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Wine Details
Price:
Description:
What’s so funny about peace, love and whole cluster fermentations? Whether due to an evolution of our vinification
techniques, which favor longer skin contact and the inclusion of more whole clusters, or a turn of the thermostat to the
left, we seem to have rendered a very serious and, perish the thought, authentic syrah. One strongly senses that the
Northern Rhône is not terroir incognito to this wine. The expanded employment of whole cluster fermentations has endowed the
wine with more and richer tannins, smoky meatiness and a clear ping! of wintergreen. Additionally, with the 2003 vintage we drop
the fairly generic “California” tag now that we are operating under the aegis of the Central Coast appellation with the exclusion
of a particular lot of grapes from the rough and tumble [and bloody scorching] inland side of the Altamont Pass. While the
inclusion of whole clusters has served to augment the size and structure of the wine, the use of only coastal, cooler climate fruit
preserves the nuance and complexity which allows one to daydream without guilt of sexy, well proportioned, and sophisticated
côtes blondes et brunettes.
2003 Vintage
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Varietal Definition
Syrah:
Syrah is the eight hundred pound gorilla of Rhone grapes! In the vineyard and the winery, Syrah is typically an easy grape to work with - healthy, early ripening, resistant to mildew and rot; suitable for winemaking in a variety of styles. The wines from Syrah are tannic without being harsh. The wines will have a taste and smell of dark blue fruit like blackberries and blackcurrant, with a strong spicy side where one can find freshly ground pepper and other spices. Syrah is famous for its part in the French blends, such as Côtes du Rhone and Châteauneuf du Pape.
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