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Wine Recommendation
De Tierra Vineyards
2003 Syrah(Monterey)
De Tierra Vineyards is a small winery founded in 2001 in an area between Carmel Valley and the Santa Lucia Highlands known as “Corral de Tierra.” The area is named for the “corral of earth” created by Spanish missionaries who built an earthen dam to collect water for grazing cattle. The vineyard there is the source of De Tierra’s Merlot.
This Syrah, however, comes from a lower-elevation vineyard that’s just outside the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation. The site is gently rolling, with very gravelly soil, and it experiences the strong afternoon winds off Monterey Bay that are so typical in the Salinas Valley. This is definitely cool-climate Syrah, with smoky and peppery nuances. There are also bright flavors of blackberry and blueberry. The wine has good concentration, but it’s supple and easy to drink. It offers a lot of flavor for its $25 price tag. I’d happily drink it with a burger or some ribs.
Reviewed September 21, 2006 by Laurie Daniel.
Other reviewed wines from De Tierra Vineyards
The Wine
Winery: De Tierra Vineyards |
The Reviewer
Laurie Daniel
Laurie Daniel, wine columnist for the San Jose Mercury News, has been reviewing wine for more than 10 years. She doesn’t use numbers, preferring to describe her recommended wines and let consumers decide for themselves. Laurie believes that bigger isn’t necessarily better; she’s partial to wines of balance, finesse and character. Her particular interests are Pinot Noir (versions that really taste like Pinot, that is) and aromatic whites like Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Gewürztraminer. |