Paloma
Napa Valley Syrah
Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley, California, USA
One thing the pandemic has provided is the opportunity to organize the collection . I was shocked when I found this, the last bottle of 6 purchased on release. I was very happy when the well preserved cork came out with zero issues. A subdued nose of leather,plum and old furniture. Restrained fruit on the palate but some satisfying spice, and herbal notes that were swimming in a wave of acidity. No doubt the acidity was the life saving backbone for this bottle. I must be honest sentimentality added a point or two to my score.
A visit to Paloma and then off to Pride was one of the highlights of my early wine years.
One thing the pandemic has provided is the opportunity to organize the collection . I was shocked when I found this, the last bottle of 6 purchased on release. I was very happy when the well preserved cork came out with zero issues. A subdued nose of leather,plum and old furniture. Restrained fruit on the palate but some satisfying spice, and herbal notes that were swimming in a wave of acidity. No doubt the acidity was the life saving backbone for this bottle. I must be honest sentimentality added a point or two to my score.
A visit to Paloma and then off to Pride was one of the highlights of my early wine years.
Beautiful Syrah from Spring Mountain, savoury aromas and flavors, very French-like if served blind, still has lots of primary redfruits showing, tannins have largely receded, from a partially-shaded 5-acre portion at the bottom of the Paloma vineyard, long finish, I believe the Syrah vines were planted in 1992 and pulled out after the 2001/2002(?) vintage, Barbara and Jim Richards said the farming was more difficult than the Merlot (and smaller amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon) that Paloma is known for and thus they elected to replant (graft? Not sure) more of the other varieties into that plot. While the first vintage of the Syrah (1995) was never commercially released (12 cases produced from 3 year old vines), Jim was kind enough to send me home with 4 bottles, that wine was the best Syrah to EVER come off that vineyard, I was forever in his debt, it was AMAZING. I miss Barbara and Jim, some of the nicest people I’ve ever met in the wine business (I’m NOT in the business myself)!!
Beautiful Syrah from Spring Mountain, savoury aromas and flavors, very French-like if served blind, still has lots of primary redfruits showing, tannins have largely receded, from a partially-shaded 5-acre portion at the bottom of the Paloma vineyard, long finish, I believe the Syrah vines were planted in 1992 and pulled out after the 2001/2002(?) vintage, Barbara and Jim Richards said the farming was more difficult than the Merlot (and smaller amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon) that Paloma is known for and thus they elected to replant (graft? Not sure) more of the other varieties into that plot. While the first vintage of the Syrah (1995) was never commercially released (12 cases produced from 3 year old vines), Jim was kind enough to send me home with 4 bottles, that wine was the best Syrah to EVER come off that vineyard, I was forever in his debt, it was AMAZING. I miss Barbara and Jim, some of the nicest people I’ve ever met in the wine business (I’m NOT in the business myself)!!
Aug 24th, 2025