Deep purple color; candied strawberry, redcurrant, blackberry, cranberry, earth, meat, graphite, dark chocolate, violets on the nose and palate.
Dry; moderate, sweet tannins; balancing acidity. Silky, smooth, Côte-Rôtie style. Bold with good balance between fruit power and firm tannic structure. Full body; impressive texture. Rich, tasty without any overbearing elements. Just coming into its own after five years. 14.1% ABV
Pure syrah play from the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation of Monterey County. Grapes farmed by the Pisoni & Franscioni families. Pristine clusters were hand-harvested under the cover of moonlight on October 10. Grapes cold soaked for 10 days, 20% of the grapes whole cluster. Primary fermentation lasted 22 days that included daily punchdowns and pumpovers. Wine transferred to 67% new French oak for malolactic fermentation. Aged 16 months in barrel.
Bibiana González Rave is the owner-winemaker. The website notes: “I grew up in a country where vineyards are virtually non-existent. My exposure to wine was limited only to rare occasions at the dinner table. A few sips occasionally stolen from my father’s wine glass were enough to inspire an all-consuming dream—to become a winemaker. So I packed my bags and left for France. And in that moment I set the course of my life, a never-ending journey pursuing inspirational wines. During the summer of 2001, I immersed myself in all things wine, ultimately earning a BTS degree in Viticulture and Enology from Cognac followed by a degree in Enology from the University of Bordeaux, graduating with honors… My passion for wine whisked me around the globe, sending me between California, South Africa, and France for several years before I decided to call California my home.” In 2024, Wine Enthusiast named Cattleya as one of America’s 10 most influential Latinx-owned wineries.
The website explains the Cattleya Wines name was inspired by the Cattleya Trinae orchid, the national symbol of her native country, Columbia. The website also explains the “Innovation” name: “Cattleya was born in 2011 with a single barrel of Syrah from the Soberanes Vineyard. It marked the beginning of my journey as a proprietor and winemaker of my own wine label. This site became my initiation—making wine from the variety I worked with so much in France, among the steep hillsides of the famed Côte-Rôtie appellation in the Rhone Valley.”
Cattleya The Initiation Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands 2019 is rich, flavor-filled celebration of Monterey County syrah made by award-wining owner-winemaker Bibiana González Rave. Red and black fruits, pleasant integration of amiable tannins and fruit provides a balanced, delightful drinker with complexity. Age worthy. Pair with grilled lamb; barbecued, slow roasted pork shoulder; grilled or roasted beef. Smoked or cured meats. Grilled eggplant. Cheese—aged cheddar, aged gouda, comté, manchego, ossau-iraty (Basque sheep’s milk cheese). $65-70
