2023 / Willow Creek District Syzygy

For the 2023 vintage of the flagship Syzygy GSM blend, we dialed back the Grenache forward ratio to 45% from 55% in the 2022 vintage and have an almost equal ratio of Syrah and Mourvèdre. The increased Mourvèdre component complements the softer Grenache, delivering sweet aromas and earthy body. Syzygy was aged 15-1/2 months in french oak - a combination of 228L barrels and 500L puncheons, with an average 31% new.

The 2023 Syzygy was painstakingly curated with organic farming practices, small-batch winemaking and a reverence for site expression:

A blend of Decemil’s Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre blocks
Calcareous limestone and clay loam
Elevation range of 1,015 to 1,300 feet
12 miles from the Pacific Ocean
Organically farmed vines

Vinification

A carefully crafted classic Grenache-forward GSM blend in a Châteauneuf-du-Pape style
Riper Alban Clone Grenache fruit provided structure and abundant red berry flavors to complement the darker fruit and savory flavors of the Syrah and the freshness of a less ripe Mourvèdre
Blended at the 6-month mark of varietal aging
Returned to barrels for 10 additional months of maturation
Aged for a total of 16 months in an average of 31% new oak

Analysis

Alc. 14.5%
TA .60
PH 3.52
Cases 163

2022 Willow Creek District Syzygy

Tasting
Notes

The nose is intricately scented with lavender, garrigue, mulberry, toasted oak and light spices. A round, supple mouthfeel offers bright flavors of black raspberry, cherry and cranberry accented with cola, caramel, earthy loam and dried herb. Soft textures gain momentum with racy acidity that lingers on a fresh, juicy finish. A distinctive blend that strikes a perfect trifecta: approachable, delicious and complex.

Reviews, Kind Words &

Accolades

The 2023 Syzygy is darkly intense and spicy, with a wave of balsamic blackberries, sage, rock dust and clove forming its bouquet. It is seamlessly silken in feel, distinctly savory with polished red fruits and a saturation of crisp minerality toward the close. It finishes long, gently tannic and with a sharp citrus twang that pinches at the cheeks and provides lovely punctuation.

—94 points, Eric Guido, Vinous / April 2026

Decemil Estate Wines 2023 Syzygy Rhône-style Red Blend (Paso Robles Willow Creek District). Expertly integrated aromas of blackberry coulis, lavender, and warm spice cake show on the nose of this blend of 45% Grenache, 28% Mourvèdre, and 27% Syrah. Ripe fruit on the palate of the wine is balanced by hints of violet and a leathery texture. —M.K.

—94 points, Wine Enthusiast, Matt Kettmann / April 2026 Buying Guide

There is a juicy exuberance to the nose, a vividness to the mixed cherries and spices. That vivacity carries through to the palate, where the cherries are joined by brambleberries and lavender, as well as a subtle tug of iron and peppercorns, all of it finishing with sappy, acid-threaded tannins. Drink or hold.

—94 points, Brian Freedman, jamessuckling.com / September 2025

The 2023 Syzygy offers slightly cooler notes of red, blue, and black fruits, pepper, violets, sappy flowers, leather, and underbrush. It's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a pure, seamless, elegant mouthfeel, poised tannins, and a great finish……. this impeccably made wine will keep for a solid decade. Drink 2025-2035.

—94 Points, Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com / August 2025

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