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Los Carneros Syrah

Los Carneros Syrah Wine Details
Price: $28.00 per bottle

Description: I am truly amazed at the affinity that Syrah has shown for the soils and microclimate of our Los Carneros ranch. Syrah is the grape that demonstrates its greatest potential for grandeur in the Northern Rhone appellations of Côte-Rotie and Hermitage. Syrah exhibits many of the same brilliant fruit and smoky/tarry characteristics, here, in Carneros. The steep northerly slope of our hillside vineyard seems to help bring forward the fresh cracked pepper and berry notes that are typical of Syrah from a cooler climate. The high quality we count on each year does not disappoint, so beginning with this vintage, we have decided to showcase this wine with a new single vineyard designation. In the winery, careful management, hygiene and modern winemaking techniques contribute to the explosive fruit nature of this wine without, I feel, the funky animal aromas that mar Old World examples of the grape. Delicious now, the ripe, medium-weight tannins of our 2002 Syrah will allow this wine to age beautifully for 5 to 7 years.

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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