Situated on the eastern slopes of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range, south of Salinas, the vineyards of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA are some of the coolest-climate sites in the state, situated directly in the path of powerful winds that bring daily refreshment from the Monterey Bay—home to one of the world’s largest submarine canyons and, thus, some of its coldest water. The length of the Santa Lucia Highlands growing season is exceptional—and not threatened by autumn rains—making it possible to preserve acidity and develop proper physiological maturity in grapes. Here’s a California Syrah that a vintner in the Northern Rhône would be proud to call his own!

The “Tondré Grapefield” vineyard, which has four acres of Syrah, is farmed by Joe Alarid, a veteran grower in the Salinas Valley. Joyce has sourced Syrah from this cool, marine-influenced site since 2013. The strong influence of Pacific Ocean currents, combined with the gravelly loam soil of the vineyard site, makes for a Syrah of supreme tension and bright fruit.

Hand-harvested fruit from Tondré Grapefield was fermented with 60% of the whole grape clusters intact, lending lots of spice and snap. Fermentation on ambient yeasts occurred in a small, open-topped vessel, followed by 10 months of aging in a 50-50 mix of concrete tanks and used oak barrels. The wine was transferred back into tank for a month of settling before it was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Just 460 cases were produced.