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Wine Details
Price:
$32.00 per bottle
Description:
97% Estate Grown Syrah and 3% Estate Grown Viognier from Cougar Hills Vineyard, Stellar Vineyard, and Golden?s Legacy. Our estate vineyards are the exclusive source for all of our wines. Aromas of ripe plum jam, blackberries, strawberries, and spice are followed by a smooth palate balancing luscious fruit, spice, acidity, and finely textured tannins. A long, languishing finish shows the finesse of oak aging. 2002 was a good year for grapes in the Northwest. Long, warm days, and cool nights yielded very ripe fruit with well-balanced acidity and mature tannins. Co-fermentation with 3% Viognier has subtly expanded the fruit flavor profile to include more red fruit character than previous vintages. Controlling our own vineyards allows us to vine ripen the fruit for full flavor development. Hand harvesting and small lot fermentation with hand punch downs yields wine with complexity, huge varietal character, and smoothness. Finished by aging in small oak barrels, this wine is enjoyable now and will age well.
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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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Viognier:
The most acclaimed white wine grape from France's Rhône Valley, Viognier is a highly aromatic varietal, with a flavor profile that could include peach, apricot, nectarine, lichee, musk and flower blossom. The heady perfume of this varietal is one of its trademarks, although its flavors are sometimes problematic in matching with food. However, it does well with lobster, crab and moderately flavored fish. Use it as an apéritif as an alternative to Chardonnay. The "Rhône Rangers" in California have done an excellent job promoting this varietal.
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