Syncline Winery
syn-cline (‘sin-klin): A trough of stratified rock in which the beds dip toward each other from either side.
Directly west of the vineyard and winery is a series of sheer, nearly 100 meter cliffs that rise up into the surrounding mountains straight out of the Columbia River. Locally known as the ‘Coyote Wall Syncline’, this dramatic geological feature gives the winery its name. It is at this precise point that the rainy western region of the Columbia Gorge transitions into a semi-arid environment.
Syncline is a small family winery in the Columbia Gorge of Washington state. Owners and vintners Poppie and James Mantone met during the harvest of 1997 while working crush together. They fell madly in love, married and soon began plans for a winery of their own. They relocated their home to the Columbia Gorge and produced their first vintage in 1999. Their passion for Rhone wines and their vision of the potential of Rhone varieties in select areas of Washington State led them to bottling Syrah and Grenache, while also beginning to plant Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Counoise and Carignan.
| Website | synclinewine.com/ |
|---|---|
| Country | America |
| Region | Washington |
| Appellation | Columbia Valley, Columbia Gorge, Horse Heaven Hills, Yakima Valley |
From this Winery
Long inspired by Southern Rhone Valley wines, this is our answer to a Washington version of a Cotes-du-Rhone Villages wine. A blend of classic southern French varieties that are unique and expressive on their own, yet each contributes to creating a harmonious whole.
This wine brings levity to your palate with a gorgeous garnet color displaying flavors of plum, black cherry, and savory notes, followed by aromas of early summer berries, Garrigue, and the
dry sagebrush lands of the eastern Washington desert. The juicy mid-palate and structured tannins provide a versatile wine compatible with many foods and occasions.
Our creation of this wine is in direct response to our love of crisp, dry Rosé. The color is a striking rose gold with pure aromas of early spring strawberries, rhubarb, hints of stone fruit and savory herbs, with bright flavors of citrus zest. Delightfully fresh and focused, this is a most versatile and food friendly wine.
Delightful and enchanting, this bright ruby color wine strolls you through wild bramble berry fields in full bloom. With flavors and aromas of raspberry and thimbleberry, the round, delicate tannins are mouthwatering and create an eminently quaffable vintage.
Vineyards
McKinley Springs Grenache and Carignan are planted at 1,100 feet in elevation on Warden sandy silt loam soils with north south row orientation. The canopy is trained to a modified sprawl, with the west side left to shade and protect the grapes from the hot afternoon sun. Perhaps it is the elevation, or the soils, but this vineyard gives us some of the best balanced fruit we work with.
Located at high elevation, the celebrated Boushey Vineyard produces wines of distinct character with balanced acidity. Layered soils and long, cool, slow ripening time allow for complex flavor development. 2011 was the first harvest using Boushey fruit for Syncline Winery. We are so impressed by the quality, delicious complexity and brilliant acidity, we plan to keep working with this vineyard for the long term.
Vinification
All fruit was hand picked, and fully de-stemmed into French concrete cube tanks. Fermentation was with native yeast, no fining, and a with a blend of manual and pneumatic punch downs, pump-overs and pigeage à pied. Free Run juice was kept separate for elevage in a mix of neutral French oak puncheons and oak upright tanks.
Bottled August 2021
This intriguing wine has lovely savory notes with garrigue and hints of blueberry and blackberry. Soft and plush, the refined and delicate texture is truly elegant. This bottling is from the oldest block of Boushey Vineyard Syrah, the “Grand Cote”.
