2011 LAS MADRES VINEYARD

Syrah

CARNEROSsonoma county

ALLOCATION LIST: $43.20
RETAIL: $48.00

—  SOLD OUT —

LIBRARY RELEASE

TASTING NOTES

We’ve already had a lot of fun pouring samples of this wine from the incredibly distinctive, cool-climate Las Madres vineyard on the Sonoma side of Carneros. There is a growing cadre of Syrah aficionados recognizing Las Madres as one of the truly individualistic Syrah sites in California. It is captivating, characterful stuff and the more you dig into it the more it reveals. White pepper, black and green olive, graphite, blue and black fruits, lavender, we could go on and on. It’s an especially surprising treat for “Old World” Syrah fans as it echoes the aromas and flavors more commonly associated with Cote Rotie and Hermitage. There is a brooding, primal quality here making it a distinct counterpoint to the more exuberantly lush Kalen’s Big Boy bottling. If you enjoy Syrah, a side-by-side comparison is a fascinating and wonderful celebration of the grape.

Fermented with 60% whole clusters and aged in only 25% new oak. It’s hard not to get all geeky about this wine and we’re obviously having a hard time restraining ourselves. Something to sniff, sip, savor and ponder… it’s a wine that has much to say. We think it will have a glorious cellar life and deserves a spot in any Syrah fan’s collection.

DRINKING WINDOWS

Prime drinking: late 2013 to 2018
Graceful ageability: 2020+

VINEYARDS

100% Las Madres Vineyard

CLONES

50% 174, 50% 300

STATS

pH: 3.92?  |  TA: 5.5 g/L?  |  Alcohol: 14.2%?
Bottling: April 22, 2013  |  Pre-Release: Fall 2013  |  Retail Release: Spring 2014
Cases Produced: 95

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