2016 Larry Hyde Hyde Vineyard Estate Syrah Napa Valley 750 ml

Dirt matters.

Any winemaker will tell you that a wine is only as good as the vineyard it comes from. The confluence of soil, climate, and farming set the ceiling for a bottle of wine, which is why the 2016 Larry Hyde Hyde Vineyard Estate Syrah is so impressive. From one of California's undisputed top vineyards, it's a master-class bottling that also happens to be significantly less expensive than most of its peers.

The first-ever vintage of Hyde Vineyard Syrah produced under their own label, it was apparent from first sniff that this was at the very top tier of California Syrah. Marveling at the intense bouquet of Indonesian long pepper, ripe marionberries, and subtle spices, we couldn't help but be taken in by the rich mouthfeel and powerful flavors of blackberries and Maine blueberries that carried through onto a long, succulent finish.

It reminded us of some of the best California Syrah we've tasted over the last few years—names like Kongsgaard, Alban, and Colgin—in its combination of California fruit and Rhône-like savor. The big difference is the price. Unlike some of those other names, the Larry Hyde Syrah clocks in at just $60.

Hyde Vineyards proudly proclaims itself the "King of Carneros"—a claim they're more than willing to back up. One of the oldest and most important vineyards in those windy hills between Napa and Sonoma, where fog and cool breezes allow for long hang times and rich, dense fruit, Hyde vineyard has earned its status as California royalty.

They sell grapes to a who's-who list of in-demand producers, including names like Kistler, Paul Hobbs, Aubert, Kongsgaard, Ramey, and DuMol and have a waiting list a mile long of top Napa and Sonoma winemakers who are dying to work with their fruit. That enthusiasm merited “Grower of the Year” recognition this year by Napa Valley Vintners—an honor enshrining Larry Hyde as one of the true legends of Napa farming.

If that wasn't enough, consider that Aubert de Villaine of Burgundy's Domaine de la Romanée-Conti —which makes the world's most precious Pinot Noir, priced from $1,200-$15,000 (really) on release—is involved in a single winery outside of his home country, and that's Hyde de Villaine, a partnership with the same Larry Hyde whose name graces the label of this Syrah.

The Hyde vineyard was originally famous for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, but like the nearby Hudson Vineyard, might be at its best growing Syrah. There's a reason that Kongsgaard's coveted $200 bottling comes from right around the corner—the combination of wind, fog, and California sunshine yields Syrah with a staggering combination of rich, textured fruit and graceful aromatics.

This is a rare chance to get access to hallowed dirt at a price far below what you’d normally expect for a wine of this quality—your chance to drink like royalty without spending like a king.