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2018 WTF Syrah - A-List

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 14:00:06 GMT

2018 WTF Syrah - A-List
Buy Now: $65.00

2018 WTF Syrah. Both the Satisfaction and Top Barrel Syrah wines have been released. This is something other. In winemaking, you can research and postulate all you want, but until you actually put 60 gallons of wine into a $1,200 barrel and wait a couple of years, you don’t really know. Well, now we know. This particular cooper’s barrel was not ready to show us its magic after 2 years, or 3 years. Ernie became concerned at the 4 year mark, as that is the typical barrel maturation period of the most celebrated Côte Rôtie Syrah wines. But he wouldn’t let it go. Hope springs eternal, and by spring 2023 the planets had aligned to where we could finally Waft The Fruit! (Single barrel production, 24 cases)

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2018 Satisfaction Syrah

Mon, 5 Dec 2022 14:31:32 GMT

2018 Satisfaction Syrah
Buy Now: $40.00

Satisfaction Syrah is 100% Amalie Robert Estate grown Syrah. Among our 35 acres of Pinot Noir, we have planted 0.80 acres (1,188 vines to be exact) of Syrah. This planting represents 4 clones selected for the cool Northern Rhône area of Côte Rôtie, and now Dallas, Oregon.

We grow Syrah right alongside Pinot Noir, and most of the vineyard work is very similar. The primary difference is that we have to wait until November to harvest. We think it is worth the wait.

Syrah is a very adaptive variety, and much like Pinot Noir, reflects its growing conditions. Syrah is grown in the hottest parts of the southern Hemisphere where it is known as “Shiraz” and a bit farther south into the cool climate of New Zealand as well. The entire west coast of the United States grows Syrah from California, to the warm areas of eastern Washington and now very small plantings in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

However, the birthplace of Syrah seems to be the Northern Rhône Valley. Recent DNA research shows Syrah to be a cross between Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche. Both of these varieties are indigenous to France. Syrah is planted from the cool regions of the Northern Rhône where it is bottled as a single varietal, to the tip of the Southern Rhône where it is often blended with other varietals.

The Vintage: In the immortal words of Tom Petty, “Let me up, I’ve had enough.” Yeah, it was like that. Too farmin’ hot and no fall sprinkle to rehydrate the vines. No ambiguity, no uncertain terms. “Hotter than the hubs of Hell!” as Ernie’s paternal grandmother would tell you. And as farmer’s we just take it. What choice do we have? Oh sure, you can irrigate if you are making that kind of wine. Or just buy a couple cases of beer and invite over a few friends, strategically positioned in the driest part of the vineyard. The lower and especially the upper bounds of climate change have exceeded a tolerable distribution curve by several more than just a few standard deviations. Miss me yet? – Vintage 2011 channeling vintage 2007.

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2018 Heirloom Cameo Chardonnay

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 15:35:13 GMT

2018 Heirloom Cameo Chardonnay
Buy Now: $50.00

Heirloom Cameo is our barrel fermented Chardonnay. Or as Dena would explain it: “This wine wraps you in an elegant silk scarf and instantly makes you feel really good - about being you.”

The wine was fermented in a single large format French oak barrel or “puncheon.” The goal of this fermentation is to enhance the breadth and depth of the wine through contact with oak and extended yeast or “lees” aging.

Stylistically, this wine is made to be enjoyed throughout its time in bottle. Upon release the wine is fresh with pungent aromas and a broad mouth feel, followed by a crisp and satisfying finish. We expect this wine to age gracefully for several years and will reward a laddered approach to monitoring its development.

The Chardonnay for this wine is estate grown in 1 small block. The blend is about half Dijon clone 76 and half Dijon clone 95.

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