Benevolent Neglect Syrah 2018 | Sommelier’s Favorite!
One sip at Healdsburg’s 3-Michelin Star Mecca Single Thread Farms was all it took: The Benevolent Neglect Syrah 2018 transported us to mountainsides covered in wild blackberries, garrigue, crushed herbs, and wet stone Its wild bouquet. The immersive beauty of the Benevolent Neglect Las Madres Syrah—its ability to transport you to a flinty mountainside rolling with wild blackberries, herbs, and garrigue—has made it an industry sensation. Hailing from a vineyard that Thomas Rivers Brown called “the To-Kalon of Syrah vineyards,” sommeliers at Michelin-starred spots like The Clove Club and Fat Duck are understandably loath to part with it.
More Sensational Cellar Selections
Dark ruby with a bright pink rim. An aromatic festival bursts from the glass with notes of sun-kissed lilacs, lavender, blackberry preserves, black pepper, and a hint of rosemary. The mouthfeel is complex and dressed with plenty of dark fruit, spice, and generous tannins. Another home run from Benevolent Neglect. Drink Now – 2028.
Los Madres Vineyard
Perched on rolling, east-west facing hills on the Sonoma side of Carneros, Las Madres really is a vineyard worth knowing. First, benefiting from the cooling influence of the Pacific. And of course, the rigorous farming practiced by owners Jean Gadiot and John Painter. Syrah from Las Madres has been sought out by heavy hitters like Myriad, Quivet, and Orin Swift “The Prisoner. Thus earning barrels of high scores from critics like Antonio Galloni and Robert Parker.
Benevolent Neglect Syrah 2016 was grown just a few miles away from Single Thread in the chilly Carneros’ Las Madres Vineyard. Called “the To-Kalon of Syrah vineyards,” by Thomas Rivers Brown. Las Madres fruit is renowned for its cool-climate vibrancy, silky elegance, and smokey, peppery complexity. Today is the rare chance to access a Michelin-star bottling and enjoy its silken elegance at home, without the white tablecloth mark-up.
Winemaker Matt Nagy
So, in crafting the Benevolent Neglect Syrah 2016, rising star winemaker Matt Nagy used the lightest possible touch. Not to mention the experience gained under Napa legends Thomas Rivers Brown and Steve Matthiasson. Therefore allowing Las Madres Syrah to come alive in the glass.
Explore today’s finds at Wine Access
Matt’s take on Las Madres fruit is almost an anti-take. While involving as little intervention as possible in the cellar—thus the name Benevolent Neglect. Hence, using no additives or substitutes allows the vineyard to speak for itself. Therefore showcasing its brilliant floral aromatics, deep blackberry notes, and potent layers of smoke and spice. Most of all, it all makes us wonder, how much longer will our 70 cases last? For now, they’re exclusively available right here!
