Ventana 2003 Syrah

Vineyard Notes:
The Ventana is a 300+ acre vineyard in the heart of the Arroyo Seco American Viticultural Area, Monterey County California. The soil is primarily a calcareous composition of alluvial deposit with rock and gravel that support excellent drainage.

Winemaker’s Notes:
Syrah, when grown in a cool growing region such as Arroyo Seco, shows unique black-pepper qualities that can be lost in warmer regions. Ventana’s winemaking procedures enhance this varietal quality. We hand-select only the ripest clusters, de-stem and place them into open-top fermentors that allow some of the alcohol from the higher sugar grapes to vent off. The cap is hand-punched several times each day during initial fermentation. The alcohol is no more than 13.5% to ensure the dark fruit and black pepper nose are the most prevalent components in the bouquet. Once open-top fermentation ceases, the wine is transferred to American Minnesotan tight grained oak for barrel ageing.

Tasting Notes:
The Ventana Syrah shows a bright ruby-purple color. The bouquet is lively with fresh cracked black pepper and black cherry. On the palate, the wine is lush and full with flavors of black cherry, blackberry, and spice. The wine is well balanced having vanilla and cedar tones from American Oak barrel aging as an accompaniment to the fruit components.

Technical Notes:

Alcohol:	13.2%
Total Acidity	0.60
pH	3.70
Residual Sugar:	Dry
Composition/Blend:	Syrah
Appellation:	Arroyo Seco (Monterey County)
Barrels:	Minnesota tight grained Oak
Vineyard:	Estate, Ventana Vineyard
Soil Type:	Calcareous composition of alluvial deposit with rock and gravel