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$42.00
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A classic Syrah with flavors of mulberry, black cherry, cloves, coffee and peppercorns!
Tasting Notes
The 3.7% Viognier co-fermented with the Syrah adds a nice floral component of clove and lavender. This well balanced, medium bodied wine has very nice tannins that lead into flavors of roasted coffee, pepper, vanilla, and mulberry. Enjoy with lamb, duck, venison, or steak. Drinkability 2006-2015.
Winemaking Notes
Our goal is to produce a full bodied complex wine in the Northern Rhone style that will age gracefully for many years. The must was pumped over 2 times daily to optimize extraction of the phenolic components (color and tannin). The wine was fermented and remained on the skins for 16 days before pressing and racking into 36% new French Oak barrels for 14 months. The wine was bottled on December 12, 2007 without filtration.
Vineyard Notes
Our estate Syrah vineyard was planted in 1992 and is located on the Silverado Trail in the Oak Knoll District. The split canopy maximizes the ripening of the fruit. Leaf removal, fruit thinning and dry farming are used to achieve the perfect maturity for these varietals.
Harvest Report
After a year that kept grape growers on their toes, vintners and winemakers breathed a sigh of relief as the 2006 harvest closed. Flooding kicked off the New Year in Napa Valley, which made for great TV footage, but did little damage to the dormant vines, as cover crops stabilized soils in the vineyards. In mid July, a record-setting heat wave lasted about ten days, but with the crop a few weeks behind, damage was almost nil. According to Pierre Birebent, the overall quality of 2006 looks outstanding and should be an excellent vintage.