Morgan 2004 Syrah

Winemaker Tasting Notes:
The 2004 Monterey Syrah shows a deeply saturated purple-black color. On the nose, the wine exhibits aromas of blueberry, blackberry, and raspberry, with vanilla and white pepper notes. The palate showcases a wealth of rich fruit with a balanced tannin structure, which integrates nicely into the richness of the fruit.

Winemaking Notes:
Syrah is fermented in open top fermenters using manual punchdown for optimum extraction and structure with compliant tannins. After primary fermentation, the wine is transferred to French oak barrels, of which 25% are new, for malo-lactic fermentation and 10 months of aging. The wine was bottled in December 2005.

Vineyard Notes:
The San Lucas appellation of Southern Monterey County is the primary source of Morgan’s Rhone-type varietals. Temperatures are warmer down valley as the coastal fog doesn't always reach the area, yet overnight lows are still quite cool which retain acidity and lengthen the growing season.

Vintage Notes:
The 2004 vintage produced rich, large-scale wines. A cool, damp spring created a modest crop set. The defining weather event was a statewide heat spike over the Labor Day weekend that drove up sugar content. However, temperatures in the Monterey area soon cooled off dramatically, allowing the grapes to return to more normal sugar and acid levels.

Technical Notes:

Appellation:	Monterey
Alcohol :	14.4%
pH :	3.74
TA:	6.3 g/L
Aging:	14 months
Oak:	25% new Burgundy Barrels
Release:	November 2006