Kongsgaard Napa Valley Syrah 2022

Few winemakers in Napa can approximate the intimate connection to the land which John Kongsgaard and son, Alex, possess. Fifth and sixth generation Napans respectively, their winery - founded by John in the 1990s - has become arguably America's greatest producer of Chardonnay. Organically and sustainably farmed, their minimal touch in the cellar accentuates the innate beauty of their fruit, yielding powerful, elegant wines that showcase the unique characteristics of their grapes and the Napa terroir. Alongside Chardonnay, Kongsgaard produces tiny amounts of Viognier, Albariño and Syrah with the same uncompromising, artisanal approach.

We have made Syrah from a 2-acre vineyard in Carneros since the inception of the winery in 1996. Over 27 vintages it has been as distinct from its competition as the Judge is from the rest of California Chardonnay. This Syrah is a force of Nature. - John Kongsgaard

93/100 - The 2022 Syrah Hudson Vineyard is a dense, potent wine. Black cherry, plum, mocha, new leather, licorice, incense and chocolate are all dialed up to the maximum, or even beyond. In this vintage, the Syrah is huge and extroverted, with some varietal character and tannins baked out by the heat of the year. Even so, there are no hard edges or rough contours. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous