Appellations Old Clones Syrah
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 5–12 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted duck, grilled lamb chops, wild mushroom risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
TOR's Appellations Old Clones Syrah is a tribute to the legendary, savory wines of the Northern Rhône, filtered through the lens of Napa Valley's premier cool-climate terroirs. Sourced primarily from celebrated vineyards like the Hudson Vineyard in Carneros, this cuvée utilizes heritage Syrah clones—often traced back to old selections from Hermitage—which produce tiny, intensely concentrated berries. Winemaker Jeff Ames employs traditional, low-intervention techniques, including native yeast fermentations, partial whole-cluster pressing to introduce structural grip and herbal complexity, and aging in select French oak barrels. The resulting wine is highly expressive, balancing rich dark fruit with classic Syrah signatures of cracked black pepper, smoked game, and black olive.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 2001 by Napa Valley veteran Tor Kenward and his wife Susan, TOR Wines is an artisanal producer located in St. Helena, California. Drawing upon Kenward's nearly three decades of executive experience alongside legendary growers and winemakers at Beringer Vineyards, the estate is dedicated to crafting small-production, vineyard-designated wines from premier sites throughout Napa Valley. TOR focuses primarily on historic grand cru-caliber terroirs, most notably Beckstoffer To Kalon, Beckstoffer Dr. Crane, and Cimarossa Vineyard. Employing a minimalist, site-expressive winemaking philosophy, the winery is internationally celebrated for its powerful, cellar-worthy Cabernet Sauvignons, refined Chardonnays, and rare, expressive Syrahs.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Syrah