Twisted Oak 2003 Syrah

Tasting Notes:
This Syrah is Big, Bold and Deep Purple in color. You’ll detect pronounced aromas of raspberries and white peppers, along with perhaps a little Smoke on the Water. You’ll taste Lazy flavors of plums, grapes, vanilla, cloves and pepper. This is a wine that might make you feel like a Highway Star, but it might be better to stay at home and enjoy it with your Woman From Tokyo.

Vineyard Notes
The 2003 Calaveras Syrah is primarily a blend of two different Calaveras County vineyards: the Tanner Vineyard, located directly across the valley from Twisted Oak off of Highway 4 in Vallecito; and the Ferriere Vineyard located on Calaveras County’s Coyote Ridge overlooking the massive New Melones reservoir. Brothers Dick and Ron Tanner, along with their sister Judie Block and their families, are extremely committed to learning from their vineyard and tweaking wherever necessary each and every year. The result is a vineyard that gives us robust and rustic reds that age well and show intense fruit character when young. This Syrah, from the same valley as our winery and estate vineyards, has a great natural tannin structure that does not inhibit the darker ripe fruit characters.

The location of the Ferriere Vineyard permits unparalleled exposure and air-flow due to the constant daily fluctuations in temperature and moisture that are created by the lake. This leads to a well-balanced wine. The fruit yield from this vineyard is kept at a maximum of three tons per acre, further adding to the intense concentration of flavors in the wine.

Winemaking Notes
The 2003 growing season started with a mid-May bloom followed by a slow and slightly breezy fruit-set period. This helped regulate the crop load and kept the berries small. The season warmed slowly which enabled us to acclimate the vines to the intense summer in this warm region. At veraison (the technical term for the onset of berry ripening), the fruit load was further thinned down. To achieve full maturation of fruit without sacrificing natural acidity, we harvested in mid-September.

Food Pairings
Carnivores rejoice!
Beef, pork, game, classic leg of lamb... even hamburgers and SPAMburgers!

Awards
- Gold Medal, 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

Technical Notes:

Varietal:	60% Syrah- Ferriere Vineyards, 29% Syrah- Tanner Vineyards, 11% Grenache- Bokisch Vineyards
Alcohol:	14.1%
Titratable Acid:	0.64 grams/100ml
pH:	3.61
Volatile Acid:	0.076 grams/100mL
Brix at Harvest:	26.2
Aging:	18 months
Oak:	35% new French & American oak, 65% Neutral oak