2017 Handley Cellars Syrah, Kazmet Vineyard, Redwood Valley
93 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Tasting Notes
Located in the inland warmer reaches of Mendocino County, this mature head-pruned dry-farmed vineyard provides dense fruit flavors. Aromas of briary fruit, earth, dried meat, brioche, and spicy wood notes effuse out of the glass. Fleshy and full on the palate with concentrated flavors of boysenberries, blueberries, cracked white peppers, pine tar, and smoked meat; soft to medium tannins on the finish. A small amount of Viognier (5%) was added to soften the tannins and add floral notes.
Specs
Varietals: 95% Syarh, 5% Viognier
Appellation: Redwood Valley
Aged for 18 months in French oak barrels (20% new)
Alcohol: 14.5%
Cases Produced: 570
2017 Handley Cellars Ranch House Red Blend, Mendocino County
Produced in limited quantities, our Ranch House red varies vintage to vintage and is always much anticipated by our club members. This version is a blend of Merlot (75%) and Petite Sirah (25%). On the nose this wine exudes warm briary dark fruit, new leather, and hints of sage. Rich flavors of olallieberry pie, black plum, tomato, and basil. It is full on the palate with chalky tannins and tart acidity on the finish that lifts the fruit and encourages you to take another sip. This vintage of Ranch House Red is very approachable and as always, food-friendly.
Specs
Varietals: 75% Merlot, 25% Petite Sirah
Appellation: Mendocino County
Aged 18 months in all neutral French oak barrels
Alcohol: 14.6%
Titratable Acidity: 6.5 g/L
pH: 3.55
Cases Produced: 405
2017 Handley Cellars Petite Sirah, Redwood Valley
Tasting Notes
Planted on well-drained alluvial soils these old vines produce wine that is dark purplish in color with intense dark fruit character. This wine has aromas of black and blueberries, graphite, and lavender. It is full-bodied and concentrated with black fruit, meaty, and milk chocolate flavors. Full tannins with creamy sweet oak undertones that linger on the palate focused by balanced acidity. Notable structured tannins on a long toasty finish.
Specs
Varietal: Petite Sirah
Appellation: Redwood Valley
Aged for 18 months in oak barrels (20% new)
Alcohol: 13.9%
TA 5.7g/l
pH 3.93
Cases produced: 523
What’s Included
3-bottles:
1x 2017 Handley Cellars Syrah, Kazmet Vineyard, Redwood Valley
1x 2017 Handley Cellars Ranch House Red Blend, Mendocino County
1x 2017 Handley Cellars Petite Sirah, Redwood Valley Case:
4x 2017 Handley Cellars Syrah, Kazmet Vineyard, Redwood Valley
4x 2017 Handley Cellars Ranch House Red Blend, Mendocino County
4x 2017 Handley Cellars Petite Sirah, Redwood Valley
Handley Cellars is a small, family-owned winery in California’s Mendocino County. Bonded in 1982, we produce around 9000 cases of wine a year. Our quality starts with our CCOF Certified Organic Estate Vineyards in Anderson Valley. We are located at the northwest end of the Anderson Valley on 59 acres of the original Guntly Ranch. Still standing on the property are the now-refurbished ranch house, plus the barn and water tower, all of which were constructed in the early 20th century.
Founding Winemaker Milla Handley sought to make balanced wines that possess distinctive varietal characteristics and reflect the soil and climate in which they were grown. Our current winemaker, Randy Schock, carries on this tradition, crafting elegant, fruit-driven wines which complement a wide variety of cuisines. Milla’s daughter Lulu now runs Handley Cellars, with the help of her husband Scott Handley and their baby son Golden.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, ND, OH, OR, PA, SC, TX, VT, VA, WA, WI, WY
Labrat here. I got the golden ticket to try the 2017 Handley Petite Sirah. On the pnp I didn’t get much on the nose, a bit of alcohol and some whiffs of a faint fruit, it seemed very closed off. Poured into my glass and it’s inky, a dark purple, and oh so very opaque. There’s sediment left on the shoulders but the cork wasn’t covered in those tartrate? crystals.
Onto the taste i got some stewed fruits, my wife who’s not much of a drinker said she got black and blue berry flavors. There was a lot of acid and some fine tannins. It was mildly drying but not in a horrible way, seemed like the wine was starting to come out of its youth. As I drank the wine over a few hours I started to note some earthiness and a bit of smoky meat maybe a coffee note. There was a bit of a bitterness I associated with this finish. It went well with my ribeye steak, but not well with a keto peanut butter cocoa granola bar. I’m not sure if the bitterness meshed well with the monk fruit sweetener.
