2013 Syrah

This vintage 2013 Syrah wine from our estate vineyards exceeds all expectations our beloved past vintages have created! Aromas of lifted raspberry and rose garden when you open the bottle followed by ripe boysenberry and black currant after decanting. If you can wait an hour or so to drink (not many of my customers can!) the wine will show hints of coffee and dark chocolate. This full-bodied Syrah is plush with flavors; the depth and structure of this silky varietal provide long cellaring potential. The drought climate of 2013 allowed these grapes to gradually develop flavor and tannin while retaining natural acidity. Long, long finish. Enjoy each sip!

Viticulture and Winemaking

Variety: Syrah Noir, planted 1999 in single vineyard block, the Flagship red variety from the Northern Rhone of France. Noir meaning “dark”, this is a traditional grape from Cote Rotie and Hermitage.

Region: Fair Play, El Dorado County, Sierra Foothills

Vintage: 2013

Production: 125 cases

Fermentation: Macerated 7 days on the skins, gently pressed then allowed to complete primary and secondary fermentation in all neutral French Oak barrels. Barrel-aged another 16 months and bottle aged 5 years prior to release. 

Winemakers Notes: These vines are trained on a quadra-lateral trellis system to reduce the vigor of the canes and concentrate the energy of the plant to the fruit. As a result, this vineyard consistently produces one of the top Syrah’s in all of California year after year. 2013 produced a full-bodied and elegantly structured Syrah, rich with dark violet, blackberry and black currant fruit.