Beckmen Purisima Mountain Vineyard Syrah 2000

This is the second year for the Purisima Mountain Vineyard Syrah. The Syrah fruit in 2000 came in with wonderful ripeness from the fairly warm growing season. Prior to harvest we made three fruit drops to limit the yield to 2 tons per acre to ensure optimal ripeness. The Syrah was hand harvested in mid October, completely destemed and gently crushed, followed by a two day cold soak. Fermentation took place in open tops for a period of 10-17 days depending on the lot. The caps were punched down by hand three times daily. Upon completion of alcoholic fermentation the wines were gently pressed and racked to barrel. MLF completed spontaneously in barrel.

For 2000 it was our new French clone 877 that stood out above the rest to take the lead role in this years Purisima Syrah with smaller portions of clone 99, clone 1, and Estrella playing the supporting roles. The wine spent 18 months in 50% new French oak and 50% 1 and 2 year old barrels prior to bottling. This wine is unfined and unfiltered.