Winemaker Notes
The 2005 Greg Norman Camatta Hills Vineyard, Reserve Syrah is deep crimson in color. Rich aromas of ripe blackberry and cassis are enhanced by notes of wood smoke and spice. The elegant palate has a jammy quality and exhibits flavors of mulberry, black cherry and cocoa with cedar-like oak characters evident on the back palate. The wine has a firm structure with a beautiful balance of flavor, mouthfeel and fine ripe tannin.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
This flattering, soft, luscious 2005 Syrah Reserve Camatta Hills offers intriguing, smoky, blackberry fruit as well as a hint of barbecue spice. Outstanding density and a succulent, chunky style result in a sensual, fruit-laden wine with plenty of Syrah character. It is meant to be enjoyed over the next 3-4 years.
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.”
The largest and perhaps most varied of California’s wine-growing regions, the Central Coast produces a good majority of the state's wine. This vast California wine district stretches from San Francisco all the way to Santa Barbara along the coast, and reaches inland nearly all the way to the Central Valley.
Encompassing an extremely diverse array of climates, soil types and wine styles, it contains many smaller sub-AVAs, including San Francisco Bay, Monterey, the Santa Cruz Mountains, Paso Robles, Edna Valley, Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Maria Valley.
While the Central Coast California wine region could probably support almost any major grape varietiy, it is famous for a few Central Coast reds and whites. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel are among the major ones. The Central Coast is home to many of the state's small, artisanal wineries crafting unique, high-quality wines, as well as larger producers also making exceptional wines.