After three challenging growing campaigns that produced small quantities of excellent fruit, 2012 was a true break-out harvest. Not only did we have excellent yields in our Estate site, we had unprecedented levels of quality throughout all sectors of the vineyard. The result was this wine which reflects all of the spicy detail of our home vineyard coupled with exceptional depth of fruit that is supported by a finely wrought tannic structure. Once it opens up, it just goes on and on expressing deeply aromatic black fruit and subtly smoky aromas that are balanced by an impressive mouthfeel. This wine is built for a long and graceful life, although it already provides considerable drinking pleasure when paired with full flavored fare.
Specifications
Vintage: 2012
92 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Blend: 98% Estate Syrah, 2% Estate Viognier
Appellation: Sonoma Coast
Harvest Date: 3 days between October 14-22, 2012
Bottling Date: July, 2014
Alcohol: 13%
Brix at harvest: 21.4, 22.4, 22.9
Fermentation: Baker Lane Estate vineyard, though non-certified, is farmed using organic/bio-dynamic principles. A cold soak of seven days preceded a natural yeast fermentation with no added enzymes.
Aged 23 months, primarily in Kadar 400 liter puncheons, 20% of which were new.
Winery: Baker Lane Vineyards
Owners: Owned and operated by Stephen Singer and Michel Boynton
Founded: 2003
Location: Sebastopol, California
Baker Lane Vineyards produces cool-climate, organically farmed Syrah, Pinot Noir, & Viognier from our home and farm in Sebastopol, California.
We are nestled in a modest but beautifully situated hidden valley west of the town of Sebastopol. The proximity to the Pacific Ocean offers cool, daily maritime breezes that provide optimal conditions for Syrah and Viognier—the vines we’ve planted at our estate – as well as Pinot Noir, which we grow at a vineyard just across the street. These qualities, among others, make our moderate Sonoma Coast appellation distinct. Although much of this valley is now planted in vines, tremendous biodiversity remains intact.
Our farm (called RoadsEnd Farm) supports not only grapes, but a diversity of other fruits, vegetables, and plant life. As our agricultural exploration has revealed, we’re not just growing plants, we’re growing flavor, specifically the flavor of this place. This recognition propels a commitment to winegrowing and winemaking that gains depth and nuance with each passing year. The land is teaching us a great deal, and we are willing learners. 2017 will mark our 13th year.
I’m pretty close to pulling the trigger on this one. I enjoyed the 14’ cuvée syrah. How does this one compare in taste? The last offering states that this is a near carbon copy of the 12’… did I answer my own question? Haha
@TechnoViking There were probably 10-12 people at a minimum who tasted this last saturday night.
It was a single vineyard syrah tasting and I probably ranked it as my 2nd favorite syrah of the night in a field of 9 syrahs. No specific notes but would absolutely buy it at the case price. No brainer here.
@CorTot@TechnoViking
I will agree with cortot that it was very good but sadly someone had marked another bottle as the rat bottle so I only took a very small pour and moved on to try to taste everything else “thanks Cory)” it seemed nicely balanced as I recall.
@ScottW58@TechnoViking To be fair the way the email from WCC read I interpreted the other bottle as the lab rat bottle and the baker lane as a bottle they found lying around the warehouse that matched the theme. My mistake.
@cbrehman this wine gets more time in barrel and bottle than the Sonoma Coast version. It has more deep layers, eveolves on the pallet and with many different foods from wood fired pizzas to pork shoulder to rich stews. Ready to drink but also showing fantastic aging ability. 100% from the estate and has the touch of Viognier that our Sonoma Coast lacks. Organic and biodynamic. Enjoy!!!
@radiolysis Co-fermented! About 2%. As you probably know, the co-fermenting practice is derived from northern Rhône traditions. If you think of this wine like music, it adds a bit more high notes to the wine. It kind of lifts the profile just a touch. Thanks for your inquiry!
I will agree with cortot that it was very good but sadly someone had marked another bottle as the rat bottle so I only took a very small pour and moved on to try to taste everything else “thanks Cory)” it seemed nicely balanced as I recall.
Seconded. IIRC, it was my 3rd or 4th favorite of the night.
@sammypedram I bought their last offering and it is complex like a traditional Syrah than the Red Car, which honestly I feel drinks more like a cabernet. A closer comparison would be one of the Syrahs from Melville or maybe the Cadaretta Syrah that was also offered previously.
@ikeg Thanks so much for the great feedback! Maybe that is why I liked the Red Car so much . . . haha. I did get some of the Cadaretta and do like that as well. Darn you - making me consider this more strongly now despite overflowing currently. Thanks again!
