Arrowood Saralee's Vineyard Syrah 2003
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Robert
Parker
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This Syrah is a full-bodied wine with a deep, rich purple color and ripe, balanced tannins. The nose of this wine has smoky black cherry and berry jam, a hint of chocolate, as well as caramel and plum. The aromas follow through to the palate, along with flavors of cassis, plum and berry, with subtle smoky oak from the French barrels used in the aging process. The wine finishes long, with a lively peppery spice. This wine was not fined or filtered prior to bottling in order to preserve as much of its complexity and character as possible.
The 2003 Saralee's Vineyard Syrah can be enjoyed with a wide variety of foods. It spices up the neutral and tones down the spicy. Try it with braised lamb shanks, filet mignon with Shiitake mushrooms and potato cakes, or even grilled chicken or snapper, spiced Caribbean-style.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
My favorite of this trio is the 2003 Syrah Saralee’s Vineyard. Blackberry, cassis, incense, Chinese black tea, and pepper aromas jump from the glass of this dark ruby/purple-colored cuvee. Medium to full-bodied with silky tannin, a fleshy mid-palate, and a smooth, persistent finish...
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Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
A standout region for its decidedly Californian take on Burgundian varieties, the Russian River Valley is named for the eponymous river that flows through it. While there are warm pockets of the AVA, it is mostly a cool-climate growing region thanks to breezes and fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme in Russian River, with the best examples demonstrating a unique combination of richness and restraint. The cool weather makes Russian River an ideal AVA for sparkling wine production, utilizing the aforementioned varieties. Zinfandel also performs exceptionally well here. Within the Russian River Valley lie the smaller appellations of Chalk Hill and Green Valley. The former, farther from the ocean, is relatively warm, with a focus on red and white Bordeaux varieties. The latter is the coolest, foggiest parcel of the Russian River Valley and is responsible for outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.