Medium purple color; black fruits, meat, herbs on the nose; blueberry, plum, charred meat on the palate.
Dry; full and chewy in the mouth; medium tannins, low acidity. Ripe fruits; struggles some to achieve concentration and focus; 100% syrah from Terra Bella Vineyard; 14.6% ABV. Only 44 cases—528 bottles—produced, so likely you must get on the winery’s allocation list to get this or the next vintage.
The Farm is an effort uniting Santiago and Mercedes Achaval—Santiago is credited as a malbec pioneer in Mendoza—and Jim and Azima Madsen, who are in the winners in the corporate world in San Diego. The long-time friends visited Paso Robles together in 2008 and immediately decided to start a winery. The Farm’s first vintage was 2009; they produce about 700 cases a year. This is first vintage of 100% syrah.
The winery’s website proclaims its philosophy (in part): “Our goal is to make small amounts of fine red wines with the very best fruit from Westside Paso Robles (Adelaida and Willow Creek Districts). We will always remain a small winery working with ultra-low yields of special fruit. We believe that the work done in the vineyards is critical. Year round, we walk the vineyards, feeling the slant of the sun, the feel of limestone soil, the durability of the vines. This terroir, limestone and microclimates, combined with custom farming, where each vine is individually tended to produce but a few clusters so that our wine will get the fullest flavor of the berries.”
The Farm Winery is a private residence with no tasting room, however tastings are offered at the 15C Wine Shop and Bar in downtown Templeton. Tasting is by appointment only and should be arranged a week in advance. More details can be found on The Farm Winery website.
The Farm Winery The Red Zone Syrah, Paso Robles Adelaida District 2014 is easy drinker with some classic syrah notes—cured or charred meat, for instance. Does not taste like Aussie shiraz or Rhône syrah; this is softer, with restrained tannins and, particularly, restrained acidity. Pair with lamb; roast leg of lamb; gyros; Asian five-spice pork; pulled pork; honey marinated pork tenderloin; sesame pork tenderloin; Indian tandoori; braised beef; beef stew; barbecued spare ribs; barbecue and braised chicken; hamburgers; wild game; aged hard cheese like gouda. $60-69