Bottom line it’s ok, not bad but not in my wheelhouse. I lean towards more fruit and less earthy coffee flavors. It seems to be well made and has got lots of life in it to go quite a few more years. Thanks for letting me rat a wine not in my normal rotation.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2017 Handley Cellars Mixed Reds - $60 = 27.26%
@handleycellars1 Great to have you join in, despite how unusually quite it is so far. Most all must think this is some kind of holiday or something…
So I’ll ask; as these have a few years on them already, something I personally like to see offered here so I don’t have to cellar them for so long, where do you see these currently in their lifetime?
Well the petite sirah was part of a mixed offer 12/19/22. Discussion and rats here
By now ya’ll know but Enthusiast on the syrah:
93 Points. Editors’ Choice. Excellent concentration, great balance and a firm, appetizing texture make a glass of this full-bodied Mendocino wine hard to put down. Red and black fruit flavors are accented by subtle mint and cedar notes for an enticing complexity. Best through 2028. — Jim Gordon 11/1/21
Also Odedi’s Wine Reviews Blog(?) on said syrah:
Inky in color with a short purple rim. Nice nose of blackberries, black currants, light barnyard, vegetables, herbs, chocolates, tobacco and black pepper. Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs. Dry on the palate and fruit forward with black currants, plums, blackberries, oak, dark coffee, earth, bitter herbs, vegetables, black pepper and tobacco leaf. Medium plus on the finish with medium tannins and cherries. This is a very tasty Syrah from Alexander Valley. Fruit forward and elegant with a nice mouthfeel. Showing nice complexity and mouthfeel. Good by itself or with food. This 5 year old is drinking very nicely now. Needs 2 hours to open up properly, and bring structure to the wine. This Single Vineyard Syrah is a good quality wine, and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years. 92 points. 2/16/22
Syrah again: Best of class edible Monterey Bay(?) 8/22
@Leatherchair I’ve been a casual Handley fan on and off for years. Mostly pinot. Thinking at $14 and change a nice deal here but no experience at all with this offer.
@kaolis yeah I picked them up maybe 2x over the past year and a half including the same petit and think a 2016 Zin. Just had the last 2017 Zin last week and still young, but unmistakable fruit and nice French oak.
Sorry for the late post. I’m on my phone so this will be short. We got the golden ticket and received the 2017 Handley Ranch House Red Blend.
Had it with rib-eye steaks with mushroom blue cheese sauce, crispy Parmesan roasted baby potatoes and a green bean walnut salad for Fathers Day.
On opening the nose was muted. Color was deep ruby. Tasters were me, husband and adult son. Son and I both said dark plums, Steve said strawberries. It had a good bit of acid, son said tart. Smooth tannins.
After a bit it is drinking nicely and cherries are making an appearance. Tartness mellows out.
It held up to the steak and potatoes and we finished the bottle. Not complex, but not one note either. We liked it and said we’d purchase for a CM price of <$14.
@handleycellars1 Good Morning…
I think this earlier question may have gotten buried in the thread.
So I’ll ask; as these have a few years on them already, something I personally like to see offered here so I don’t have to cellar them for so long, where do you see these currently in their lifetime?
@rjquillin Thank you for your question! All three wines are tasting awesome now. However, they are full-bodied wines from a cooler region and have great tannin structure. I would say enjoy now or you could lay them down for a few more years.
2017 Handley Cellars Syrah, Kazmet Vineyard, Redwood Valley
93 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Tasting Notes
Specs
2017 Handley Cellars Ranch House Red Blend, Mendocino County
Specs
2017 Handley Cellars Petite Sirah, Redwood Valley
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
3-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not all vintages for sale online, $336/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, ND, OH, OR, PA, SC, TX, VT, VA, WA, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Jul 10 - Tuesday, Jul 11
Handley Cellars Mixed Reds
3 bottles for $54.99 $18.33/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $159.99 $13.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2017 Handley Cellars Syrah, Kazmet Vineyard
2017 Handley Cellars Ranch House Red Blend
2017 Handley Cellars Petite Sirah
2017 Handley Cellars Petite Sirah
Labrat here. I got the golden ticket to try the 2017 Handley Petite Sirah. On the pnp I didn’t get much on the nose, a bit of alcohol and some whiffs of a faint fruit, it seemed very closed off. Poured into my glass and it’s inky, a dark purple, and oh so very opaque. There’s sediment left on the shoulders but the cork wasn’t covered in those tartrate? crystals.
