2013 Petite Syrah Rattlesnake Ridge
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2013 Petite Syrah Rattlesnake Ridge shows just how compelling Petite can be up here on Howell Mountain. The bouquet alone is incredibly enticing. Graphite, blueberry jam, cloves, menthol, lavender and liquefied rocks form an incredibly appealing fabric of aromas, flavors and textures. Inky and unctuous, with exceptional textural finesse, the 2013 simply has it all. The fruit remains incredibly primary, so the 2013 is probably best cellared, but it is breathtakingly beautiful, even in its youth.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2013 Petite Syrah Rattlesnake Ridge was somewhat reductive and very difficult to taste, although aeration helped somewhat. The wine is clearly concentrated and rich, but frankly, this wine needs to be revisited in 6-12 months from now. It certainly has low 90-point potential if the reductive characteristics clean up, which I suspect they will.
Turley's 2013 Petite Syrah Rattlesnake Ridge literally jumps from the glass with an exotic concoction of heady aromas and flavors. Smoke, melted road tar, graphite and licorice meld into pungent black olives, wild cherries and white flowers in a wine that is constantly changing in the glass. Savory, mineral and utterly beguiling, the 2013 Rattlesnake Ridge is simply gorgeous today. There is so much going on in the glass. The intense, layered finish suggests readers can look forward to many years of fine drinking.