’s all the same. Honest, hard-working, approachable, caring. You can taste it in our wines.
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
@klezman mine too, but I got about forty bottles of wine that arrived in the past month and we’re set to be out of town for the next many months… I’ll think about it in the morning.
@klezman@Ten9Eight same here. The Petaluma Gap wines I have had have all been great. A little-known and probably under-appreciated AVA. Right North of where I grew up.
I said No more wines and boxes keep showing up anyway. Guess it was not listening to what I said but rather my finger clicking Buy!
This might be hard to resist.
@pmarin@Ten9Eight What, did you grow up in Marin or something?
I also am not allowed to buy anything. I need to buy fewer than I consume in any given year…
@klezman@Ten9Eight Yup, born in Marin. Then to UC Davis which has a great wine program though I was in engineering. Then Silicon Valley and Santa Cruz for living. Was not a bad life but glad I “escaped”
In the PNW part time, a lot of winemakers I meet have some connection to UC Davis (including some on this site)
@klezman@Ten9Eight I chatted with him and turns out I was in Tercero “A” building and he was in a different Tercero building a couple of years later while he was on a graduate program. But a lot of UC Davis legacy at least partly in PNW winemakers.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2021 brick & mortar Syrah - $80 = 28.64%
What sayeth Enthusiast this chilly morning…. well they actually said this back in Nov. ‘24:
92 points. Dusty black cherry, blackberry bramble and tea aromas dominate the nose of this earthy and dark cool-climate Syrah. The palate feels broad and textured, with brambly berry flavors, crunchy tannins and a streak of zippy acidity that keeps everything feeling fresh. — Tom R. Capo
Thanks to Casemates and everyone at WCC for the chance to Rat again.
I opened the bottle, poured and observed a nice deep red/burgundy color in the glass. On the nose I got pepper, spice, currant, tobacco and leather. Not a lot of fruit coming through, but some minerality on the nose.
On the first sip I noticed it was very dry and I got an instant bite of acidity. I tasted leather and tobacco right up front with some unknown minerality. Then I tasted some currant and dark cherry with some light pepper and baking spices.
I let the bottle sit for a half hour while I made dinner and then poured another half glass. It mellowed some so there’s not nearly as much of a punch from the acidity. The flavor is a bit more rounded but still has leather and tobacco prevalent.
My third pour was about 3 hours after opening and things had settled down and it was a bit more complex and mellow with the fruit becoming a bit more prevalent and the acidity toning down. I’m guessing a good aeration would really help open this wine up. It definitely seems that it would benefit from a few years in the cellar and would really open up in the future. Right now it is a bit too acidic for my palate, but as that mellows I imagine this will be a great wine.
Apologies for the slow post, I was traveling this morning.
As background, I am generally not a fan of Gros Syrah. I fine it generally uninspired, not particularly flavorful, heavy, and overall uninteresting in most places (Washington State and Santa Barbara/Santa Ynez being notable exceptions in the US). Unless it’s made by Swillman Himself, it’s not something I tend to seek out, or even enjoy.
On opening (about 30 hours after arrival), it was fairly fragrant. Dark fruits (plum and blackberry) and an intriguing herbal/earthy undercurrent. This carried over to the attack, at first. It starts out as a really nice wine, good flavor and initial acidity.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t last. The wine doesn’t have the body suggested by the nose, and it falls apart as it reaches the midpalate, getting even worse on the finish. It’s thin, awkward, not particularly well-balanced, and just not enjoyable, whether with food or by itself. There’s nothing “lush” about the mouth feel. It’s one of the thinnest wines I’ve ever tasted.
It’s a total bait and switch. It starts out like a Syrah and finishes like a bad Beaujolais nouveau.
It was directionally less bad on day 2, and was better integrated, but the flaws were all still there.
It’s entirely possible (and I hope probable) that I got a bad bottle, but this was one of the few bottles that I decanted into the drain after day 2.
Sorry to (again) be the negative Nancy, but this is a complete pass for me. I wouldn’t drink this if it were free at a party – I would leave.
@PetiteSirah Wellll, I’ve never had a bottle of Swillman, not my usual wheelhouse, but methinks knowing what I don’t know you are comparing apples to oranges… perhaps another point or two of abv would help you out
2021 brick & mortar Syrah, West Block, Petaluma Gap
Tasting Notes
Vineyard
Vintage
Winemaking
Specs
What’s Included
3-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$576.00/Case for 12x 2021 brick & mortar Syrah, West Block, Petaluma Gap at brick & mortar wines
About The Winery
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Dec 15 - Tuesday, Dec 16
2021 brick & mortar Syrah
3 bottles for $69.99 $23.33/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $199.99 $16.67/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
12.5% and the tasting notes are about herbs and such - sounds right up my alley.
