A brilliant wine for this vintage, the 2011 Syrah Eddie’s Patch does not quite have the concentration of the 2010 or 2012, but it is a well-made wine for this troublesome vintage. Because of the tiny crop size and severe selection process both in the vineyard and winery, production for the 2011 was much smaller than usual. The wine possesses an inky/purple color along with notes of graphite, camphor, blackberries and bouquet garni. Medium to full-bodied, supple and velvety, it is currently drinking slightly better than the 2010, but it does not have the long-term potential of that vintage. Consume it now and over the next 10+ years.
Since its founding in 1996, DuMol has been one of the superstar wineries of the entire California North Coast. They primarily focus on gorgeous Burgundian-styled Chardonnays from cool micro-climates as well as Pinot Noirs, with the added attraction of one Viognier and one or two Syrahs. They have been consistent from the beginning with winemaker Andy Smith, who has a brilliant record not only at DuMol, but at several other estates where he is the full-time winemaker, particularly the Napa Valley estate of Larkmead, just north of St. Helena. All five 2011 Chardonnays I tasted merit serious attention from consumers. Forget the difficulties of this vintage as DuMol came through with flying colors. All of the 2011 Pinot Noirs were harvested before the heavy rains fell in October, except for the Cuvee Ian, which was completely declassified. The three vintages of Syrah Eddie’s Patch I tasted come from a vineyard called Hoppe-Kelly, which is planted in red soils southeast of Healdsburg, near Chalk Hill.
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