Winemaker Notes
Here is another great Syrah!! Again with a warm vintage we gained great color and dramatic structure. The aromas of our 2004 are intense and very ripe with a background note of spicy toasted French oak. Scents of plums, blackberries and violets are dominant. The flavors are dark and rich on the palate following through with the dark fruit theme. The wine is soft in its tannins but balanced with good acidity.
Vineyards and Growing Season:
The 2004 growing season was hot with deep ripening fruit that gave us wines of
good structure. Both sugars and acids were balanced and optimal throughout our
contracted Syrah vineyards. I believe that Syrah achieves best results in our
climate if allowed to begin its characteristic dehydration. I remain dedicated to
blending different vineyard sources to achieve balanced, full flavored wines.
Winemaking:
ICV D54 yeast was used with a maximum fermentation temp of 88F
Pump-overs 2 to 3 times daily until fermented to ca. 5 degrees brix
Bottled 7/05
Malo-lactic positive
Aged in both American and French oak barrels
Alcohol: 13.8%
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 large and geographically diverse AVA capable of producing a wide variety of wine styles, the Columbia Valley AVA is home to 99% of Washington state’s total vineyard area. A small section of the AVA even extends into northern Oregon!
Because of its size, it is necessarily divided into several distinctive sub-AVAs, including Walla Walla Valley and Yakima Valley—which are both further split into smaller, noteworthy appellations. A region this size will of course have varied microclimates, but on the whole it experiences extreme winters and long, hot, dry summers. Frost is a common risk during winter and spring. The towering Cascade mountain range creates a rain shadow, keeping the valley relatively rain-free throughout the entire year, necessitating irrigation from the Columbia River. The lack of humidity combined with sandy soils allows for vines to be grown on their own rootstock, as phylloxera is not a serious concern.
Red wines make up the majority of production in the Columbia Valley. Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant variety here, where it produces wines with a pleasant balance of dark fruit and herbs. Wines made from Merlot are typically supple, with sweet red fruit and sometimes a hint of chocolate or mint. Syrah tends to be savory and Old-World-leaning, with a wide range of possible fruit flavors and plenty of spice. The most planted white varieties are Chardonnay and Riesling. These range in style from citrus and green apple dominant in cooler sites, to riper, fleshier wines with stone fruit flavors coming from the warmer vineyards.