Mounts Family Winery

Syrah is coming on strong in Dry Creek Valley, as the vineyards planted in the 1990s mature, the growers tame the vigor, and the winemakers find a way to extract the fruit’s best qualities without beating up the grapes too hard. Dan Mounts, whose family has been growers for three generations, decided to open his own winery in 2005 and this is one of the inaugural releases. Wisely, he went for long skin contact and regular punch-downs in small fermenters before pressing off the wine, and didn’t push for giant size or smelly new oak paneling.

There’s as much light Belgian chocolate as ripe red raspberry in the aromas, and more treble notes than baritone. In your mouth, the wine opens very sweetly, layering in some blackberries and earth with the chocolate and red fruit, then spreads to fill the chamber and coat the tongue and teeth with fine tannins. Overall, this is structured to expand and engage with the palate rather than bowl it over.

Reviewed August 19, 2007 by Thom Elkjer.