@klezman mine too, but I got about forty bottles of wine that arrived in the past month and we’re set to be out of town for the next many months… I’ll think about it in the morning.
@klezman @Ten9Eight same here. The Petaluma Gap wines I have had have all been great. A little-known and probably under-appreciated AVA. Right North of where I grew up.
I said No more wines and boxes keep showing up anyway. Guess it was not listening to what I said but rather my finger clicking Buy!
This might be hard to resist.
@pmarin @Ten9Eight What, did you grow up in Marin or something?
I also am not allowed to buy anything. I need to buy fewer than I consume in any given year…
@klezman @Ten9Eight Yup, born in Marin. Then to UC Davis which has a great wine program though I was in engineering. Then Silicon Valley and Santa Cruz for living. Was not a bad life but glad I “escaped”
In the PNW part time, a lot of winemakers I meet have some connection to UC Davis (including some on this site)
@pmarin @Ten9Eight Yeah, that’s how Larry picked his winery name - for the dorm at UCD.
Always nice to see fellow engineers here!
@klezman @Ten9Eight I chatted with him and turns out I was in Tercero “A” building and he was in a different Tercero building a couple of years later while he was on a graduate program. But a lot of UC Davis legacy at least partly in PNW winemakers.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2021 brick & mortar Syrah - $80 = 28.64%
What sayeth Enthusiast this chilly morning…. well they actually said this back in Nov. ‘24:
92 points. Dusty black cherry, blackberry bramble and tea aromas dominate the nose of this earthy and dark cool-climate Syrah. The palate feels broad and textured, with brambly berry flavors, crunchy tannins and a streak of zippy acidity that keeps everything feeling fresh. — Tom R. Capo
Info-blurb here
fwiw
edit: if the winery intrigues you a flash site that won’t be named but ends in O has some Pinot and Chardonnay offerings
Brick & Mortar 2021 Syrah
Thanks to Casemates and everyone at WCC for the chance to Rat again.
I opened the bottle, poured and observed a nice deep red/burgundy color in the glass. On the nose I got pepper, spice, currant, tobacco and leather. Not a lot of fruit coming through, but some minerality on the nose.
On the first sip I noticed it was very dry and I got an instant bite of acidity. I tasted leather and tobacco right up front with some unknown minerality. Then I tasted some currant and dark cherry with some light pepper and baking spices.
I let the bottle sit for a half hour while I made dinner and then poured another half glass. It mellowed some so there’s not nearly as much of a punch from the acidity. The flavor is a bit more rounded but still has leather and tobacco prevalent.
My third pour was about 3 hours after opening and things had settled down and it was a bit more complex and mellow with the fruit becoming a bit more prevalent and the acidity toning down. I’m guessing a good aeration would really help open this wine up. It definitely seems that it would benefit from a few years in the cellar and would really open up in the future. Right now it is a bit too acidic for my palate, but as that mellows I imagine this will be a great wine.
Thanks again for the chance to rat.
Apologies for the slow post, I was traveling this morning.
As background, I am generally not a fan of Gros Syrah. I fine it generally uninspired, not particularly flavorful, heavy, and overall uninteresting in most places (Washington State and Santa Barbara/Santa Ynez being notable exceptions in the US). Unless it’s made by Swillman Himself, it’s not something I tend to seek out, or even enjoy.
On opening (about 30 hours after arrival), it was fairly fragrant. Dark fruits (plum and blackberry) and an intriguing herbal/earthy undercurrent. This carried over to the attack, at first. It starts out as a really nice wine, good flavor and initial acidity.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t last. The wine doesn’t have the body suggested by the nose, and it falls apart as it reaches the midpalate, getting even worse on the finish. It’s thin, awkward, not particularly well-balanced, and just not enjoyable, whether with food or by itself. There’s nothing “lush” about the mouth feel. It’s one of the thinnest wines I’ve ever tasted.
It’s a total bait and switch. It starts out like a Syrah and finishes like a bad Beaujolais nouveau.
It was directionally less bad on day 2, and was better integrated, but the flaws were all still there.
It’s entirely possible (and I hope probable) that I got a bad bottle, but this was one of the few bottles that I decanted into the drain after day 2.
Sorry to (again) be the negative Nancy, but this is a complete pass for me. I wouldn’t drink this if it were free at a party – I would leave.
@PetiteSirah Wellll, I’ve never had a bottle of Swillman, not my usual wheelhouse, but methinks knowing what I don’t know you are comparing apples to oranges…
perhaps another point or two of abv would help you out
Lol gotta admire your sense of humor