$35.00 per bottle / $378 per
case
$29.75 per bottle / $336 per case
(Members)
90+ points ~ Stephen Tanzer's International Wine
Cellar
"Opaque ruby. Dark berry preserves, olive and smoky Indian spices
on the fragrant nose and in the mouth. Displays very good depth and
energy, with a late jolt of cracked pepper adding bite. Dusty
tannins give shape and grip to the long, smoke-accented finish. I'd
give this taut, structured wine at least a few years to unwind, or
at least decant it for a couple of hours." - Josh Raynolds
2008 Syrah "Alamo Creek"
One never wants to get gushy about a particular wine. A more
impressive one will come along in time (one hopes), but this
particular wine of all of our fine products is the one that just
blows my mind, and of which I am incredibly proud. It’s a wine I
could perhaps never have dreamed of years ago when I imagined Syrah
as primarily about spice, à l’Hermitage, and about perfume, à la
Côte Rotie. This wine is about earth, very much à la Cornas, and
perforce about minerals and about qi, or life-force. There is
something utterly primal about it.
If you were to see the Alamo Creek Vineyard, you’d find it planted
on an old riverbed littered with cobbles. Stones, I am told, in the
process of weathering, yield the richest source of available
minerals to plants. I am forbidden by right-thinking governmental
agencies from saying this wine is restorative of health and
vitality, but it will at least restore your faith in the magical
possibilities of the grape.
Nearly opaque with a black-cherry colored robe, the wine offers
aromas of spring violets, anise, and Provençal herbs like lavender
and thyme. Slightly peppery with a meaty core, with nuances of
cherry, black fruits, and spice. Supple tannins and slight gaminess
give it savory balance. Utterly not a fruit bomb: a very elegant,
very Old World style Syrah. For optimal expression, we suggest a
gentle decanting, allowing the wine to breathe an hour or two prior
to consumption.
Vital Statistics
Blend: 100% syrah
Vineyard: Alamo Creek
Appellation: San Luis Obispo County
Alcohol by Volume: 13.5%
Production: 572 cases
TA: 0.69 g/100 ml
pH: 3.80
Cellaring: 2-5 years from release (Feb. 2011)
Serving Temp: 55-60º F
