Elizabeth Spencer Sonoma Coast Syrah 2011
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Elizabeth Spencer Winery, founded in 1998, begins with a belief that wine should be delicious, inviting, and representative of its place of origin, which is evident in every bottle. Balanced, elegant, and approachable, Elizabeth Spencer wines are made from grapes grown in Northern California’s finest wine regions, focusing on Napa Valley, Sonoma Coast, and Mendocino. They consider themselves stewards of the land, with a profound responsibility to pass along a clean environment and revitalized, healthy soil to future generations. They look to the future with a focus on farming practices and partnering with growers that have an equal commitment to the land.
Elizabeth Spencer Winery is the realization of a dream by husband-and-wife team Elizabeth Pressler and Spencer Graham, a couple who each enjoyed successful careers in the wine industry and share a love and respect for wine. With a "partners in life and partners in wine" philosophy their wines were built on the importance of strong relationships.
In 2005, they acquired the 1872 brick Post Office building on the corner of Rutherford Road and Hwy 29 and restored the historic property which opened in May 2006 for tastings.
In 2021, Elizabeth Spencer Winery joined Boisset Collection where its legacy will continue. Under the leadership of Jean-Charles Boisset, Elizabeth Spencer Winery will continue to build upon and cultivate its strong relationships.
Led by winemaker Sarah Vandendriessche, the wines of Elizabeth Spencer are balanced, elegant and approachable. Made to drink among friends and family, they are inviting, accessible in their youth, display ample fruit and are characterized by intensity and purity of flavor. Working closely with growers, they produce singular varietal wines from grapes grown in the most recognized areas in Northern California, ensuring each wine is a true reflection of its appellation.
Heidi Peterson Barrett, renowned Napa Valley Winemaker, has joined Elizabeth Spencer as Consulting Winemaker, beginning with the 2022 vintage. She will be working closely with Winemaker Sarah Vandendriessche
"We love Napa Valley… we want to be in every village of our valley; and as a Frenchman, Rutherford has been a dream of mine for many years … It breathes the story of wine and the origins of this great valley." –Jean Charles Boisset
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 vast appellation covering Sonoma County’s Pacific coastline, the Sonoma Coast AVA runs all the way from the Mendocino County border, south to the San Pablo Bay. The region can actually be divided into two sections—the actual coastal vineyards, marked by marine soils, cool temperatures and saline ocean breezes—and the warmer, drier vineyards further inland, which are still heavily influenced by the Pacific but not quite with same intensity.
Contained within the appellation are the much smaller Fort Ross-Seaview and Petaluma Gap AVAs.
The Sonoma Coast is highly regarded for elegant Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and, increasingly, cool-climate Syrah. The wines have high acidity, moderate alcohol, firm tannin, and balanced ripeness.