@sammypedram For what it’s worth, I liked the Baker Lane from the last sale more than the Cadaretta, which has been more of a daily drinker for me. Still saving back a few.
But I like Syrah, and am already in for a case of this new offering.
/giphy economic-nominal-pail
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2012 Baker Lane Sonoma Estate Syrah - $85 = 28.32%
Lab rat here. Just got home from work after a snowy drive. I was hoping to get something up earlier since I work nights, but work sucked and I didn’t have time. Give me at least 30 mins to get settled in and on the laptop. I recruited a coworker for an opinion after work and we both agree it is very good and I think I’ll be in for a case.
OK, really sorry about the delay. The timing wasn’t so great for me right now and getting hit with our first snow didn’t help. I’ve also not totally recovered from a bad cold and I know my taste buds are not quite back to normal. Since I really enjoyed this wine now, I’m really curious to know how much I would enjoy it when I’m totally recovered.
To start with, this is my first experience as a rat both here and the years I was buying from wine.woot! I’m also a newbie to reviewing a wine and have never even taken notes on any I’ve had. I just try to remember what I like and which specific wines.
OK let’s get to the wine itself, especially since this is only a 24 hour sale which kind of stressed me out when I saw that. I haven’t had much experience so far with Syrah, so I recruited a coworker who said it’s his favorite to help. I’d have gotten home and got this up earlier, but we were in the parking lot after work sampling this wine and I think it was worth getting his insights.
I first opened this bottle when I got home from work yesterday and was struggling at first to place what I was smelling and tasting because it was too cold at first and my sense of taste is still a bit off right now. I knew I had to let it warm up and open up more. I was picking up some kind of berries right away and while I waited for it to warm up I cheated and hit the vineyard’s website and also read 2 reviews which helped me pinpoint things, but could have also influenced my thoughts.
Yesterday I was getting the dark berries and spicy and pepper notes, but I wasn’t picking up the smoke that I had read. The taste really was changing as it warmed up and got to the right temp and so far I was really enjoying it. I unfortunately fell asleep with a few sips left in my glass and the bottle sitting on the kitchen counter. The bottle ended up sitting out for maybe 7 hours or so before I put a stopper in it and put it back in the fridge. That may be what made today a quite different experience.
I didn’t get a chance before leaving for work to have any more wine or even to eat anything, so I just grabbed the bottle and 2 glasses and left for work. So after work, my coworker Adam and I sat and sampled and I took some notes of what he said to make sure I didn’t forget. Right away he really enjoyed the aroma and if I’m remembering right he described it as nutty (grabbed the notebook a little later). As soon as he tasted it he said it tasted a lot like one of his favorites he has at a local Mexican restaurant, the Terre Rouge Syrah. He wasn’t sure of the vintage he had, but the restaurant’s website lists the 2013 right now. I read him the tasting notes listed here and he agreed with everything it said about this wine.
We were both getting the spiciness today and pepper notes, more so than I picked up yesterday. We also were getting the smoke, which yesterday I couldn’t pick up at all. He also said it tasted like a fine cognac to him. I’ve had very limited cognac exposure, so I couldn’t say.
What really got us as we sat there with the snow trying to cover our cars we had just cleaned off, was how the wine seemed to be morphing with each sip. It seemed each sip you could pick up something a little different. Maybe one sip you picked up the smokiness, then you take another sip and you get more of the spiciness, it was really odd and I can’t recall ever having a wine like that before. When I got home to grab the Lab Rat graphic and read the e-mail again, this sentence from Ariana really caught my eye: " Is it smooth, is it mild, does it tease the palate?" This wine definitely teased our palates this morning as we didn’t know what the next sip held.
I unfortunately can’t attest to how this pairs with food as I just started with a little leftover pizza from a local Italian restaurant yesterday. I was going to try it with something else when it had warmed up more, but the lack of sleep lately caught up to me before that. We had nothing to eat while sampling this morning and I tried to pair with some italian sausage ravioli I had in the fridge, but that’s sitting next to me cold. I wanted to have this up before now, so I just started typing. Also apologies if I’ve rambled, this is my first time doing this, I’m tired and had a crappy day at work.
To sum up, I have way too much wine downstairs already and shouldn’t spend the money, but I think I’ll be ordering a case today. I enjoyed this bottle and this wine was too intriguing and makes me too curious what is in store when I’m feeling better. I’ve just got to take care of some bill payments before I can pull the trigger.
