past vintages of syrah
2020 The Rocks Syrah-Funk Estate
146 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$68
release date: February 28th, 2023
label: an old vine in the rocks
Brian enjoys the trip out to eastern Oregon to pick up the several tons we buy from Rich Funk ( great guy! And he has his own winery called Saviah) It takes 5-6 hours to drive from BTF to Milton Freewater – close enough that our growing seasons track in similar fashion in terms of timing, but far enough away that the coastal influences of the Willamette Valley are nonexistent, so it is warmer and drier and of course rockier! We brought the 2016 version of this wine to dinner with winemaker friends a month ago and Wow! It showed really well. That was our first vintage working with Rich’s fruit, so Brian was unsure of what to expect and how well it would stand up to the test of time – so far so good! The 2020 version is again made in the house style, and similar to the pinot with only minor adjustments – the most significant being longer elevage (22 months in barrel verses the 10 months for pinot). Since it is a more substantial wine the longer time in barrel softens the tannins and makes the wine more approachable as a youngster. And please do! I often open a bottle and will enjoy for several evening- as the wine ages this window will diminish, but then that is true for all wines Like the country song says “ I’m not as good as I once was but I’m as good once as I ever was!”
tasting notes-
Wild, brooding and bold. Ripe bramble clusters warmed over ancient riverside cobblestones lovingly greet you from your glass. Fig jam and toasted rye bread balance a beautiful, almost unexpected acidity while a guise of flavors swoon the senses. Subtle hints of black olive, peppered-bacon and cacao nib compliment the presence of herbaceous undertones. As the dynamic mid-palate slowly drifts away, the focused-tannins and lifted floral notes dawdle.
scores -
93 pts — Paul Gregutt
93 pts — Owen Bargreen
96 pts — Wine Enthusiast Editors’ Choice
94 pts — International Wine Report
94 pts — Decanter
95 pts — Wine & Spirits
8.5-9 pts — Vinography
94 pts — Vinous
94 pts — Wine Spectator
2019 The Rocks Syrah- Funk Estate
147 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$68
label-a vine in the rocks
Still from the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater in eastern Oregon, we really enjoy having this wine in our cellar and working with Rich Funk of Saviah in Walla Walla. I enjoy the trip to pick up the fruit, even though it is a quick one. Dark fruit, black olive, soft and supple – I open and enjoy over 3-4 nights. I hope you will too!
Highlighting everything we love about wines from The Rocks District this wine is bold and concentrated. The primary aromas are intense and beautiful with dried rose petals, huckleberry preserves and rich, dark chocolate. Juicy pomegranate and black plum awakens the palette while kalamata olive, charred padron, freshly-ground coffee and cracked-black pepper get you salivating. With a long, savory, mineral-rich finish this wine will encourage you to fire up the grill and pour yourself another glass.
scores-
95 pts — Year’s Best US Rhone Varieties- Wine & Spirits
91 pts — James Suckling
8.5-9 pts — Vinography
94 pts — International Wine Report
93 pts — Purely Domestic Wine Report
2018 The Rocks Syrah — Funk Estate
133 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$48 (sold out)
label-a vine in the rocks
This is our third vintage working with fruit from Rich Funk’s vineyard in the Rocks District of Milton Freewater and 2019 and 2020 are in barrel. We are so pleased to have a little bit of this special place in our cellar. Like PSV, Rich has his own winery called Saviah and he farms his vineyards with the highest quality in mind for his wines and for what he sells us. The 2018 version is opulent and delicious with gorgeous dark fruit, savory notes of green olive and of course black pepper that tells you it is indeed Syrah. We just make a little bit of this wine, so if you want some be quick!
tasting notes - Deep, rich and sultry. The Funk Estate Vineyard highlights everything we love about wines from The Rocks District. Dried plums, baked marionberry pie, peppered-beef jerky and black olives all sing in concert. A bushel basket of dried, mixed, dark berries reveals itself from underneath a dense thicket of wild vines and mossy stones. Spicy, savory, musky and complex - this syrah dares you to pair it with campfire meats and charred veggies.
