2020 Ebby James Syrah
Syrah can be a complicated character, but we have long been captivated by its potential for beguiling aromatics, velvety strength, and, sometimes, rustic charm. Arguably, Syrah is the most diverse and unpredictable varietal wine in the market because it generally provides a telling expression of the site where it was grown and the approach of the winemaker. In that context, our goal with Ebby James is to offer a pure expression of the Joseph Phelps clone planted in deep, wind-blown loess soils at higher elevations within the Walla Walla Valley, where natural acidity is preserved at full ripening.
Pairing ideas: lamb chops, ham, bacon cheeseburger
There’s both a savory and a fruit core through the nose and palate in this medium bodied wine with balanced acid and robust tannin. It offers blueberries and chocolate on the nose, with notes of blackberry jam, anise, tapenade, and minerals on the palate. Wer ecommend decanting when young. Drink 2024 through 2030.
•Blend: 100% Syrah, Joseph Phelps Clone
•Vinification: 100% hand picked, cluster sorted, and destemmed–whole berry with no crushing; a mix of hand punch downs and gentle pump overs.
•Aged: 17 months in 26% new French oak, 74% neutral French Oak barrels (228L)
•Racked only once prior to final blending
•Bottled unfined and unfiltered onMarch 9, 2022
| Download Wine Notes |
| Varietal Composition | 100% Syrah, Joseph Phelps Clone |
| Appellation | Walla Walla Valley |
| Vineyard | 93% Les Collines Vineyard, 7% Wheat Ridge Vineyard (Estate) |
| Acid | 5.8 g/L |
| PH | 3.89 |
| Fermentation | 100% hand picked, cluster sorted, and destemmed –whole berry with no crushing; a mix of hand punch downs and gentle pump overs. |
| Residual Sugar | 0 |
| Alcohol | 14.50% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Cases Produced | 175 |
| Country of Origin | UNITED STATES |
| State of Origin | Washington |
The Walla Walla Valley is home to some of the most iconic Syrah plantings in the United States. One of the most heralded sites is Les Collines Vineyard in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, just east of town. Block 27a Syrah from Les Collines (93%) takes the lead in the2020 Ebby James, our inaugural vintage for this wine. The remainder comes from our estate vineyard,Wheat Ridge (7%) which is in the Mill Creek area of the valley approximately 7¼ miles north and slightly east of Les Collines.
Both sites are planted to the Jospeh Phelps clone; Block 27a at Les Collines was planted in 2015 and Wheat Ridge was planted in 1998. Both are on well-drained, wind-blown loess soils and both are spur pruned with bilateral cordons trained to a VSP trellis. Finally, both sites are relatively high elevation with Les Collines block 27 at around 1,175 feet and the Syrah at Wheat Ridge at 1,350 feet above sea level.
