DuMOL’s 2024 Wild Mountainside Syrah is a Russian River Valley bottling built from two sites: 63% Hoppe-Kelly Vineyard and 37% Dutton-Gregori Vineyard. It’s made in a relatively small run—750 cases—and the winemaking details underscore a Northern Rhône–leaning intent: 30% whole clusters, native-yeast fermentation, and 15 months in 300-liter French oak (20% new), then bottled unfiltered.

Critical reception has been excellent. Jeb Dunnuck awarded 96 points, calling it “complex and savory with lavender, olive, mountain herbs, and peppery freshness,” and praising its balance as “full-bodied yet weightless, with supple tannins and excellent length.” Dunnuck also gives a clear window—“drink 2026–2046”—which is a strong endorsement of both structure and staying power. That 96-point score stands as the top review here.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW (The Wine Palate) rated it 95 points and emphasizes both intensity and poise. She describes a “deep garnet-purple” wine that “bursts with intense scents of wild blueberries and black raspberries,” moving into more savory territory with “peppered salami, rose oil, and fertile loam.” On the palate, she notes a “medium- to full-bodied” frame with “a compelling chewiness to the texture,” plus “seamless acidity” and “layers of peppery, savory flavors on the finish.”

Taken together, the notes paint a Syrah that isn’t just about dark fruit. It leans into spice, herbs, olive, and earth, while staying fresh and controlled in shape. DuMOL’s own positioning of the wine as having an “inky dark fruit core” alongside “cool-climate freshness” fits the critics’ descriptions, and the reported “supple tannins” suggest it will drink well young with air, while still rewarding cellaring.