Bonterra Organically Grown Syrah 1998

The 1998 vintage was a late ripening one for Syrah. Our experience with each successive vintage is paying off dramatically with our southern Mendocino vineyards, which are ideal for growing Syrah. We continue to refine our vineyard practices to achieve full ripeness and flavor development, while encouraging textural appeal and balance. Our Syrah showcases a dark red-purple hue. An aromatic, tantalizing nose full of orchard-ripe blackberry, spice, and some vanilla-toast precede full-flavored dark berry and vanilla-spice with a hint of pepper. The wine is fairly rich with a characteristic warmth of the sun that we find in our Syrah. While enjoyable to drink now, additional bottle age will engage the fruit and tannins quite positively.

The 1998 Bonterra Syrah shines with hearty, robust foods like osso bucco, leg of lamb with rosemary, grilled meats, game, and hearty mushroom and tomato-based pastas. Ripe cheeses are also well served by this hearty red.