Appellations Old Clones Syrah
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5–12 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Roasted duck, grilled lamb chops, wild mushroom risotto
✨ wine.spec_sheet
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.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 2001 by Napa Valley veteran Tor Kenward and his wife Susan, TOR Kenward Family Wines is a boutique estate dedicated to crafting small-lot, single-vineyard wines that express the singular terroirs of Napa Valley. Drawing on Kenward's nearly three decades of experience at Beringer, the winery sources fruit from legendary sites, most notably the historic Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville. The winemaking philosophy, guided by winemaker Jeff Ames, emphasizes minimal intervention, utilizing native yeast fermentations, and bottling without fining or filtration. TOR is highly celebrated for its powerful, complex Cabernet Sauvignons and expressive Syrahs that showcase the pinnacle of California winemaking. Address: 1507 Main St, St Helena, CA 94574, USA Website: https://torwines.com