2005 Syrah Napa Valley
$40.00


Blend
100% Syrah
100% Lone Canyon Vineyard,
Napa Valley

Vineyard
The 2005 Ladera Syrah is our second release of this varietal. Lone Canyon Vineyard is a Ladera estate vineyard located in the western hills of the Napa Valley on the flank of Mt Veeder. The total acreage on Lone Canyon Vineyard is 480 acres, but only 75 acres are suitable for planting to grapes because of the topography. The vineyard is steep to very steep with elevations up to 1,100 feet above sea level. The climate is relatively cool, primarily because of its elevation, but also due to its southerly location in Napa Valley. This particular block is just over 2 acres in size and sits on a very steep slope of roughly 26% grade. The site is on the lower side of a west facing slope, with very rocky, well drained soil. The block was planted in 2000 with ENTAV clone 877 grafted onto 101-14 rootstock.

The 2005 growing season was longer and cooler than normal which stretched out the harvest but maintained wonderful fruit quality. Patience was the key this year and in the end it allowed us to produce a high quality Syrah. We picked on October 10, 2005 with perfect ripeness. The yield was very low at 1 1/2 tons per acre, with small berries and sparse, open clusters.

Winemaking and Tasting Notes
After crushing, the grapes were cold soaked for 5 days before the beginning of fermentation. Fermentation was then started with mostly native and some commercial wine yeasts. The fermentation lasted 10 days, and was pressed at dryness. The wine was then drained from the skins and the skins pressed into several press fractions, depending on taste. The wine was barrel aged for 17 months in new (27%) and 1 to 3 year old barrels, all of French oak. The wine was bottled March 9, 2007.

The 2005 Ladera Syrah is very typical for the varietal and for the rigors of the Lone Canyon Vineyard. The wine has rich, meaty and gamey flavors, with a hint of the bramble fruit characteristic of Lone Canyon. The texture of the wine, a heritage to its mountain location, is very lush with an abundance of powerful, but velvety tannins. The 2005 continues the success achieved in the 2004 inaugural vintage.