Durell Vineyard Clone No.1 Syrah
⏳ Drinking Window
2024 - 2034
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted lamb, grilled ribeye steak, wild game
✨ Technical Specifications
The Durell Vineyard, sprawling across the intersection of the Sonoma Valley, Carneros, and Sonoma Coast appellations, is legendary for its complex terroir. While famous for Chardonnay, its rocky, wind-swept hillsides also yield exceptional cool-climate Syrah. TOR Kenward's Clone No. 1 Syrah is sourced from a specific block planted with the coveted 'Hermitage' clone, which thrives in the vineyard's volcanic soils and cool breezes from the Petaluma Gap. Winemaker Jeff Ames employs minimal intervention, utilizing native yeast fermentation and bottling without fining or filtration to preserve the intense, savory character of the fruit. The resulting wine is renowned for its classic Northern Rhône-like profile, balancing dark fruit with signature notes of white pepper, smoked meats, 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