Joyce 2022 Syrah, Arroyo Seco, Monterey County

The Joyce 2022 Syrah from Arroyo Seco feels like a conversation with the coast—not loud, but insistent in the cleanest way. On the breath, dark red fruit—black cherry, bramble, a hint of tobacco—rises above layers of cracked black pepper and a whisper of savory herb. There’s richness, yes, but also clarity.

Sip deeper, and the palate reveals tension that keeps the fruit from settling into softness. Earthy notes of crushed slate and rosemary shadow the berry core, while fine-grained tannins and brisk acidity add structure without weight. It hangs in the mouth, more like a thought than a statement.

That signature structure owes everything to its place. Arroyo Seco remains one of Monterey’s coolest AVAs—fog-cooled mornings, relentless winds, well-drained rocky soils—granting Syrah energy and poise rather than brazen ripeness. It’s quiet power, shaped by geology and climate, not extraction. 

Joyce Wine Company lives that context intentionally. Russell Joyce farms these grapes with minimal intervention—organic practices, ambient yeasts, sustainable vision—so what winds up in the bottle is the site speaking, not cellar technique. 

What stays with you is not heaviness, but depth in balance. This Syrah is equally at home with a flame-grilled steak as it is with a late-night pause.

Joyce 2022 Syrah — place distilled, quietly compelling.