Cordant Indocile Syrah Central Coast 2021

Like many vintners, David and DeAnn Taylor cultivated a passion for wine in their first chapter of life, and in the second chapter, as they entered “retirement”, dove headfirst into the winemaking business. Driven by a goal to produce Pinot Noir and Rhône-style wines that would rival the classics and fill their personal cellar as favorites, the Taylors founded Cordant Winery in 2014. Their brand celebrates California’s Central Coast by crafting vineyard-designate wines and outstanding blends sourced from over 15 different sites. As an homage to the Syrah-dominant blends of the northern Rhône, they debuted the 2021 Indocile Syrah that highlights their cool-climate Syrah vineyard partners.

Among winegrowers, there is an old saying that “Syrah likes a view.” The most coveted plots lay atop hillsides in the northern Rhône, where arguably some of the world’s best Syrah blends are crafted. These higher-elevation sites have less soil, which causes the vines to struggle and produce fewer concentrated berries. Quintessential northern Rhône reds celebrate a lighter-bodied, acid-driven, and red fruit-leaning wine. To achieve these characteristics in New World wine regions, growers have planted Syrah vineyards in cooler climates where the lower temperatures help maintain acid and keep alcohol levels on the lower side. Cordant sources the Syrah and Grenache for their Indocile blend from three vineyards: Coastview, Escolle, and Mesa Del Sol. All three reach elevated heights, with Coastview lying at 2400 feet in elevation, Escolle tucked into the base of the mountains of Santa Lucia Highlands, and Mesa Del Sol on a promontory in the Gabilan Mountains.

Fruit (86% Syrah and 14% Grenache) for the 2021 Indocile was hand-harvested from mid-September to late October. After hand-sorting and de-stemming the clusters, the grapes were cold-soaked for 5 days to extract maximum color and kick-start fermentation. The winemaking team performed daily pump-overs and punch-downs during fermentation, and once fully dry, the wine was pressed into French oak to age for 20 months. They utilized a mixture of 50% new and 50% neutral oak in varying sizes from standard 228L barriques to 500L puncheons. David & DeAnn note, “This wine is brimming with a mixture of cool and warm climate characteristics: dark fruits, herbs de Provence, lavender, and cigar, to name a few. At the same time, it is also incredibly silky and sensual on the palate.” The inaugural 2021 Indocile has earned a coveted spot on their favorites list, and we hope it will make the ranks of yours.