Scott Harvey Mountain Selection Amador County Syrah
Pairs with: Rosemary-crusted rack of lamb, pan-seared ahi tuna, porcini-crusted black cod, slow-braised beef cheeks, or a rustic wood-fired pizza topped with wild mushrooms and goat cheese.
Good for: Introducing a French Northern Rhône enthusiast to the rustic, high-altitude charm of California's Sierra Foothills; stocking up on an overachieving, food-friendly boutique red that avoids heavy, over-extracted sweetness; or elevating a weekend dinner with a deeply complex wine that punches far above its price point.
Grape: 100% Syrah.
I am from: Amador County, Sierra Foothills, California, USA (Sourced from premium, high-elevation vineyards characterized by well-draining, decomposed granite and volcanic soils).
The Story: Celebrated winemaker Scott Harvey brings a fascinating, Old World-influenced perspective to California’s rugged Sierra Foothills, having ignited his winemaking passion through classical training in the historic Rhineland-Pfalz region of Germany. This European foundation deeply shapes his approach in Amador County, where he rejects the heavy-handed, jammy style common in modern California in favor of structural elegance, restraint, and food-friendly acidity. For his highly praised "Mountain Selection" Syrah, the fruit is harvested from steep, sun-soaked mountain slopes where the harsh, rocky terrain naturally forces the vines to struggle, concentrating the berries' dark flavors and wild spice characteristics. In the cellar, Scott oversees a patient, non-interventionist protocol, aging the wine for 21 months in French oak cooperage to naturally polish the grape's muscular tannins and build a well-rounded physique without ever masking the pure, earthy, and forest-herbed soul of the mountain terrain.
Why You'll Love Me: It is extraordinarily rich, complex, and beautifully balanced—a medium-to-full-bodied red that seamlessly trades simple, syrupy fruit sweetness for an athletic, savory structure and a refreshing mountain-born lift. In the glass, it pours a deep ruby-purple with youthful violet reflections shimmering around the rim. The nose is a spectacularly deep, atmospheric playground, instantly launching into a fragrant bouquet of ripe blackberries, black cherries, and crushed rose petals, beautifully layered with complex undertones of bay leaf, chicory, wild mushrooms, and a distinct, peppery puff of cracked black pepper and cedarwood. On the palate, it delivers a gorgeous, texturally supple ride, entering with a broad, velvety density packed with flavors of dark berry gelée, toasted chestnuts, and a touch of dark chocolate before a driving beam of vibrant acidity cuts right through the richness to keep the experience lively. Supported by fine-grained, well-integrated, and slightly dusty tannins that provide a beautifully poised architectural frame, it glides effortlessly across the tongue before sailing into an exceptionally long, smooth finish highlighted by a trailing touch of grilled orange slices, anise, and a clean, earthy mineral snap.
