The 2006 Syrah shine with bright garnet in the glass and presents a bouquet of blackberries, plums, cinnamon, and campfires. Hints of blueberry, blackberry, figs, thyme, and well-smoked meats dance on the palate with a pleasing structure to the wine and a rich, long finish. Pairs well with Skewered Beef and Red Onions!
Vineyard: Four acres of Syrah cuttings from nearby Maridon Vineyards planted in our Finley Vineyard in 1999. Finely, named after early settlers, is a 7-acre vineyard in the eastern slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The unirrigated, south-facing vineyard is on a knoll with soils that change from gravel to shallow clay as the vineyard descends from 800 to 750 feet.
Harvest & Cellar: The grapes were picked by hand, destemmed, and co-fermented in a small lot temperature-controlled stainless steel fermentor with gentle hand punchdown or pumpover four times a day. After pressing, the wine went through malolactic fermentation and 11 months of barrel aging. 264 cases were bottled in July 2007.
The rainfall for 2005-2006 was 38.9 inches, about 34% above average. Early rain in November and December gave the plants a good start for wintering. Had a cold spell in mid-February, but the Viognier was fine. Heavy March rains continued into April, giving the vineyard a good watering up to middle spring. A 100+ heat spell in early July followed by a cooler than average summer ensured fruit ripening and long hang time before harvest.