2008 Syrah

Lamorinda (Contra Costa County)

We are very excited to release our first Lamorinda Syrah in nearly a year-and-a-half. This wine is once again a testament to our conviction that Lamorinda is a great place to grow Rhone varietal grapes, especially Syrah. The sources for our 2008 Lamorinda Syrah consist of fruit from three Moraga vineyards: Magalhaes, Nazeri, and our neighbors the Studebakers' vineyards. All three components provide slightly different characteristics that combine to produce a delicious, Northern-Rhone styled Syrah.

In the glass, the wine presents a gorgeous violet-red color with indigo tinges around the rim. The nose starts with classic Syrah notes of blackberry accented by the penetrating essence of white pepper and hints of game and menthol. If you give it enough time in glass (or save half the bottle for the next day), these more assertive aromas evolve into a beautifully integrated, intoxicating combination of ripe raspberry, anise, and smoky cured sweet bacon. The mouthfeel is soft and supple, with enough acidity to avoid unctuousness, revealing a juicy core of briar and mulberries. The finish is smooth and pleasant with just a hint of fine-grained tannins to add to the wine's versatility with food pairings.

This wine would serve as a beautiful accompaniment to grilled, marinated lamb tenderloins finished with a blueberry compote/black peppercorn reduction and dressed with sautéed mushrooms. Try it today with the mushroom turnovers! Drinking beautifully now with sufficient aeration, this wine will also age gracefully for 7-10 years.