We had no idea that visiting the Rhône where the world’s top Syrahs are made, could be as easy as driving an hour north from the Wine Spies Headquarters. In all honesty, we did not even know we were going to be taken there with the first whiff and sip of this deep, dark wine! But we were transformed to the hill of Hermitage to be precise, we could have sworn we saw La Chapelle up there, with our eyes closed, swirling and swishing this breathtaking red.

Deepest garnet with a still vibrant slim ruby circumference shining translucently, pleasing the eye. Layers upon layers of pure cassis and wild berry join meaty game and spice hints with the intoxicating perfume. An amazing wine that evokes senses in a different orbit with violet and black tea nuances building up as the palate builds up layer by layer. Ripe yet elegant, with great length, very fine tannins coating mineral-laden fruits. An elaborate charcuterie and cheese platter, duck confit, or a roasted leg of lamb are some of our top candidates for ideal pairings.

From the family that brought us Silver Oak Cellars, that same focus and meticulous approach to viticulture and winemaking have resulted in one of the most fascinating California Syrahs today, selected from the few best barrels coming from two high elevation vineyards near 2,000 feet. Our most recent top-selling feature by them was the Fluffy Billows Oakville Cabernet and for a whole lot less, this Wine Spies Exclusive Syrah is up there in quality and intensity, thanks to over 40% savings! Fall in love with Syrah again and witness this miraculous Hermitage clone grown smack in the heart of California…

Here’s what the press has to say on Meyer Family:

Son of Silver Oak – San Francisco Chronicle - “The scion of one of Napa’s biggest legends makes a name for himself in Mendocino County with Meyer Family Cellars. Matt Meyer had it all worked out. Having grown up in Napa Valley, he knew the formula for becoming a successful winemaker: get a bachelor’s degree in science, a master’s in viticulture at UC Davis and then work a few harvests overseas before coming back to California to launch his own label… One of the keys to that strategy is the new Summerwind Vineyard planted by Kevin Barr of Redwood Empire Vineyard Management. The vineyard lies high on a hilltop a few miles northeast of Meyer Family Cellars, catching plenty of sun as well as cooling breezes from the Pacific Ocean… These new plantings are only one sign of rapidly improving prospects for Yorkville Highlands, which lately boasts single-vineyard wines from the likes of Williams Selyem and Wattle Creek as well as one of California’s leading producers of organically grown wines, Yorkville Cellars… Meyer Family Cellars makes a single Syrah each year, and next year will begin releasing Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from its tiny Oakville vineyard – a holdover from Justin Meyer’s Napa legacy. The winery also produces a non-vintage fortified wine made from (primarily) old-vine Zinfandel. It is generally considered one of the best Port-style wines made in the United States.”