WTN: Durell Syrah

[David M. Bueker]

• 2005 Chateau St. Jean Syrah Durell Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley (4/16/2025)
  From my late father’s cellar, this was a bit of a surprise, as I did not realize CSJ made Syrah from Durell Vineyard. I approached the wine with some degree of skepticism, as my deep familiarity with the great Durell Syrahs from Steve Edmunds set a very high bar. While this bottle didn’t cleanly clear the bar, it at least made a credible jump. Still showing dark fruit, there was also a leathery, earthy component that spoke to Syrah. I can’t really put it into words other than to say this bottle resembled Durell Syrah as I remembered it, but some of the mid-2000s excesses (15% ABV on the label, and it was obvious at times) left a hazy barrier, even a touch of thickness to the palate, without much in the way of acidity to cut through the richness. All that said it was a very good wine, just brawnier than I prefer. Glad to have tasted Durell Syrah again.

• 2005 Chateau St. Jean Syrah Durell Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley (4/16/2025)
  From my late father’s cellar, this was a bit of a surprise, as I did not realize CSJ made Syrah from Durell Vineyard. I approached the wine with some degree of skepticism, as my deep familiarity with the great Durell Syrahs from Steve Edmunds set a very high bar. While this bottle didn’t cleanly clear the bar, it at least made a credible jump. Still showing dark fruit, there was also a leathery, earthy component that spoke to Syrah. I can’t really put it into words other than to say this bottle resembled Durell Syrah as I remembered it, but some of the mid-2000s excesses (15% ABV on the label, and it was obvious at times) left a hazy barrier, even a touch of thickness to the palate, without much in the way of acidity to cut through the richness. All that said it was a very good wine, just brawnier than I prefer. Glad to have tasted Durell Syrah again.

That makes two of us that didn't know CSJ made a Durell Syrah. TBH, there aren't many CA Syrahs that would fare well when compared to Steve's. In fact, other than a few of Bill Easton's efforts at Domaine de la Terre Rouge and some of Adam Tolmach's at Ojai (NB: I haven't tried any Rhys Syrahs so no opinion about them) I can't think of any.

News to me as well. Actually I saw subject line and thought "oh goodie an ESJ note". Thanks for broadening my perspective!