scores —
92 pts — Wine & Spirits
94 pts — Purely Domestic Wine Report
94 pts — Owen Bargreen
past vintages (sold out)
2017 The Rocks Syrah — Funk Estate
145 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$48 (sold out)
label-a vine in the rocks
At our staff tasting the other day this wine was tasted last, it was almost lunchtime, so my tasting notes consisted of ‘WOW’. Clare asked me what I did differently and the answer was same same, same winemaking, same vineyard as last year, just a different vintage. Sometimes everything just falls into place and you end up with ‘WOW’! Working with Rich Funk is a pleasure, he is one of the nicest, most positive people you will ever meet and he makes his own wines under his Saviah label in Walla Walla.
tasting notes -
This wine jumps out of the glass with aromatics of roses, spearmint and cinnamon stick with warm chocolate ganache in the background. There is a hint of pencil lead to give you a peek into the dark side of this beauty. The acid in the mid palate helps hold the elevated fruit which melts into a dry cocoa finish. pts
scores -
93 pts — Wine & Spirits
past vintages (sold out)
2016 Funk Estate Vineyard Syrah
196 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$100 (sold out)
label – a vine in the rocks
I think the ability to show power and finesse in the same glass has allured me to Syrah since my first introduction over 20 years ago. I found the photograph in Barbara Neyer’s office of Syrah vines growing out of seemingly just rock mesmerizing and profound. So when the opportunity arose to work with fruit from the Rocks district of Milton-Freewater, I jumped. Rich Funk of Saviah Cellars agreed to sell us some fruit from his meticulously farmed estate vineyard. I have done my best to capture both the power and the finesse, plus a little fruit and some spice.
tasting notes -
The aromatics need no introduction on this wine – white pepper yes – but prettier like white pepper steeped in roses, and green olive and mocha. This sexy nose takes you straight into that fabulous fruit which gives way to florals and lavender. This wine has the power of the Rocks but it’s balanced with Brian’s soft touch to bring out the fruit and elegance in this site. This wine is surprisingly ethereal. The palate is smooth, tannins melt on the tongue and there is complete continuity and flavor saturation sinking into the mid-palate. This wine lingers just long enough for you to want more.
scores -
95 points - Washington Wine Blog
95 points - International Wine Report
95 points - Purely Domestic Wine Report
2014 Syrah - Rogue Valley, OR
192 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$80 (sold out)
label - big table farm silverware
tasting notes-
Upon opening, the wine is full of smoked bacon, crushed rock, asphalt, black pepper, and deep mineral gun powder aromatics which then give way to the florals, blueberry skin and pastille aromas. The palate is smooth, tannins melt on the tongue, but there is a grip to the finish of this wine that reminds me of the best tasting “burnt ends” meat bits that I love to order at my favorite local bbq joint. There is complete continuity with the texture and acid profile with flavor saturation sinking into your mid-palate and lingering on your taste buds for a very long finish.
scores -
92 points — International Wine Report
92 points — Washington Wine Blog
9.0-9.5 points — Vinography
2013 Syrah - Rogue Valley, OR
$100 (sold out)
label – big table farm flatware
Prominent bacon aromatics, grilled meat, blueberries, camp fire, and a touch of violet. There is ample acidity, which is refreshing and keeps the density of the aromatics lighter and the flavors more fruit oriented. The structure is soft and dusty, allowing for early consumption.
This wine will continue to open and give on day two (and even three)! It will age gracefully for many years. unfined and unfiltered
scores—
92 points — Josh Raynolds — Vinous
2011 Syrah
166 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$125 (sold out)
label – big table farm flatware
Deep purple with some transparency, but not much, and pronounced generous aromas that ooze out of the glass. Blueberries, huckleberries, beef jerky, lavender, Herbes de Provence.
