Featured Today
2006 Syrah, Annadel Estate, Sonoma Valley
Released
June 2010, 151 cases produced
Internet-Direct Price: $28.50 / 750 mL bottle
Westwood’s 2006 Annadel Estate Vineyard Syrah is a revelation, even to us. A growing season featuring late rains and warm temperatures gave us jungle vines with moderate yields. We harvested in October as usual and conducted a completely average ferment. The wine seemed decent enough during barrel aging and closed in as expected after bottling. Nothing prepared us for the development this wine has shown in the bottle.
Pour out a glass; admire the deep color; slip your nose over the rim and inhale a fragrance that takes you away. Not to California, or Washington state, or Australia, or anywhere else but the northern Rhône, somewhere between Hermitage and Côte Rôtie. We aren’t trying to imitate these wines – we are just doing our best to preserve the sense of place of our unique vineyard. Our 2006 Syrah shows a beautiful leanness and minerality.
Winemaker's tasting notes:
The appearance of this wine in the glass is inky dark red with rose-purple edges - if one could see through the wine it would have perfect clarity. The aromas that initially jump out of the glass are complicated, herbal, peppery and truffled. With some air the aroma develops blueberry fruit, caramel and mineral notes over the course of an hour. On the palate the wine shows a refreshing leanness, acid balance and restrained tannins. The finish is long and grades into a complex aftertaste reminiscent of the nose.
Our Annadel Estate Syrah continues to demonstrate that a big wine can be light on its feet; also that our Syrah does not need a heavy dose of new wood to be interesting and enjoyable. Far from being over-oaked, weighty and fatiguing, this wine is a seriously delicious accompaniment to meats, red pastas and strong cheeses.
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Our 2006 Estate Syrah shows continuing evolution of expression toward the classically styled wines of the Northern Rhône.
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