Renaissance 2002 Syrah

Winemaker Tasting Notes:
This was a top flight vintage for our Syrah, producing a big, dark wine, with a huge, meaty, sweaty, deeply spicy nose with complex seaweed, violet and ripe blueberry notes. The wine is full bodied, firm and structured on the attack, opening further back on the palate to reveal stunning depth and fruit concentration, and a long, spicy/minerally finish. This is the ultimate companion for roast venison or, in lack thereof, Haute-Provence style lamb stew.

Technical Notes:

Appellation:	North Yuba, Sierra Foothills
Varietal:	100% ‘Estate’ Syrah
Harvest:	September 1st -11th, 2002
Average Brix:	24.5
Fermentation:	30 days. Un-inoculated, hot fermentation in stainless steel tanks and open-top fermenters, aeration and sprinkle-over cap (delestage), some manual punchdown
Aging:	Total 15 months. 8 months on fine lees. 1-6 year old oak barrels & puncheons, no SO2 during aging. Some barrel fermentation.
Alcohol:	14.4%
pH:	3.3