Rococo “In Medias Res Thesis” Syrah 2022

Grown on a south-facing block of ROCOCO’s estate vineyard on the western edge of Paso Robles’ Willow Creek District, Thesis is shaped by warm California sunshine, persistent afternoon winds, cool nights, and clay soils threaded with sedimentary rock.

The vineyard is farmed by hand using regenerative and permaculture principles, with an emphasis on dry farming and minimal intervention. These practices encourage the vines to work within their natural environment rather than rely heavily on outside inputs, allowing the conditions of the vineyard and vintage to become an integral part of the finished wine. The combination of warm days and dramatically cooler nights helps Syrah achieve deep ripeness while preserving the freshness necessary to keep that richness in balance.

But the story of Thesis goes beyond its vineyard. The wine is made from a rare suitcase clone of Syrah brought to California from France, vine material that gives this particular block and bottling an identity distinct from more commonly planted Syrah selections. In a region already known for exceptional Rhône varieties, that unusual genetic heritage adds another layer to the wine’s sense of individuality.

Thesis is compelling because it doesn’t ask you to choose between power and personality. It delivers the richness expected from Paso Robles Syrah while retaining savory complexity, freshness, and a clear connection to the vineyard from which it came. Beautifully approachable today, its concentration and structure should allow it to continue evolving over the next 7–10 years.