Nose
This deep crimson colored syrah seduces with aromas of blackberry, smoked meats, plum,
crushed rock, tar, lavender and freshly ground black pepper.
Palate
Bold and full bodied, the wine
coats the palate with flavors of boysenberry, leather, and vanilla, with chewy, ripe tannins
carrying through the long finish.
Growing Conditions
The 2012 growing season has been described by many as “textbook perfect”.
Temperate summer days moderated plant growth, contributing to smaller cluster and berry
size during lag phase, leading to increased concentration of flavors. An idyllic Indian summer
finished the maturation process, producing fruit with exceptional character and intensity.
Harvest
Hand harvested at night.
Bottling
Unfined and unfiltered; bottled January 2014.
Winemaking
Hand sorted, cold; no whole cluster inclusion
6 day cold soak, 23 days total maceration
Fermented with indigenous yeasts in small, open-top, stainless steel tanks
Spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrel
Aging
Aged 15 months in French oak barrels, 58% new.
Coopers: Francois Frères, Marques, Gauthier.