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The Sunglasses Are Off In Wine Country!

With the grape harvest already running two weeks behind thanks to late spring rains, the latest twist for the 2010 vintage is a cold spell.  A foggy mist extended far up the Russian River Valley the past few mornings, with unseasonably cool temperatures lasting all day long.  Windshield wipers on and sunglasses off at the end of July!

Well, a decent crop is set, and as long as the rains don't come early, the result could still be a stunning vintage...

Powerhouse Syrah Wines Garner Big Recognition

Recently awarded a 90 points rating from The Wine Spectator, the Saracina 2006 Rodgers Creek Syrah ($32) is a craftsman's dream.  A third of the fruit was put into open top fermenters and treaded by foot!  Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months, including 6 months of native malolactic fermentation, the wine was bottled unfiltered to preserve every drop of character.
And the fruit; in a word, fabulous.  Hot afternoon heat spikes here in Sonoma County are mitigated by cool afternoon breezes that are a daily occurrence at this Sonoma Coast AVA vineyard location.  Slow ripening of the grapes on this cool site results in long hang times and thus excellent flavor development, with harvest in 2006 during the first week of November.

The wine offers classic syrah flavors, intense but smooth.  Ripe black fruits and a smoky inner mouth perfume.  Wild herbs cavort on the finish.  Only 124 cases were produced, get this amazing wine now while you can!

The distinctive fruit for the Peterson 2006 Gravity Flow Block Syrah ($45) comes from a rocky knoll on top of Bradford Mountain in the Dry Creek Valley, with about 8% of the vineyard planted to Viognier!  Co-fermenting the Syrah and Viogner in the Cote Rotie tradition actually increases the depth and even the darkness of this juicy and complex wine...yes that's right, red and white together!

A sweet, unusually floral and aromatic nose is probably dominated by the Viognier, while the wine's smooth, lush mouthfeel is filled with classic Syrah flavors.  A touch of tar and tobacco essences excites the palate, along with spicy pepper, rich dark chocolate and an intriguing mineral edge (indigenous to the Bradford Mountain terroir).

All this and firm tannins on the finish suggest a date in concert with some rich roasted meats, or ribs or big juicy roasted portabella mushroom off the summer grill.  22 months in French oak barrels, unfiltered, only 275 cases.  94 Points and Editors Choice, Wine Enthusiast!

By the way, if you have the discipline to leave either of these wines alone in the cellar, they would continue to improve gracefully for 5-10 years.