@Aracos Thanks for this thorough and thoughtful review. Indeed, that spiciness and pepperiness you found is a hallmark of our Estate Syrah. Modeled in part after the great wines of Côte-Rôtie, that peppery profile makes this an excellent food wine, and also balances and enriches the complex, structured fruit flavors in this wine. Thanks again!
@Aracos Interesting your friend compares it favorably to Terre Rouge Syrah… We were there during the Amador portion of the rpm Tour this past July and Terre Rouge’s Rhone varietals were uniformly very good. That’s a strong recommendation. Too bad no CT…
Hey everyone! Thanks for coming over to check out the Baker Lane offer, we’re thrilled to be back with Casemates today! This wine is truly a gem, one of the best we’ve ever made, a vintage where the vines hit a big milestone in their growth and a time when our winemaker was so careful to really tend to our tiny 7 acres and allow the rich fruit to do the talking. Our warehouse recently discovered just a few dozen cases so we are letting it go to you all. We’re very proud of the 2012 Estate, please enjoy in good health and spirit!
@rjquillin This stuff rocks! Prunes and mangos (I realize that seems weird! but definitely tropical) on the nose. Deep plum color. Rich, leathery, and dry. I drank my first glass on its own and tried it with some veal shank- it held up to the meat and was great on its own if you like dry wine.
Tasting Notes
After three challenging growing campaigns that produced small quantities of excellent fruit, 2012 was a true break-out harvest. Not only did we have excellent yields in our Estate site, we had unprecedented levels of quality throughout all sectors of the vineyard. The result was this wine which reflects all of the spicy detail of our home vineyard coupled with exceptional depth of fruit that is supported by a finely wrought tannic structure. Once it opens up, it just goes on and on expressing deeply aromatic black fruit and subtly smoky aromas that are balanced by an impressive mouthfeel. This wine is built for a long and graceful life, although it already provides considerable drinking pleasure when paired with full flavored fare.
Specifications
Price Comparison
$790.40/case (including shipping) at Baker Lane Vineyards
About The Winery
Winery: Baker Lane Vineyards
Owners: Owned and operated by Stephen Singer and Michel Boynton
Founded: 2003
Location: Sebastopol, California
Baker Lane Vineyards produces cool-climate, organically farmed Syrah, Pinot Noir, & Viognier from our home and farm in Sebastopol, California.
We are nestled in a modest but beautifully situated hidden valley west of the town of Sebastopol. The proximity to the Pacific Ocean offers cool, daily maritime breezes that provide optimal conditions for Syrah and Viognier—the vines we’ve planted at our estate – as well as Pinot Noir, which we grow at a vineyard just across the street. These qualities, among others, make our moderate Sonoma Coast appellation distinct. Although much of this valley is now planted in vines, tremendous biodiversity remains intact.
Our farm (called RoadsEnd Farm) supports not only grapes, but a diversity of other fruits, vegetables, and plant life. As our agricultural exploration has revealed, we’re not just growing plants, we’re growing flavor, specifically the flavor of this place. This recognition propels a commitment to winegrowing and winemaking that gains depth and nuance with each passing year. The land is teaching us a great deal, and we are willing learners. 2017 will mark our 13th year.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NM, NY, NC, ND, OR, PA, RI, SD, TX, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, December 6th - Monday, December 10th
Baker Lane Sonoma Coast Estate Syrah
2 bottles for $49.99 $25/bottle + $4/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $214.99 $17.92/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2012 Baker Lane Syrah
We had this at the case mates meetup last weekend and it was delicious.
@CorTot totally agree! No formal notes since the night was a whirlwind of syrah, but it was really good!
I’m pretty close to pulling the trigger on this one. I enjoyed the 14’ cuvée syrah. How does this one compare in taste? The last offering states that this is a near carbon copy of the 12’… did I answer my own question? Haha
I’m curious about this as well. Hopefully the winemaker can chime in on how the two compare.
@TechnoViking There were probably 10-12 people at a minimum who tasted this last saturday night.
It was a single vineyard syrah tasting and I probably ranked it as my 2nd favorite syrah of the night in a field of 9 syrahs. No specific notes but would absolutely buy it at the case price. No brainer here.
@CorTot @TechnoViking
it seemed nicely balanced as I recall.
I will agree with cortot that it was very good but sadly someone had marked another bottle as the rat bottle so I only took a very small pour and moved on to try to taste everything else “thanks Cory)”
@ScottW58 @TechnoViking To be fair the way the email from WCC read I interpreted the other bottle as the lab rat bottle and the baker lane as a bottle they found lying around the warehouse that matched the theme. My mistake.
If any socal folks are ordering ill take some.
@CorTot @ScottW58 @Winedavid49 that’s a first… no shipping to NV.
