The 2007 Syrah opens with enticing brambly and spicy aromas, subtle floral notes and a hint of meatiness. In the mouth, a blue fruit character emerges ranging from blueberry syrup to candied cherries, while subtle hints of salt water taffy and caramel add dimension. The texture is silky and soft, with tannins that are present but fully integrated. With its brambly and spicy notes, it would pair beautifully with wild game, aged cheeses, or the wild mushrooms of springtime.

Nearly perfect weather from April through August gave the impression that the 2007 harvest would be a rare luxury – easy and languid, with grapes ripening right on schedule. As September rolled around, our excitement built as we simply waited for a touch of Indian summer. Instead, we were treated to three weeks of cool rain that put the brakes on flavor development. We had no alternative but to wait and hope that the weather would improve, and by mid-October, it finally did. Two weeks of temperatures in the 80’s, a drying wind, and another two weeks in the mid 70’s brought our vineyards back to life. Grapes that had tasted watery during the early October rains were suddenly bursting with flavor in November and ready to be picked. The harvest was compressed, with 80% of our fruit picked in a narrow November window of less than three weeks.