The aromatics indicate a large wine on the palate, instead, prepare to be pleasantly surprised by a wine incredibly poised, lifted on the palate with no excess weight at all.
Vanilla, bacon fat, graphite, asphalt on the palate with lots of lavender and blueberry intensity. The tannins are melted, emphasizing the more feminine nature of this wine.
This wine continues to drink well on day two and three! It will age gracefully for many years although generous and complete at the moment.
2010 White Hawk Vineyard Syrah
194 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$125 - (sold out)
label – flatware from the big table farm table
Once again, as much as we love pinot, it is wonderful to work with syrah. They couldn't be more different and perfectly complimentary. An evening of pinot framed by chardonnay and syrah is dreamy when paired with appropriate seasonal foods.
The cooler growing season in California has created a wine that has elegance and a surprising weightlessness, yet also the power of syrah that we know and love. It seems to have all components in perfect proportions.
Minimal handling in the cellar have left this wine fresh and vibrant showing aromas of blueberries, bacon, violets, balsam wood, and Kentucky whiskey. The ripe fruit is balanced with elevated acidity making the palate of cocoa, tree bark, coffee, aged rum and charred beef really shine. We will cherish its presence on the table for years to come.
2009 White Hawk Vineyard Syrah
175 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$125 (sold out)
label – flatware from the big table farm table
2009 was a beautiful, long vintage, creating an opulent wine that still has wonderful balance, structure and acidity. We increased the whole cluster this year, which only amplified the nose.
This wine will age beautifully but is drinking very well right now. All natural ferments, 30% New French oak and elevage of 22 months made this wine what it is. You are greeted with a color that has become a signature of this wine - INK!
Rich blackberry fruit, cinnamon and tar great you. The palette has great depth and balance while still retaining purity through it's long finish.
Aromatics of strawberry, toast and a little spice lead you into a rich mouth feel. The fruit lingers on the finish while your mouth waters slightly from a pleasing core of acidity.
2008 White Hawk Vineyard Syrah
168 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
(sold out)
label – flatware from the big table farm table
2008 was a warmer year with lower yields in California, creating an opulent wine that is drinking well! Clare and I opened a bottle the other night to make notes and before we knew it the wine was gone and we hadn't even eaten yet (or made any notes) - slightly dangerous.
All natural ferments with 50% whole cluster, 40% New French oak and after an elevage of 14 months, it was ready to bottle.
The label has returned to a calamitous set of knives, forks and spoons.
2007 White Hawk Vineyard Syrah
190 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$150 (sold out)
label – ham raised, cured and smoked by Brian here on the farm
2007 was an exceptional vintage in California, and we are proud to offer this intense opulent wine. I think that most people don’t know what to expect when they taste syrah – we’ve found that once people taste this wine they are hooked.
Bold and yet generous, this wine fills your mouth and then politely asks for some dinner. Anything will do, something from the grill to start, maybe some cheese and then for dessert something creamy with maybe a little fruit. If you have invited other wines to dinner, this one will remain tried and true – ready for dinner tomorrow night.
Drink now, all at once or over successive evenings and put some in your cellar for more good meals down the road.
Aromatically presents rich fruit, coffee, roasted meats that follow to an expansive palette of even more of the same. The finish of silky tannins and dark fruits lingers and compliments grilled meats or your favorite hearty fare.
2006 White Hawk Vineyard Syrah
The fruit for this wine comes from a very special vineyard in Santa Barbara County - The White Hawk Vineyard - which is planted on ancient sand dunes on the south facing slopes of the Los Alamos Valley. This area is recognized as a top producing wine region.
The grapes were hand sorted and cold soaked for five days to pick up flavor from the skins before fermenting. The grapes were then fermented in two lots – one completely de-stemmed, and the other 75% whole cluster. The resulting wine aged in 40% new French oak and was bottled after 14 months in barrel.