2009 Estate Syrah
Appellation: Edna Valley
Varietal: 100% Syrah
Clones: Estrella River, 174, 383
Oak treatment: 22 months in 30% new French Oak.
Alcohol: 14.3%
Cases made: 300
Release date: March 2012
$32.00. SOLD OUT

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$32.00 SOLD OUT

ACCLAIM
90 Points: "This is a superb wine for the money."- Robert Parker Jr, The Wine Advocate

THE VINEYARD
Chamisal was the first vineyard planted in the Edna Valley in 1973 and now comprises 80 acres planted to 5 varieties and 25 clonal selections. Proximity to the Pacific Ocean creates a long temperate growing season with extended hang time, which combines with the calcareous, clay-rich soil to produce fruit with exceptional intensity and complex flavors.

VINTAGE
The third year of a drought was combined with a cool spring and summer. A long, slow ripening curve followed with a classic Indian summer of warm October weather. This pushed our late-ripening Rhone varietals to peak ripeness.

WINEMAKING
The fruit was hand picked in the cool of the night and meticulously hand sorted, then destemmed and gravity fed into small open top fermentors. After a three-day cold soak, a long, cool fermentation was initiated using native yeasts. Gentle pumpovers were utilized to optimize extraction. Following fermentation, the wine was racked to 30% new French oak barrels for a period of 22 months with minimal racking.

COLONAL SELECTION
This vintage, three different Syrah clones were selected to give the wine deep complexity with a core of powerful fruit. Clone 383 makes up 40% of this wine, providing depth and intensity. Clone 174 and Estrella River Clone represent 30% of the blend each, and contribute plush, forward berry fruit and secondary notes of ground coffee and roasted meat, respectively.

TASTING NOTES
Our 2009 Syrah bursts with a bounty of ripe black plum and blueberry fruit on the nose that fade into notes of ground coffee and black pepper. Densely concentrated with ample black fruit and hints of bacon, the palate is weighty with a plush, almost syrupy texture with supple tannins on the lasting finish.