I did 10 push-ups then pressed that button and, Uh oh!
@cbrehman this wine gets more time in barrel and bottle than the Sonoma Coast version. It has more deep layers, eveolves on the pallet and with many different foods from wood fired pizzas to pork shoulder to rich stews. Ready to drink but also showing fantastic aging ability. 100% from the estate and has the touch of Viognier that our Sonoma Coast lacks. Organic and biodynamic. Enjoy!!!
@BakerLaneWine cofermented with viognier? or added during blending?
@radiolysis Co-fermented! About 2%. As you probably know, the co-fermenting practice is derived from northern Rhône traditions. If you think of this wine like music, it adds a bit more high notes to the wine. It kind of lifts the profile just a touch. Thanks for your inquiry!
@CorTot @ScottW58 @TechnoViking @Winedavid49 Good News! We CAN in fact ship to NV. Try again before it sells out!
@arianaWCC @Winedavid49 IL definitely out?
@arianaWCC @kaolis 'fraid so
@BakerLaneWine @arianaWCC @Winedavid49
How about Ohio?
@CorTot @ScottW58 @TechnoViking
Seconded. IIRC, it was my 3rd or 4th favorite of the night.
@arianaWCC @Winedavid49 @BakerLaneWine Thank you! made it back here in time.
unknowing-enormous-earthworm
Any rats on this? Anyone know how this compares to the Red Car Sonoma Coast Syrah?
@sammypedram I bought their last offering and it is complex like a traditional Syrah than the Red Car, which honestly I feel drinks more like a cabernet. A closer comparison would be one of the Syrahs from Melville or maybe the Cadaretta Syrah that was also offered previously.
@ikeg Thanks so much for the great feedback! Maybe that is why I liked the Red Car so much . . . haha. I did get some of the Cadaretta and do like that as well. Darn you - making me consider this more strongly now despite overflowing currently. Thanks again!
@sammypedram For what it’s worth, I liked the Baker Lane from the last sale more than the Cadaretta, which has been more of a daily drinker for me. Still saving back a few.
But I like Syrah, and am already in for a case of this new offering.
/giphy economic-nominal-pail
@ikeg I blame you for this . . . hahahaha
/giphy cranky-prickly-snake
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2012 Baker Lane Sonoma Estate Syrah - $85 = 28.32%
I’ve had some nice wines from Baker Lane, but…and don’t you just hate people who say, but no shipping to me…
OH NO! NO OH!
Lab rat here. Just got home from work after a snowy drive. I was hoping to get something up earlier since I work nights, but work sucked and I didn’t have time. Give me at least 30 mins to get settled in and on the laptop. I recruited a coworker for an opinion after work and we both agree it is very good and I think I’ll be in for a case.
@Aracos Wow, the elusive early-morning rattage. Looking forward to it.
I’m interested in splitting a case if anyone in the Towson (Baltimore) area wants to. I also posted in the Baltimore thread. Thanks!
OK, really sorry about the delay. The timing wasn’t so great for me right now and getting hit with our first snow didn’t help. I’ve also not totally recovered from a bad cold and I know my taste buds are not quite back to normal. Since I really enjoyed this wine now, I’m really curious to know how much I would enjoy it when I’m totally recovered.
To start with, this is my first experience as a rat both here and the years I was buying from wine.woot! I’m also a newbie to reviewing a wine and have never even taken notes on any I’ve had. I just try to remember what I like and which specific wines.
OK let’s get to the wine itself, especially since this is only a 24 hour sale which kind of stressed me out when I saw that. I haven’t had much experience so far with Syrah, so I recruited a coworker who said it’s his favorite to help. I’d have gotten home and got this up earlier, but we were in the parking lot after work sampling this wine and I think it was worth getting his insights.
I first opened this bottle when I got home from work yesterday and was struggling at first to place what I was smelling and tasting because it was too cold at first and my sense of taste is still a bit off right now. I knew I had to let it warm up and open up more. I was picking up some kind of berries right away and while I waited for it to warm up I cheated and hit the vineyard’s website and also read 2 reviews which helped me pinpoint things, but could have also influenced my thoughts.
Yesterday I was getting the dark berries and spicy and pepper notes, but I wasn’t picking up the smoke that I had read. The taste really was changing as it warmed up and got to the right temp and so far I was really enjoying it. I unfortunately fell asleep with a few sips left in my glass and the bottle sitting on the kitchen counter. The bottle ended up sitting out for maybe 7 hours or so before I put a stopper in it and put it back in the fridge. That may be what made today a quite different experience.
