2007 Syrah (Paso Robles)

90 SCORE - "Elegant and accessible..very fine & impressive Syrah at a good price.  Rich, smooth tannins...interesting flavors of blackberries, currants, sour cherry candy, tobacco, leather, crushed black pepper and smoky sandalwood." 

Our 2007 Syrah comes from grapes picked in mid-September.  Aged for 18 months in French oak, the wine is a deep ruby-red color which hints at the opulent fruit flavors of berry, plum and black cherry which greet the senses and are complemented by soft, silky tannins.  Aromas of blackberry, chocolate and caramel with a hint of smoky, sandalwood spice invite you to enjoy a glass!

Wine Profile

Tasting Notes
An inviting, well-balanced wine, our 2007 Syrah expresses aromas of blackberry, chocolate and caramel with a touch of smoky, sandalwood spice. The deep ruby-red color hints at the opulent fruit flavors of berry, plum and black cherry which greet the senses and are complemented by soft silky tannins. "This friendly, easy to like Syrah offers sweet black cherry, plum, and wild blackberry aromas and flavors. Highlighted with spice, smoke, and earth, it's a great quaffer and a good choice on the table with hearty beef or lamb dishes." Kathy Marcks-Hardesty, November 2009

Ratings
90 Score / Editors Choice - Wine Enthusiast, Feb 2010. "Elegant and accessible style, this is a very fine and impressive Syrah, at a good price. Rich, smooth tannins that frame interesting flavors of blackberries, currants, sour cherry candy, tobacco, leather, crushed black pepper and smoky sandalwood." Pick of the Week - Laurie Daniel's syndicated wine column - December 2009. "Here's a syrah to pair with hearty winter dishes. It's ripe and juicy, with blackberry, vanilla and a hint of smoke. There's a tannic edge on the finish." Laurie Daniel

Awards
92 Score - California State Fair Wine Competition 2010 BEST OF CLASS - SOUTH CENTRAL COAST APPELLATION - California State Fair Wine Competition 2010 GOLD MEDAL - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition 2010 89 Score - Beverage Testing Institute, June 2010 Silver Medal - Los Angeles International Wine& Spirits Competition 2010 Silver Medal - Orange County Fair Wine Competition 2010 Silver Medal - Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo International Wine Competition 2010 Silver Medal - Central Coast Wine Competition 2010 Silver Medal - Long Beach Grand Cru Wine Competition 2009 Recommended - Kathy Marcks-Hardesty, New Times, November 5, 2009 Pick of the Week - Laurie Daniel's syndicated wine column, December 6, 2009

Vineyard Notes
Our 2007 Syrah is a product of Paso Robles grown across the appellation. Some of the fruit from two of our Hall Ranch vineyards; the majority originates in the loamy soils of the “Terrace Vineyard,” the next component is crafted from the the stony decomposed granite soils of our “Bench Vineyard,” The combination of these two vineyards, and others, yields a wine that shows the rich opulence of Syrah brought to rich maturity in the rolling hills of Paso Robles.

Production Notes
Our 2007 Syrah comes from grapes picked in mid-September. Maceration lasted 10 days and was assisted by traditional hand pump-over to amplify color and flavor release. Subsequent to fermentation, the wine was drawn off and the skins pressed. After a short settling period, the wine was racked into French oak barrels where it completed malolactic fermentation and matured for 16 months. Prior to bottling the wine received a final racking to stainless steel where the blend was assembled in preparation for bottling.

Other Notes
87% Syrah, 13% Grenache

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