La Pelle Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah Santa Maria Valley 2020

La Pelle is the ultimate expression of terroir in the bottle. The name “The Shovel” is the first and last tool used to make wine: first in the vineyard to break soil and plant vines and last in the cellar to remove the final grape skins from the tank after fermentation. It’s genius! Wouldn’t you agree?! La Pelle is the venture of three friends, Pete Richmond, Miguel Luna, and Maayan Koschitzky, who come from far-reaching parts of the world but are all connected as farmers and lovers of California’s Wine Country. As a vineyard manager, viticulturist, and ex-farmer turned winemaker, the La Pelle trio recognizes the equal balance of work in the vineyard and work in the cellar as it relates to the final wine in your glass. With La Pelle, they look to explore on a deeper level the direct impact of techniques in the vineyard in producing fine Californian wines.

Before moving to California, winemaker Maayan Koschitzky studied as an engineer in his home country of Israel before turning to education in viticulture and vineyard farming. His first job in the Napa Valley was at Screaming Eagle as a harvest intern over a decade ago. From there, he expanded his education and expertise at Dalla Valle and today holds the venerable title of Director of Winemaking at Philippe Melka’s Atelier Melka. La Pelle’s other luminaries are co-owners of Silverado Farming Company, established in 2001. Their impeccable work in the vineyards sets the stage to produce high-quality wines that exude freshness and acidity, balanced with complexity and depth. With true experts managing both the vineyards and the winemaking, it is no wonder we have become completely obsessed.

With the uncertainty of Napa’s 2020 harvest looming in the late summer months, Maayan & Miguel kicked into gear, strategizing on ways to think outside the box, or AVA, in this case, to make an outstanding and unique red wine offering for the vintage. But, of course, when your business partner is a longstanding vineyard manager in California, you can turn to plenty of relationships for opportunities. In this instance, the La Pelle team need not look too far, with Syrah fruit from the acclaimed Bien Nacido vineyard (where they source Chardonnay.) Founded in 1969 by the Miller Family, Bien Nacido is emblematic of a classic, cool-climate vineyard for California’s Central Coast. A prime location for growing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah, Bien Nacido boasts some of the first Syrah plantings in the state, with La Pelle coming from Block X, the oldest parcel on the property.

After a mid-September harvest, the 2020 Syrah underwent native fermentation, with 30% of the fruit remaining as whole clusters and a few extra handfuls of stems. Aging spanned 18 months in 25% new French oak before bottling and resting for another five months. A timeless style of Syrah, this wine expresses dark fruit on the nose with peppery floral notes intermingled. The herbaceous and spicy palate has a balanced duality of tannic structure and bright acidity. Reminiscent of earth, dried flowers, and spiced plum tart, this wine has a weighty mid-palate that implores you to pair it alongside a roast leg of lamb or 5-spiced pork tenderloin. The 2020 La Pelle Syrah is the closest glimpse possible of the lifecycle of a wine, with minimal winemaking that sets the stage for the fruit to shine in the glass.