2023 Backlit
30% Syrah, 26% Petite Sirah, 22% Carignan, 14% Mourvèdre, 8% Grenache. Rounding out the lineup is the 2023 Backlit, the darker, Syrah-driven blend that is equal parts flowers and char. Syrah sets the tone, with Petite Sirah adding inky depth and structure, Carignan bringing lift, and Mourvèdre and Grenache filling in the savory and spicy corners. The nose conjures blue fruit cobbler, leather, violets, and baseball talc, while the palate glows with a cardamom warmth, crushed limestone, nori, and sesame. This wine is always our go-to when umami is on the menu and will hit the mark with any of those warmer fall and winter meals, from braised short ribs to a miso-glazed eggplant or a pot of slow-cooked beans.
“The 2023 Backlit is spicy to the core, blending pine shavings with sweet sage, black cherries and dried blueberries. It is cool-toned and sleek, with building tension as a liquid floral concentration slowly saturates, leaving tart wild berry fruits and crunchy mineral tones. Fine-grained tannins frame the finish as hints of exotic spice and an air of violet pastille resonate. What a beauty this has turned out to be. It is a blend of 30% Syrah, 26% Petite Sirah, 22% Carignan, 14% Mourvèdre and 8% Grenache.”
95+ pts, Vinous Media
“A blend of 30% Syrah, 26% Petite Sirah, 22% Carignan, 14% Mourvèdre, and 8% Grenache vinified with 14% stems and aged 20 months in 48% new French oak with the balance in neutral barrels and puncheons, the 2023 Backlit is a darker-hued and more meaty cuvée compared to the Understory release. Black cherries, roasted herbs, leather, liquid violets, and peppery spices define the bouquet, and it's rich and medium to full-bodied, with ripe, polished tannins, a sexy and layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. It's another stunning wine from this estate. Drink 2026-2038.”
95 pts, Jeb Dunnuck
“This offers a wild character, with opening notes of creosote bush and petrichor that carry over onto the palate, revealing a graceful core filled with mulled berry and sappy cherry elements. Ends well-spiced, with integrated tannins. Syrah, Petite Sirah, Carignan, Mourvèdre and Grenache. Drink now through 2038. 300 cases made.”
93 pts, The Wine Spectator