Madson Wines -- Kessler-Haak Vineyard Syrah

Madson Wines is a small but mighty project based in the Santa Cruz Mountains -- an exciting find in California, where this kind of low-intervention, terroir-driven winemaking is still the exception (at least in my Euro-centric biased mind!). Founded by Cole Thomas, they work intimately with organically farmed vineyards tucked into rugged, coastal terrain. The wines are light-handed and expressive: native ferments, minimal sulfur, no fining or filtering, and always vineyard-first. Everything feels grounded, deliberate, and quietly soulful – wines that speak more in whispers than shouts.