Vineyards
Planted in 1998 at the top of Bradford Mountain this tiny two-acre
block of organically farmed Syrah is situated next to a strand
of madrone, manzanita and oak trees, following a slope that
leads to the headwaters of Wine Creek. Red volcanic soil,
called boomer soil, dominates Bradford Mountain. This soil
type and the steep slope help increase vine stress, forcing
them to reach deeper into the soil for moisture and mineral
nutrients. Only 14 miles from the ocean, this block is cooled
each evening by the rolling fog. Because of the higher elevation,
the sun's intensity magnifies the vines' natural tannins and
anthocyanins. Organic farming is also key in ensuring increased
polyphenols, which add greater aromatic depth, and rich color.
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Vintage
2006 was a brilliant year for Syrah, and we're psyched
to see how this baby ages. Early spring rains raised some concern
and we had to drop some green fruit, which concentrated the
remaining red berries after veraison. July was quite hot this
year too, but the heat caused vines to shut down which extended
harvest out to mid-September. We patiently waited for flavors
to develop as the tannins ripened and the sugars slowly increased.
Harvest lasted a glorious two hours, and we got the fruit back
just in time to enjoy savory carne asada by 11AM!
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Wine
Layer upon layer of rich dark plum, blackberry and
blueberry accented with dried flowers and light wood smoke introduce
this wine. The initial aromatic notes transition into licorice,
spice and rose candy, revealing just what stressed vines can
offer. After a wave of intense black fruit, spice and acidity,
the wine softens, forming a core of chocolate, blackberry and
plum. This quaffable wine finishes with notes of cocoa dusted
blueberries and hints of lavender that showcase the “fringeness” of
this block. There are plenty of ripe tannins that frame the
core of this wine, but the concentration and focus of fruit
and spice persist like a single note on a 1965 Santa Cruz guitar.
For ideal tasting, decant this wine for up to an hour.$40 per bottle.
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