Lot 540
2023 Sonoma Valley Syrah

Over $45/bottle under its original label

Lot 540 is an estate-grown, 100% Syrah from a small, family-run winery that threads a needle few Syrahs can: being bold and unctuous, yet refined. Undoubtedly one of the top bottlings not just in Sonoma but the entire North Coast, it has regularly garnered mid-90s scores from the usual big names. This is a concentrated Hermitage-style stunner with all the black fruit and olive character you’d expect from a top-shelf offering.

Enticingly dark on the pour, you’re greeted by aromas of plum, clove, blue fruit, and green peppercorns, haloed by eucalyptus and black cardamom. On entry, blackberry bramble, black olive, and tobacco leaf are buoyed by medium+ acidity and well-integrated, grippy tannins. The finish is dry with solid length, showcasing graphite and uplifted black fruits and spice, culminating with vanilla bean and violet umami. A Syrah that’s equally fitting by the grill as it is with a fine steak dinner.