Onto the taste i got some stewed fruits, my wife who’s not much of a drinker said she got black and blue berry flavors. There was a lot of acid and some fine tannins. It was mildly drying but not in a horrible way, seemed like the wine was starting to come out of its youth. As I drank the wine over a few hours I started to note some earthiness and a bit of smoky meat maybe a coffee note. There was a bit of a bitterness I associated with this finish. It went well with my ribeye steak, but not well with a keto peanut butter cocoa granola bar. I’m not sure if the bitterness meshed well with the monk fruit sweetener.
Bottom line it’s ok, not bad but not in my wheelhouse. I lean towards more fruit and less earthy coffee flavors. It seems to be well made and has got lots of life in it to go quite a few more years. Thanks for letting me rat a wine not in my normal rotation.
@sdfreedive
Well… that certainly sold me
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2017 Handley Cellars Mixed Reds - $60 = 27.26%
FYI Meh.com has wine glasses up today
Hello, This is Heather from Handley Cellars checking in
@handleycellars1
Welcome, volmod here checking in as well…
Working on getting you a
badge so others can more easily recognize your posts.
May we ask in what capacity you serve at the cellars, to better know what questions you can address?
@rjquillin I manage the cellar club, and work in the tasting room.
@handleycellars1 Great to have you join in, despite how unusually quite it is so far. Most all must think this is some kind of holiday or something…
So I’ll ask; as these have a few years on them already, something I personally like to see offered here so I don’t have to cellar them for so long, where do you see these currently in their lifetime?
Well the petite sirah was part of a mixed offer 12/19/22. Discussion and rats here
By now ya’ll know but Enthusiast on the syrah:
93 Points. Editors’ Choice. Excellent concentration, great balance and a firm, appetizing texture make a glass of this full-bodied Mendocino wine hard to put down. Red and black fruit flavors are accented by subtle mint and cedar notes for an enticing complexity. Best through 2028. — Jim Gordon 11/1/21
Also Odedi’s Wine Reviews Blog(?) on said syrah:
Inky in color with a short purple rim. Nice nose of blackberries, black currants, light barnyard, vegetables, herbs, chocolates, tobacco and black pepper. Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs. Dry on the palate and fruit forward with black currants, plums, blackberries, oak, dark coffee, earth, bitter herbs, vegetables, black pepper and tobacco leaf. Medium plus on the finish with medium tannins and cherries. This is a very tasty Syrah from Alexander Valley. Fruit forward and elegant with a nice mouthfeel. Showing nice complexity and mouthfeel. Good by itself or with food. This 5 year old is drinking very nicely now. Needs 2 hours to open up properly, and bring structure to the wine. This Single Vineyard Syrah is a good quality wine, and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years. 92 points. 2/16/22
Syrah again: Best of class edible Monterey Bay(?) 8/22
fwiw
@kaolis thank you for that update. Put me over the edge for a case.
@Leatherchair I’ve been a casual Handley fan on and off for years. Mostly pinot. Thinking at $14 and change a nice deal here but no experience at all with this offer.
@kaolis yeah I picked them up maybe 2x over the past year and a half including the same petit and think a 2016 Zin. Just had the last 2017 Zin last week and still young, but unmistakable fruit and nice French oak.
2017 Handley Cellars Ranch House Red Blend
Sorry for the late post. I’m on my phone so this will be short. We got the golden ticket and received the 2017 Handley Ranch House Red Blend.
Had it with rib-eye steaks with mushroom blue cheese sauce, crispy Parmesan roasted baby potatoes and a green bean walnut salad for Fathers Day.
On opening the nose was muted. Color was deep ruby. Tasters were me, husband and adult son. Son and I both said dark plums, Steve said strawberries. It had a good bit of acid, son said tart. Smooth tannins.
After a bit it is drinking nicely and cherries are making an appearance. Tartness mellows out.
It held up to the steak and potatoes and we finished the bottle. Not complex, but not one note either. We liked it and said we’d purchase for a CM price of <$14.
Thanks for the opportunity to taste!
Hi this is Alice from Handley! Just wanted to check in and say Good Morning.
@handleycellars1 Good Morning…
I think this earlier question may have gotten buried in the thread.
@rjquillin Thank you for your question! All three wines are tasting awesome now. However, they are full-bodied wines from a cooler region and have great tannin structure. I would say enjoy now or you could lay them down for a few more years.
POPSOCKETS! ROAD ROCKETS! SONNY CROCKETT! AWESOME!
@handleycellars1 Thanks for chiming in! i love Handley. Worked with them since the Airborne Express days (way back). great QPR, IMO
I’m always down for some Handley! Love visiting their winery in a land time seems to have forgotten.