Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Enthusiast
Smoky, earthy, anise and dark-chocolate aromas give way to concentrated, layered black-plum, clove and blackberry flavors as this full-bodied wine seems to expand on the palate. Its texture is richly tannic and the mouthfeel is generous, prolonging the lush flavors on the finish. A perennial standout, this wine has proven it can age well. Best after 2025.
-
Wine & Spirits
A selection of Terre Rouge’s best barrels, this syrah ages in mostly new French oak for two years, then in bottle prior to release. That maturation rounds the wine’s tannins and softens the structure a bit while the spiciness continues to drive through a smoky, resinous, almost feral atmosphere of fresh blackberries and black plums. The wine feels cool, even in the presence of its alcohol, ending brisk and zesty
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.”
Originally a source of oenological sustenance for gold-seeking miners of the mid-1800s, the Sierra Foothills was the first region in California to produce wines from European grape varieties. Located between Sacramento and the Nevada border, this area’s immigrant settlers chose to forgo growing the then-ubiquitous Mission grape and instead brought with them superior vines from the Old World to plant alongside mining camps.
Zinfandel has been the most important variety of this region since its inception, taking on a spicy character with brambly fruit and firm structure. Amador and El Dorado counties, benefiting from the presence of volcanic and granite soils, are home to the best examples. Bold, robust Rhône Blends and Barbera are also important regional specialties.