I didn’t get a chance before leaving for work to have any more wine or even to eat anything, so I just grabbed the bottle and 2 glasses and left for work. So after work, my coworker Adam and I sat and sampled and I took some notes of what he said to make sure I didn’t forget. Right away he really enjoyed the aroma and if I’m remembering right he described it as nutty (grabbed the notebook a little later). As soon as he tasted it he said it tasted a lot like one of his favorites he has at a local Mexican restaurant, the Terre Rouge Syrah. He wasn’t sure of the vintage he had, but the restaurant’s website lists the 2013 right now. I read him the tasting notes listed here and he agreed with everything it said about this wine.
We were both getting the spiciness today and pepper notes, more so than I picked up yesterday. We also were getting the smoke, which yesterday I couldn’t pick up at all. He also said it tasted like a fine cognac to him. I’ve had very limited cognac exposure, so I couldn’t say.
What really got us as we sat there with the snow trying to cover our cars we had just cleaned off, was how the wine seemed to be morphing with each sip. It seemed each sip you could pick up something a little different. Maybe one sip you picked up the smokiness, then you take another sip and you get more of the spiciness, it was really odd and I can’t recall ever having a wine like that before. When I got home to grab the Lab Rat graphic and read the e-mail again, this sentence from Ariana really caught my eye: " Is it smooth, is it mild, does it tease the palate?" This wine definitely teased our palates this morning as we didn’t know what the next sip held.
I unfortunately can’t attest to how this pairs with food as I just started with a little leftover pizza from a local Italian restaurant yesterday. I was going to try it with something else when it had warmed up more, but the lack of sleep lately caught up to me before that. We had nothing to eat while sampling this morning and I tried to pair with some italian sausage ravioli I had in the fridge, but that’s sitting next to me cold. I wanted to have this up before now, so I just started typing. Also apologies if I’ve rambled, this is my first time doing this, I’m tired and had a crappy day at work.
To sum up, I have way too much wine downstairs already and shouldn’t spend the money, but I think I’ll be ordering a case today. I enjoyed this bottle and this wine was too intriguing and makes me too curious what is in store when I’m feeling better. I’ve just got to take care of some bill payments before I can pull the trigger.
@Aracos well done under difficult circumstances. i do love that about agood syrah. it changes with every sip!
@Aracos Thanks for this thorough and thoughtful review. Indeed, that spiciness and pepperiness you found is a hallmark of our Estate Syrah. Modeled in part after the great wines of Côte-Rôtie, that peppery profile makes this an excellent food wine, and also balances and enriches the complex, structured fruit flavors in this wine. Thanks again!
@Aracos Interesting your friend compares it favorably to Terre Rouge Syrah… We were there during the Amador portion of the rpm Tour this past July and Terre Rouge’s Rhone varietals were uniformly very good. That’s a strong recommendation. Too bad no CT…
Hey everyone! Thanks for coming over to check out the Baker Lane offer, we’re thrilled to be back with Casemates today! This wine is truly a gem, one of the best we’ve ever made, a vintage where the vines hit a big milestone in their growth and a time when our winemaker was so careful to really tend to our tiny 7 acres and allow the rich fruit to do the talking. Our warehouse recently discovered just a few dozen cases so we are letting it go to you all. We’re very proud of the 2012 Estate, please enjoy in good health and spirit!
@BakerLaneWine , So best way to get some from the ‘few dozen cases’ is, & will it be at casemate price or another price? Thx.
@BakerLaneWine , Sorry, no need to answer as I see I got my threads read crossed with the ‘Red Car’
@BakerLaneWine No IL or IN love?
Lots of great feedback from the group! In for a case (or two!)
/giphy weathered-shivering-angle
Syrah is one of my favorite types of wine. I just bought four bottles, and am trying to persuade myself that it was the right thing to do.
I don’t need a case (I probably don’t need four bottles, either, but I want them). I’m just fortifying myself for the coming winter.
@Shrdlu You’ve done the right thing
I know you want some.
Whisper me.
@rjquillin I want some. Sadly, I’m nowhere near you.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@InFrom And, sadly, much of my wine in nowhere near me, either!
@rjquillin Just one so far, anybody else?
I guess I can gift some if need be, and we do have a work party coming up these will work for.
@rjquillin Lol, I’d wager your wine is all closer to you than you are to me!
For those that have ordered, received and sampled theirs,
any additional thoughts?
@rjquillin This stuff rocks! Prunes and mangos (I realize that seems weird! but definitely tropical) on the nose. Deep plum color. Rich, leathery, and dry. I drank my first glass on its own and tried it with some veal shank- it held up to the meat and was great on its own if you like dry wine.