| Alcohol: | 14.8% |
| Appellation: | Russian River Valley |
| Bottling Date: | March 03, 2009 |
| Harvest Date: | The fruit for this wine was harvested on October 13 at a yield of 3.6 tons per acre and a brix of 24.8. |
| Release Date: | October 15, 2009 |
| Special Designation: | Top Block |
| Time In Oak: | 19 mo |
| Vineyard Notes: | Top Block lies at the top of our hill, immediately adjacent to our winery. Rootstock was planted at the site in 1998 and field budded to the Estrella River Valley clone of Syrah in the fall of that year. A single row of Viognier (1/8 acre) separates the Syrah from our Tara Vineyard Pinot noir and provides an additional source of grapes for this wine. The two varieties are harvested together as a field blend.
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| Vintage Notes: | The 2006 growing season was a year of extremes including the wettest March in recorded history as well as a July that had the longest heat spell ever recorded in California. The combination of a wet winter and spring followed by warm summer weather caused luxuriant growth of both leaves and fruit. Vineyards required considerable excess work to bring the vines into balance and to reduce crop load. |
| Winemakers Notes: | After sorting, the grapes were destemmed into tanks for immediate fermentation. The Syrah and Viognier are fermented together to allow for co-pigmentation in the style of northern Rhone winemaking. The small amount of Viognier grapes was all added to one tank to allow for adjustments in the amount to be used in the final blend, approximately 2.5 % in 2006. A combination of tanks were used - small, open top tanks to enhance aromatics and produce a wine with a softer palate and larger closed tanks for better color and structure development. Thrice daily pneumatic punch downs and pump overs took place throughout fermentation. Once dry, the wine was gently pressed in a membrane press keeping free run and press fractions separate. Malolactic fermentation took place in oak barrels. |
| Year: | 2006 |
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This wine greets you with beautiful aromas of white nectarine, citrus and a touch of jasmine and then follows through on the palate with the rich essence of blueberry, plum, leather and nutmeg. A touch of vanilla and a very silky mouthfeel make for a balanced, elegant Syrah.