2007 Lavoro Syrah

Stats:

Grapes Harvested on October 8, 2007
Wine Bottled on August 3, 2009
4 barrels produced (100 cases)
98% Syrah, 2% Carignane
50% New European Oak
22 Months Barrel Ageing

Vintage:

The summer of 2007 offered a warm growing season with very little moisture. It was the first of three drought years in Northern California. Grapevines respond well to dry, stressed growing conditions by setting smaller clusters of fruit with small berries. These compact clusters of fruit offer greater intensity of flavor than larger clusters. The Syrah we source comes from a vineyard situated at the very top of Wildcat Mountain, which is exposed to the cool evening breezes that moderate the warm day time temperatures. This is key in properly ripening our Syrah to unparalleled levels of flavor intensity.

Crafting:

On a brisk, clear Monday morning we hand picked our Syrah from the vines. The grapes were gently destemmed and placed into new oak barrels for fermentation. As the fermentation proceeded we mixed the barrels by hand to extract color, tannin and flavor. After two weeks of fermentation we pressed off the young wine, and we refilled the barrels where the wine was aged uninterrupted for nearly two years.

Wine Notes:

This deep garnet colored wine exhibits an exotic aroma combination of anise and tar supported by a base of wild blackberries intermingled with hints of black pepper. Flavors of sweet, brambly blackberries and ripe plums are flanked by velvety tannin that add weight, body and texture. The finish of the wine reveals the carefully integrated oak contribution that lends flavors of roasted coffee beans, vanilla and licorice. This is a long-lived wine that should keep for decades to come.