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Wine Recommendation
Leal Estate Vineyards
2004 Syrah, Unfiltered, Estate(San Benito)
California’s Central Coast is an ideal source for ripe, full-flavored Syrah. A 45-acre vineyard planted in 1998 in Hollister, home of benchmark producer Calera, is the source for this ripe, sexy, and slightly woodsy wine.
About two hours south of San Francisco, and 45 minutes from either San Jose or Monterey, Léal Vineyards is nestled between the Gavilan and Diablo ranges along the San Andreas Fault. Openings in the mountain ridges allow gentle breezes and ocean fog in from the Monterey Bay, which help cool the grapes and allow for a longer, slower growing season.
Deeply saturated ruby purple in color, the Léal Vineyards Syrah
has notes of mulberry, blueberry preserves, port, chocolate mousse, smoky oak, and vanillin. It is smooth and round with an underlying tingle of natural acidity. Rich oak tannins are well-integrated, which is a signature of winemaker Dave “Griff” Griffith, who sources oak from France and America as well as Hungary, Russia, and China.
Reviewed November 8, 2006 by Catherine Fallis.
Other reviewed wines from Leal Estate Vineyards
 2004 "Threesome" Rhone Style Blend, Unfiltered, Estate (San Benito)Alan Goldfarb 1/16/2007 |
The Wine
Winery: Leal Estate Vineyards |
The Reviewer
Catherine Fallis
Founder and President of Planet Grape LLC, a company committed to bringing the joy of wine, food, and good living into the lives of everyday people, Catherine is creator of the “grape goddess guides to good living,” a series of books, television presentations, seminars, and e-learning programs. The fifth woman in the world to become a Master Sommelier, grape goddess Catherine Fallis is still very much down-to-earth. |