2004 Ventana Vineyards Syrah

Varietals:	100% Syrah
Appellation:	Arroyo Seco
Alcohol:	14.3%
Tasting Notes:	Undeniably feral, provocatively complex, this demands attention. Floral aromatics of lavender and violets, black and red fruits also show through with just a hint from the peppermill. Beautifully concentrated, this opaque purple colored wine is loaded with flavors of red raspberries, black cherries, smoke, olives, cured meat, and white pepper.
Comments:	Ventana Vineyards are located just south west of Salinas in Monterey County. This vineyard is unique in that the Syrah vines are planted on their own rootstock, not grafted. The sandy soils prevent the development of the phylloxera bug, a root louse that likes to feed on the susceptible roots of vinifera vines. We believe that allowing the Syrah to be on its own rootstock provides a more true expression of the variety and the vineyard.
Reviews:	Charles Olken Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine: 92 points Winemaker Jeff Cohn's various red wines are always appointed with extra measures of ripeness, fruity extract and rich oak, and, while this substantial Syrah bottling is very much a case in point, it exhibits exemplary balance and is never less than keenly varietal in scent and taste. Its temperate tannins lend structural spine without fighting against fruit, and its lengthy finish holds on to the very deep mix of ripe berries and peppery spice that marks this one a solid success.
Retail:	$30
Expanded Notes:	PDF Printable Version