2007 Syrah

Style: Red Rhone Varietal

Cases Produced: 105

Vineyard Sources: 57% Bella Grace Vineyards (Syrah); 30% Monarch Mine Vineyards (Syrah); 13% Cooper Vineyards (Mourvedre)

Harvest Date: Oct. 4, 2007 (Havill Syrah); Sept. 14, 2007 (Monarch Mine Syrah); Oct. 29, 2007 (Cooper Mourvedre).

Release Date: Nov. 15, 2009

Alcohol: 14.9%

Winemaking: All open top fermentation with punchdowns by hand. Syrah and Mourvedre were vinified and aged in separate lots prior to blending and bottling. The wine was aged in a blend of French and Hungarian oak barrels (approximately 30% new).

Ageability: We designed the 2007 Syrah to be drinkable upon release, but this wine should age very nicely in the bottle, and we expect it to pick up additional nuances over the next several years.

Back Label Text: Our 2007 Syrah is another full-bodied, but elegant, effort. This year’s bottling contains fruit from both our Amador and Placer County sources. The wine was aged for 23 months in French and Hungarian oak (approximately 30% new) and contains a small amount of Mourvedre for added structure and complexity. We enjoy it with hearty red meat dishes, as well as more flavorful white meat dishes.

Tasting notes: Our 2007 Syrah displays classic deep purple color in the glass, along with an intense nose of black cherry, currant, smoke and pepper. On the palate the wine is full-bodied and plush, with soft, silky tannins. Notes of tar, leather and menthol are all part of the mix. The wine finishes with a subtle mineral edge and lingering hints of dark fruit and sweet oak. Our 2007 Syrah should evolve beautifully over the next several years.