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2007 Syrah Whole Cluster
Wine Nickname
“Ink Spot”
Terroir
County: Mendocino.
Appellation: Mendocino
Vineyard: Bells Echo Vineyard.
Site Specifics: the
vineyard is located three miles west of Hopland and 15 miles east of
the Pacific Ocean, in the narrow end of a long valley at an elevation
of 575 feet. The sun ducks behind the western mountain ridge of the
valley in the late afternoon, protecting the fruit from extreme western
exposure. Evening ocean breezes provide natural cooling of the
vineyard. This unique microclimate, combined with sustainable farming
practices, results in low yield and long hang time that enables the
fruit to develop intensity with balance. The Syrah block is planted on
an east-west orientation in volcanic soil with sandy loam. The vines
consist of two clones: 174 and 383.
Color and Aroma
The color is black cherry red. Aromatics include mixed berries, green olives, lilac and damp earth.
Flavor Profile
Very
savory flavors, with olives, lilac, anise, and roasted meat. As the
wine opens, it bounces back and forth between bright red berries and
earthy mushroom-like characteristics. This deep and complex wine will
cellar well for many years.
Technique
We waited until October 14th to harvest, picking each clone separately. 100% of each clone lot was left whole cluster. We punched down the grapes by foot at least twice daily (we're not kidding - look at the picture at the top right of this page). Fermentation was natural, cold, and steady, lasting 26 days. At dryness each lot was pressed to neutral French oak barrels (15% new) for completion of malolactic fermentation and aging for 10 months. As always, we added nothing to the wine except a small amount of SO2 before bottling it in September 2007, unfiltered and unfined.
Geek Info
pH: 3.79
TA: 8.8 g/L
Brix: 23.8
Residual
sugar: 0.00%
Alcohol 14.5%
Cases produced: 437
