Emercy 2022 Syrah, Lopai Vineyard, Willow Creek, Paso Robles

Emercy’s 2022 Syrah from Lopai Vineyard arrives in the glass almost without a gesture—deep plum, blackberry, and a curl of violet drift up, edged with cracked black pepper and a hint of cedar ash. It doesn’t flash its power; it just quietly draws you in.

When you sip, the fruit feels dense and cool rather than overripe—lifted by a question of tension. Dusty, fine-grained tannins fan the palate, giving width without weight. Herbal shadows—sage, olive tapenade—thread through, quiet but sharp, keeping the wine both grounded and breathing.

Lopai Vineyard is not typical Paso. Situated in the Willow Creek District, it leans inland beneath higher ridges. The soils—rocky, mineral-rich—stress the vines just enough. Fruit ripens fully, but the nights reign in warmth, preserving that line of rhythm and crispness you taste here. Emercy practices organic, respectful farming, letting vineyard voice remain the script. 

Tasting this is tasting intent. Emercy keeps cellar touch light: native ferments, gentle extraction, oak used for structure not flavor imprint. There’s no show—just a frame through which the vineyard’s shape becomes evident by its presence, not weight.

This Syrah doesn’t beg for attention—it earns it slowly, like creosote waking in dew. Open it with flame-grilled chops, smoky mushrooms, or at the close of a day when attention drifts. It offers a quiet alignment, not applause.

Emercy 2022 Syrah, Lopai—Paso’s steep curve, oak’s whisper, in a glass edged by dusk.