TERROIR
Sandstone Terrace is a blend of primarily SCM cool-climate syrah sites with the common thread of sandstone-derived soils. In most vintages, it embodies the sexy, spicy, and floral side of the varietal. Average elevation of the 2024 vintage is 1,100 ft.

Thomasen’s Split Rail Vineyard (52%) located in the Corralitos district of the southern Santa Cruz Mountains, about seven miles from Monterey Bay. Planted in the mid-80s in sandstone and clay soils at 1,700 ft, the .75-acre dry-farmed vineyard is surrounded by redwoods and madrones. The ‘24 vintage was my first vintage farming this beautiful, organic, and quintessentially SCM site. The ridgetop vineyard lends itself to herbal, red-fruited, and floral cool-climate syrah. 

Lester Vineyard (48%) is also located in Corralitos, though much lower down at 500 ft in Pleasant Valley, about five miles from Monterey Bay. Sustainably farmed by Prudy Froxx, the 14-acre vineyard is planted to chardonnay, pinot noir, and syrah. It is one of our coldest sites, usually ripening syrah around Halloween in a “normal” year. Lester’s cool climate and sandy loam soils lend themselves to extremely peppery, dark-fruited, and acid-driven syrah. 

TASTING
Medium purple. Brambleberry, garrique, and salty cured meat are followed by spring flowers and savory spices. A medium body is framed by fresh acid and elegant chalky tannins.

TECH
Alcohol 13.3%
pH 3.61
100% whole cluster fermentation
Native fermentations started by pieds de cuve from the vineyards
10 months élévage in 20% second-fill and 80% neutral French oak barrels
14 barrels • 344 cases produced
Lightly fined & lightly filtered

PRESS 
94 WE
96 JD